VOIP etc > Voice Over IP - VOIP > VOIP Tech Chat > Codec G711 and G729 or only G711?

The only reason Callcentric recommends to have G.729 on a list (it doesn't matter in what order - just to have it on the list) - it's because some/many international carriers (number keeps increasing) have ONLY G.729 codec to many countries. Also calls from other SIP networks as well as to/from SIP Broker and iNUM may come with G.729 first or ONLY codec available. Regarding International VoIP carriers - it's a very simple math - while the rates are ever declining down the IP bandwidth costs are NOT that much going down, not at the same pace as rates, at least. Also, the bandwidth segments are/may not be available at such large chunks... Just as an example - average, 20ms frame G.711 call takes around 100Kbps of bandwidth (consider all IP, UDP, RTCP, etc, packet headers - read books if unclear). For a carrier to accept "only" 1000 simultaneous calls - that would be 100 Megabits of bandwidth in only ONE direction. If they have 1000 destinations - that means 100 Gig bits of bandwidth. For many national carriers abroad numbers like 100 Megabits are still something from a Science Fiction books... Can one imagine 100 Mbps in Afghanistan or Bangladesh or even in most far places in the world? One of the LARGEST, if not the largest one (it's meant to say so) carriers in the world is TATA communications (Indian giant, former Teleglobe, former VCNL telecom) having simultaneously close to or over 1,000,000 calls - warns that most destinations will NOT be connected with G.711 codec...

In order to avoid "aggravation" related issues and then [quite often - lots of] time spent on support - Callcentric recommends to have G.729 codec enabled.

If your intention is NEVER to call abroad (not counting Canada) or NEVER have a family member on a trip calling to/from hotel or NEVER exchange calls via other SIP networks - you're safe using only G.711 codec.... To me - it's the same as a desire of some people to block their own ability to be able to call E911 just because they may have it on other lines...

B/w - if there was a "stutter" with G.729 - the same or even worse will be heard with G.711...

Some do, some don't. G.729 requires a commercial license, so many open source shops do not support it.

And if the provider doesnt support G.729, then the call will not go through even if my phone is G.729 enabled.

Maybe you should go work for Sipgate support staff!