What type of service do you offer?
We provide Voice over IP (VoIP) SIP origination and termination services to business customers across the globe.
What makes your service superior to other providers?
ClearSwitch is the upper-end of VoIP suppliers, in that we offer 99.9% uptime, premium legal routes, and superior voice quality from North America, Europe, and many other countries. Companies around the globe use us for a reason. Voice clarity, reliability, and competitive pricing.
How is the voice quality with your service?
Our voice clarity is excellent. Due to strategic server placement, customers experience lower latency and jitter, which results in superior sound quality.
How would we connect to your service?
Our customers generally use an IP PBX or Asterisk. Authentication is done via a username/password combination or static IP.
Can any type of business use your service?
We RESTRICT all companies/individuals that send telemarketing, broadcast, auto dialer, or call center traffic through our network. Any account found utilizing this type of traffic will be suspended under our Terms and Conditions of Use.
Our equipment is in another country. Will we still be able to use ClearSwitch?
We have many customers successfully using our service from far away countries with higher latency.
What are Level 1 and Level 2 routes?
ClearSwitch uses two types of calling routes. Level 1 routes are cheaper routes, and calls may get cut off, have voice lag, or have minor quality issues beyond our control. Premiere Level 2 routes are the best routes we can find. These routes cost slightly more, however most corporations and businesses use our business-class premiere Level 2 routes for extremely reliable domestic and international calling. Which routes do you use for US/Canada calling?
We only use premiere Level 2 routes for US/Canada calls. Customers calling international have a choice of Level 1 or Level 2 routes.
Do you offer any cheaper US/Canada rates?
No we don't. Cheaper rates come with inferior routes, and ClearSwitch only uses business-class premiere routes for it's customers.
Where do I find your international rates?
Email our sales department at sales@clearswitchnetwork.com, and an agent will email you our rates.
Does my Caller ID Name & Number show to the people I am calling?
Yes, when calling US or Canada, CID name and number are passed along. With international routes, it depends on the telecom providers of the country you are calling.
What protocols do you support?
We support SIP exclusively.
What codecs do you support?
We support G.711u & G.729a
What is a Softphone, and how much does it cost?
A Softphone is a free software for your computer/laptop, which looks like a phone with a dialpad. You simply connect to highspeed internet, plug in a headset with microphone to your computer, enter the ClearSwitch settings, and make or receive phone calls.
Which free Softphone works best with the ClearSwitch service?
We highly recommend Zoiper or X-Lite for the best free softphones.
What if I need to incorporate the service into my business PBX system?
No problem, for smaller setups that are adding VoIP to an existing analog PBX system, simply supply enough highspeed bandwidth, a router with QOS, the appropriate multi port/line telephone adapter, the ClearSwitch SIP trunk information, and you're in business. For larger setups using Asterisk or IP PBX software, simply use the ClearSwitch settings in conjunction with your system's operating manual.
Can I call 1-800,866,877,888 numbers just like regular phones?
Yes.
Can I call 411 information?
There is no 411 service with ClearSwitch VoIP.
Do you support 911/E911 emergency service in US/Canada?
Yes, you can add 911 service to your US/Canada DID for an additional monthly fee.
Do you include any features with your service?
Yes, with DID purchase, we include Caller ID Name, Caller ID Number, Visual Call Waiting, Enhanced Voicemail, and Voicemail to Email. Call Forwarding is offered at an additional per/min rate.
After my initial account setup, how do I add funds when my account get's low?
You will get access to a customer portal where you can top up your account via Paypal, check your call records, and check international rates.
How many channels do your US/Canada DID's allow?
Our US/Canada DID's allow for unlimited channels.
How many DID's can I order?
You can order as many as you like. They can all be added to your trunk, and then you route them yourself with your IP PBX or Asterisk.
Do you offer any unlimited monthly usage US/Canada DID's?
No we don't at this time.
If I order a DID, can I forward it to another number?
Yes, however keep in mind that you will be charged the incoming per/min cost + the outgoing per/min cost. Example: (incoming US/Canada 1.6) + (outgoing US/Canada 1.9) = 3.5 cents/min combined.
Can I keep the same phone number I have now?
Yes, this is called porting. In most cases we can get your existing phone number ported over to us. There is a one-time charge of $29 (per number) for porting. If your number is able to be ported, we will send you a form in which to fill out, and send back to us. The information on this form must be correct and up to date. Porting numbers can take 2-6 weeks depending on the carrier that has the number currently.
How do I signup for an account?
Click on the "Create New Account" button at the bottom of the VoIP service page. After filling out and submitting the service form, you will be automatically directed to the Paypal payment page. After we have confirmed payment, we will email you all the information and settings to enter into your hardware/software device.
What if I need to order extra/added features?
Simply contact us, and an authorized agent will look after you.
Do you provide configurations for PBX's or Asterisk?
ClearSwitch's services are not intended for beginners. We do not offer any support for third party products/devices which include but not limited to Servers, Switches, PBX, IP Phone and ATA adapters. ClearSwitch will send all standard settings, however it is the customer's responsibility to properly setup and configure their devices for use with our services.
Why does some VoIP sound choppy, echoey, and just plain terrible?
The main reasons are i) Poor quality internet connection ii) The distance you are from the VoIP server iii) The quality of your hardware device iv) The quality of the telecom routes your provider is using. ClearSwitch uses Premiere routes and low latency connections.
Where can I find more information about VoIP technical issues?
General VoIP Issues: VoIP Mechanic
One Way Audio Using Asterisk 1.4.10 & FreePBX 2.3.0: OC9 Blog 
VoIP Troubleshooting Tools: VoIP Wiki

General Asterisk SIP configuration files
SIP.CONF
[general]               
register => {username]:[password]@[the proxy address we send you]:5060
 
[clearswitch]
canreinvite=no
context=mycontext
host=[the proxy address we send you]
secret=[password]
type=friend
username=[username]
disallow=all
allow=ulaw
allow=g729
fromuser=[username]
trustrpid=yes
sendrpid=yes
insecure=port,invite
nat=yes

EXTENSIONS.CONF
[mycontext]
include => clearswitch-outbound
include => clearswitch-inbound
 
[clearswitch-outbound]
exten => _1NXXNXXXXXX,1,Dial(SIP/${EXTEN}@clearswitch)
exten => _1NXXNXXXXXX,n,Hangup()
exten => _NXXNXXXXXX,1,Dial(SIP/1${EXTEN}@clearswitch)
exten => _NXXNXXXXXX,n,Hangup()
exten => _011.,1,Dial(SIP/${EXTEN}@clearswitch)
exten => _011.,n,Hangup()
exten => _00.,1,Dial(SIP/${EXTEN}@clearswitch)
exten => _00.,n,Hangup()
 
"inbound context example"
 
[clearswitch-inbound]
exten => 519XXXXXXX,1,Answer()
exten => 314XXXXXXX,1,Answer()