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Set-up guides and answers

Most of SwitchBoardOne needs no setting up: calls simply ring your mobile. These guides are for calling out from your business number on an app, a desk phone or a computer.

Before you start

Sign in to your account, open your number and choose Calls from an app. Confirm your emergency address and switch calling on. You then see three things to copy into your app or phone:

  • Server (some apps call it domain, host, registrar or proxy)
  • Username (sometimes user ID or authentication ID)
  • Password

The same page shows Connected once a device has signed in. You can use one login on several devices; they all ring.

iPhone and Android

We suggest Zoiper, which is free on the App Store and Google Play. On iPhone, Groundwire (paid) is more reliable at ringing when the app is closed.

  1. Install Zoiper Lite and open it.
  2. When it asks for your login, enter your username followed by @ and the server, then your password.
  3. If it asks for a provider, choose Skip or Generic SIP. Leave the outbound proxy empty.
  4. Wait for the green tick or Registered, then make a test call to your own mobile.

Phone apps can miss calls when your phone is asleep or the app is closed. Keep your mobile under “Who it rings” as well, so you never miss a customer.

Desk phones

Most desk phones are set up from a web page. Find the phone’s IP address in its menu (usually under Status), type it into a browser on the same network and sign in.

Yealink

  1. Go to Account, then Register, and choose Account 1.
  2. Set Line Active to On and the label to your business name.
  3. Put your username in Register Name and User Name, and your password in Password.
  4. Set SIP Server 1 to your server, port 5060, transport UDP, and press Confirm.

Grandstream

  1. Go to Accounts, then Account 1, then General Settings.
  2. Set Account Active to Yes and SIP Server to your server.
  3. Put your username in SIP User ID and Authenticate ID, and your password in Authenticate Password.
  4. Press Save and Apply.

Other makes need the same three details. If you would rather not do it yourself, call us and we will set the phone up for you.

Windows and Mac

Use Zoiper (Windows, Mac, Linux) or MicroSIP (Windows). You will need a headset or your computer’s microphone and speakers.

  1. Install the app and add an account with your username, password and server.
  2. In MicroSIP, put the server in both SIP Server and Domain, and leave SIP Proxy empty.
  3. Save. The app shows Online or Registered when it is connected.

Technical details: UDP or TCP on port 5060, or TLS on 5061. Codecs G.711 (PCMA/PCMU) and G.722.

999 calls

You can call 999 and 112 from the app, a desk phone or a computer. The emergency services receive the address you registered. If you are somewhere else, tell the operator where you are. Internet phones need power and a connection, so keep a mobile to hand. You can change the address any time on the Calls from an app page.

Common questions

Still stuck? Call 01707 818450 or email info@jbrownonline.com,Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.

Do I need a new phone or any equipment?

No. Calls ring the mobile you already have, on any UK network. If you would rather use a desk phone or an app on your computer, you can, but you do not have to.

Will customers see my mobile number?

No. Customers only ever see and call your business number. When you call them back from our app or a desk phone, they see your business number too.

What happens when I cannot answer?

Your phone rings for 20 seconds (you can change this). If you do not answer, or you are closed, the caller hears your greeting and can leave a message. The recording is emailed to you and kept in your account for 180 days.

Will my own voicemail pick up business calls?

Not if you use call screening, which is on by default. When you answer you hear "Business call for…, press 1". The caller is only connected when you press 1, so your personal voicemail never answers a customer.

Why do you need proof of address?

Ofcom rules mean every UK landline number has to be registered to a real business and address, and the network checks it. We ask for your business address and a document such as a recent utility bill or your company certificate. You only do this once.

How long does it take to set up?

Ordering takes about five minutes. Once your payment arrives we check the order, and the network checks your details. Numbers are usually live within one to three working days, and we email you the moment yours is.

Is there a contract?

No. You pay the first month when you order, then monthly by Direct Debit. Cancel any time; your number keeps working until the end of the month you have paid for.

How does pay as you go work?

You pay £1 a month for the number and 3p a minute for calls passed to your phones and calls you make from the app or a desk phone. Calls that go to voicemail are free. Early each month we email you last month’s total and collect it by Direct Debit; anything under £1 is carried into the next month.

What if I use more minutes than my plan includes?

Minutes count calls passed to your phones and calls you make from the app or a desk phone. If you go over regularly, we will talk to you first. Extra minutes are 3p each and are added to a later Direct Debit, which we tell you about in advance.

Can I call 999 from the app or a desk phone?

Yes. Emergency calls send the address you register in your account, so keep it up to date. Like any internet phone, an app or desk phone needs power and an internet connection, so keep a mobile to hand.

Can I keep the number if I leave?

Ask us before you cancel and we will help you move it to another provider where the network allows it.