FOOD FOR THOUGHT BulkVS.com -- Great Origination/Termination/TF rates!

[KatyComputer]

I have with them a week - so far, so good. I really like the way they address their emails:
"Hi Team,....."

 

[mainenotarynet]

Yes, I finally got straightened out. I ported 8 of my 9 local number (all 1 area code) -- the one not ported was a FL number which is still at voip.ms which I am dropping anyways. I am also going to drop all my TF numbers as they are not needed these days.

My port activation date is 10-01 wish I could push that up but I can wait. I did get a new number for my FAX machine (was a TF #)

The thing with the "Team" is they cc the entire support team which is my guess on the salutation.

 

[Alex Hackney]

Reply to their email asking them to expedite it. If the numbers have been with voip.ms for any serious length of time, they will be at bandwidth.com and they can do those ports same day. Ask them to port asap and they will help. I've seen them do it same day for a number of clients.

 

[Prits]

I would like to see a windows program that handles SMS to and from Bulkvs.com. Easy peasy so the customer can use SMS like a cell phone. My use case is a customer that started the business with a cell phone number and everyone has that number and knows they can text it. The business has grown and they want to port the number for the Incredible PBX that I am going to sell them. They need SMS on a Windows or Mac so the can continue SMS heaven

take a look at:

www.textable.co

 

[phinphan]

take a look at:

www.textable.co

I have been trying without any success to get textable to work with Bulkvs. Just last week Bulkvs told me that textable was still working on their integration and it would be another month. If you have made it work, please let us know how.

 

[annon]

Anyone know?

How and why does Bulkvs pay for outgoing calls from 8XX numbers? Aren't they losing money?

(And don't say they're making it up in volume!)

 

[fmateo05]

Anyone know?

How and why does Bulkvs pay for outgoing calls from 8XX numbers? Aren't they losing money?

(And don't say they're making it up in volume!)

I have recently purchased an 8XX number, need to inspect that detail

 

[atsak]

Anyone know?

How and why does Bulkvs pay for outgoing calls from 8XX numbers? Aren't they losing money?

(And don't say they're making it up in volume!)

It's pretty simple. When you dial an 800 the callee pays (for example, if you have an 800 number at BulkVS you pay .0055 per minute). They give you a small slice of what they get paid to terminate the call for you. What I really like about it is that when the bank has me on hold for 3 hours, it actually costs them money that I get.

 

[MGD4me]

Anyone know?

"Back in the day" when telephone operators handled Long Distance calls, and a caller requested a "Collect call" to a destination number, the operator would initiate the call and provide the calling party's name, and request that the callee "accept" the call. If accepted, the connection was allowed to proceed, and toll charges began from that point.

Today's '800' Toll Free service is an automated "we pay the freight" arrangement.

 

[dev_null]

"Native" Windows Powershell version of http://nerdvittles.com/?p=32094 script:

param([string]$to,  [string]$msg)

$from="18005551212"
$apikey="ffffaaabbbcccdddeee"
$apisecret="eeedddcccbbbaaafff"

if (!$to  -Or !$msg)  { Write-Host "Syntax: send-sms-bulkvs 18005551212 'Your SMS message'"; exit }

$uri="https://portal.bulkvs.com/sendSMS"

Invoke-RestMethod -Uri $uri -ContentType "application/json" -Method Post -Body "{""apikey"":""$apikey"",""apisecret"":""$apisecret"",""from"":""$from"",""to"":""$to"",""message"":""$msg""}"

Save as sms-bulkvs.ps1

@jerrm , I've been using this script (it took me a few tries to figure out it's bvs.ps1 1NPANXXNXXX 'The text of the message being sent.' I'm embarrassed to say - even if it was right in the script), and it's made my life immeasurably easier (previously I was running a linux script on the router).

My current question is can this a script be modified to send MMS? I know I can send MMS as one-offs using their API Documentation page "Try it" feature (https://portal.bulkvs.com/api/v1.0/documentation) but it would be nice to be able to do it from the desktop.

