Do Chat Questions

do Chat is an Internet telephony service that enables voice calls to and from your PC via the Internet. Now you can communicate affordably with family, friends or colleagues anywhere in the world.

It works just like a normal telephone service except that the communication occurs between your Internet-connected PC and the other party. Calls are made (or answered) on the doChat soft phone - this is a Voice over IP (VoIP) application that resides on your PC and it looks and functions just like a regular telephone.

You have to be a Telkom Internet subscriber. You also need a multimedia computer and a connection to the Internet. For best results we recommend a broadband (ADSL) connection. In addition, you will need to download and install the do Chat soft phone on your computer. You will first need to register for the service though and obtain your do Chat number, which works just like a regular phone number.

You can only make calls to other do Chat members while they are online. In addition, the enhanced service allows principal do Chat subscribers to make calls to landlines and mobile numbers, both locally and internationally. The list of allowed numbers and rates are available on the do Chat portal.

Anyone can call you from anywhere in the world.

Principal subscribers of the do Chat service will be allocated a 087 200 xxxx number. Non-principal do Chat users will be allocated a 'CHAT' number, on registration to the service. This number is in the following format: CHAT 81x xxx or 2428 81x xxx. You must enter the number in full i.e. 2428 ? when calling someone.

If you want people to call you, you must share your do Chat number with them - numbers will not be made available otherwise. This is important in the interest of protecting your privacy. Alternatively, an online directory list of do Chat members is available on the do Chat portal, to registered users, where listing is completely voluntary as you may choose to have your details displayed or not at any time.

As a Telkom Internet subscriber, activation of this service is offered to you at no extra charge - it is intended to enhance your Internet experience. Calls made to other do Chat numbers are also free^* and you may speak as long as you wish. Off-Net calls will be charged on a pure per second basis.

^* Note that calls use bandwidth and will contribute to your total monthly bandwidth consumption, with regards to ADSL capping.

Off-net do Chat calls are offered on a prepaid basis. You need to purchase credit before you will be able to use this facility. This purchase must be done online via the do Chat portal using a valid credit card. On-net calls i.e. calls to other 087 200 and 2428 do Chat numbers remain free.

You can create your own online community of do Chat users, who are not necessarily Telkom Internet customers, with up to 5 members. These 'non-Telkom Internet' members will have to be registered for the service by you as the principal user^*. Only valid Telkom Internet customers may be principal users.

Once myCommunity members are registered, they are also allocated CHAT numbers, which you must share with them as the principal user. These members will then be able to log in to the do Chat service and download their own do Chat soft phones. By doing so, you have a now created a community of users and any two members may communicate with each other via their PC no matter where in the world they are.

^* Note that the principal user is solely responsible for any misuse of the service and should ensure that myCommunity members abide by the Terms and Conditions of the service.

Yes, But this is only recommended if you use ADSL, as voice quality may be compromised with a dial-up connection.

Yes, do Chat subscribers can make calls to landlines and mobile numbers, both locally and internationally. The list of allowed numbers and rates are available on this portal.

do Chat is a best effort Internet based service. It is therefore not intended as a replacement for your existing telephony service. It should not, under any circumstances, be used for any emergency related phone calls. Further, due to the nature of the Internet technologies used to provide the service, no guarantees in terms of security and confidentiality of voice calls can be given.

do Chat requires 24 kbps of bandwidth, to either make or receive voice calls, when using the iLBC or G.729 codec. Other supported codecs could potentially require up to 80 kbps. The signalling will consume 7.254 Bytes per average call, while SIP register messages will require 1.448 Bytes and recur at 60 second intervals.

Internet applications, by nature, are best effort services so quality of service cannot be guaranteed. While quality primarily depends on your Internet connection, it is also affected by the computer and audio system you use.

Although we've ensured that the do Chat service will work on a Dial-up connection, we do recommend ISDN or ADSL connections for the best user experience. You may also experience poor voice quality with a microphone and speaker setup due to feedback. We recommend the use of a headset to improve quality.

A step-by-step User Guide for the service is available. This explains how to install and configure the service and how to use the do Chat soft phone.

Alternatively, you may call the Telkom Internet support desk on 10210 for any do Chat service related enquiries but we regret that no assistance is available for issues related to your computer's hardware or software unless the matter is specific to the use of the do Chat service.

Note: Telkom Internet is not able to assist if you have problems with your internet connection and you're not a Telkom Internet subscriber (i.e. you are a myCommunity member). In this case, please refer to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Unused credit will expire after 180 days of your last purchase date.

It is important to note that there is no contract for the do Chat service and you will not be charged anything over and above your Telkom Internet monthly fees and your credit purchases to make calls. However, you can cancel the do Chat service at any time, by calling 10210.

Unfortunately the do Chat service (for Internet telephony) is currently only available to Telkom Internet subscribers and you and your sub-members will therefore not be able to make calls once you are not a Telkom Internet customer.  We intend to make do Chat available to any customer worldwide by mid 2010 and will advertise this option as soon as we are ready.

Multimedia PC with at least a 500 MHz CPU and:

• 64 MB available RAM for Windows 98SE
• 128 MB available RAM for Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4)
• 256 MB available RAM for Windows XP

A full duplex sound card with a microphone and speakers (headset is recommended to prevent audio feedback)

Bandwidth Usage and Signalling Messages

• Message: SIP Register Message(Re-Register at 60 second intervals) with Total of approx. 1,448 Bytes
• Message: Average Call(Signaling Only) with Total of approx. 7,254 Bytes

Speech

• Codec Type: G.711 A-Law with Thoughput of approx. 80.0 kbps
• Codec Type: G.729 with Thoughput of approx. 24.96 kbps
• Codec Type: iLBC with Thoughput of approx. 24.48 kbps

Visit www.do.co.za
Move your cursor over "Offerings" & select "do Chat" in the fly-out menu

Select Call History

Select purchase doChat Credits

You are required to purchase credits if you would like to make an OFF-NET call

Have you ever experienced abuse of your ADSL account where your internet bandwidth was used by people who manage to steal your usernames and passwords which they use on other ADSL lines or do you want to prevent it from happening?

The current authentication method allows any ADSL customer to use his/her username and password to any ADSL line.
To prevent fraud and bandwidth theft you can now make use of secure lock to lock your adsl account to your ADSL line number or up to 10 different ADSL line numbers
For more info or to activate please call our help desk on 10210