[asterisk-users] Voxbone Question

[Anselm Martin Hoffmeister]

Am Freitag, den 12.01.2007, 11:31 -0500 schrieb Matt:
> Hi List,
> I recently signed up with Voxbone to get some International DIDs.   I
> was just about to purchase a DID this morning... but when I went to
> get it.... voxbone wanted the end user's address information.  So I
> started to put it in... unfortunately... the end-user is in the
> U.S....but the only options are for a few select cities in GERMANY!
> I don't understand.  Is there some legislation that says German DIDs
> can't be exported?

German legislation requires you to have a real address in Germany if you
want a landline number. Even stricter, it has to be in the same area as
the number you want (e.g. you need a COLOGNE address for any phone
number in the 221 area).

Depending on the provider you choose, those checks seem to be different.
Sipgate seems to place a Schufa call (there is a central, though private
company keeping a register of your debt and credit history) - if they do
not know about you, for their purposes, you do not exist. Others just
seem to need a valid street address with postal code and a reference
phone number in the same city where they can call you and you enter some
kind of confirmation PIN.

AFAIK those legislation does not apply for so called service numbers
(but I may be mistaken) - several providers seem to hand out 180x
service numbers (which are not much more expensive than landlines for
the callers).

If I may give you a hint - there seems to be a provider handing out
numbers in the MUNICH area (code 89) - those are "89" + 11 digits, thus
2 digits longer than most regular phone numbers there, but they seem to
only require an email address, no street address asked for. Try
www.bluesip.de. No idea how legal that is for _them_ to give you that
number, but in your place I would not fear to accept that offer. If a
MUNICH number is acceptable for your purposes. Incoming calls are
generally free with German SIP providers, so you do not need to have a
positive credit in your account to accept calls.

BR&HTH
Anselm