I tried passing an image link along as an additional component of the command (e.g., bvs.ps1 1NPANXXNXXX 'Text of message' 'https://public.path.to.image'), but only the text comes through (as the script is written). I also tried to tweak the script as I interpreted the API Documentation "{""apikey"":""$apikey"",""apisecret"":""$apisecret"",""from"":""$from"",""to"":""$to"",""message"":""$msg"",""MediaURLs"":""$MediaURLs""}" but same: message comes through as SMS, not MMS.

The documentation on the API Documentation page implies that both SMS and MMS use the same back-end. Have you (or anyone else) gotten MMS to work using a powershell script?

Regards and Happy New Year!

 

[l4cky]

how is bulvs price cheaper than voip.ms?

 

[Alex Hackney]

Because they cost less?
Just inbound
BulkVS:
$0.0003
Voip.ms
$0.009

 

[krzykat]

Because they cost less?
Just inbound
BulkVS:
$0.0003
Voip.ms
$0.009

So you're saying that .0003 < .009 ?? Sorry - loved the dry humor

 

[dicko]

How is that funny ? (Not understanding why)

 

[krzykat]

Perhaps I misread it, but what I read on the quick is why is A cheaper than B, and the reply was because A charges less money. Perhaps it is I who missed something

 

[kenn10]

Perhaps it is I who missed something

I don't think you did. It was funny. Someone asks how A is cheaper than B as if such a thing is not possible. A dry reply with facts stating the obvious is funny.

To be fair, if the op was trying to ask how much cheaper A is than B, then it isn't funny. Perhaps there is a language barrier.

 

[wardmundy]

For WalMart shoppers, it's "30 minutes for the price of 1."

 

[Samot]

how is bulvs price cheaper than voip.ms?

BulkVS isn't the same type of provider as VoIP.ms. BulkVS main customer base is high-usage, wholesalers such as other VoIP providers, etc. They offer these services to the general public but they will also require you to fill out paperwork and other things to show you are just a normal business or consumer user. This would mean that outbound services wouldn't be available until said paperwork and steps where completed.

BulkVS also doesn't provide services such as PBX features (ring groups, IVRs, etc), they do not provide any inbound call treatments or routing. They do not provide voicemail or anything related to it. While they offer SMS services, it is purely API driven unlike VoIP.ms which provides you with a web interface to manage, view and send SMS. BulkVS also doesn't include CallerID Name services as part of the DID cost, you need to enable the service and pay per lookup.

So BulkVS is a wholesale provider that can be used by businesses and consumers if they want to do the heavy lifting. VoIP.ms is meant for businesses and consumers. This is how BulkVS is cheaper.

 

[krzykat]

BulkVS also doesn't include CallerID Name services as part of the DID cost, you need to enable the service and pay per lookup.

Wish it were that way, but it is enabled automaticallly (I haven't seen a way to disable and do pay as you want) and YES, you pay per lookup.

 

[kenn10]

I'm quite fond of Bulkvs. They don't offer a lot of frills but at the prices they charge, you can't expect them to. They do offer E911 service where you can register one location and send X-header info to indicate room or suite number (like in a hotel/motel situation or office building) so you don't have and pay for multiple E911 registration locations. They have never gone down in the years I've had them, even during the denial of service attack. They provide instant updates to the LIDB when you purchase a DID. They support G.722 CODEC within their network. They allow you to use SRV records for your inbound routes to provide automatic routing for load balancing or to backup servers you include in your SRV record. They provide incoming call STIR/SHAKEN attestation in the incoming SIP message. While you have no choice of accepting caller-id on inbound calls, theirs is accurate and fast compared to some of the lookup sources in Superfecta. Their number porting is typically flawless and you can call and speak with a live person in the porting department. Their customer support is fast and responsive. Note: They do not offer international calling so Anveo-Direct is my international provider. They DO pay you to route toll-free traffic to them.

If you have a PBX, there is little need for the myriad of PBX functions provided by Voip.ms or Callcentric. While @Samot makes accurate observations, I'd rather have Bulkvs than many other providers. They are an excellent fit for IncrediblePBX and other SIP PBX's. My experience with them is very good.

@krzykat For what its worth, CNAM Lookup can be disabled on your account if you have no DID's. Duh...If no incoming calls, no CNAM.