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Vonage and others similar - 6/16/2008 1:23:33 PM

xxblushesxx

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Can you give me the pro's and cons? We have AT&T/Bellsouth internet service, if that matters.

Tia!!

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RE: Vonage and others similar - 6/16/2008 1:42:17 PM

stef

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Pros - cheaper, portable, LD/some international calling free

Cons - lower sound quality, transmission quality dependant on bandwith, subject to throttling by ISPs, may be issues with 911 service, will not work in a power outage

~stef

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RE: Vonage and others similar - 6/16/2008 2:10:10 PM

celticlord2112

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quote:

ORIGINAL: stef

Pros - cheaper, portable, LD/some international calling free

Cons - lower sound quality, transmission quality dependant on bandwith, subject to throttling by ISPs, may be issues with 911 service, will not work in a power outage

~stef

I use Vonage for my business lines, and I can honestly say that the sound quality is quite acceptable. Also, vonage allows me to set up an automatic forward to my cell phone so that even in an outage, I don't lose calls. Paid off in spades during an unnecessarily painful transition from Charter to Comcast.

Note on 911 service. Vonage lines fully support E911, and if there's a lingering concern after that, be aware that even "dead" phone lines in your house are good for 911 calls. Part of the rules governing 911 service--any telephone has to be able to make 911 calls (even cell phones without active billing accounts associated, which is why battered women's shelters appreciate the donation of old cell phones).

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RE: Vonage and others similar - 6/16/2008 2:33:14 PM

stef

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quote:

ORIGINAL: celticlord2112

I use Vonage for my business lines, and I can honestly say that the sound quality is quite acceptable. Also, vonage allows me to set up an automatic forward to my cell phone so that even in an outage, I don't lose calls. Paid off in spades during an unnecessarily painful transition from Charter to Comcast.

I'm glad you're pleased with it. I have roughly 30 contractors spread all over the US that use it and I've never been all that impressed with the sound quality when talking to them. Half of the time I hear an annoying echo or experience dropouts during the call.

~stef

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RE: Vonage and others similar - 6/16/2008 2:37:41 PM

MissIsis

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I love Vonage.

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RE: Vonage and others similar - 6/16/2008 4:37:48 PM

Evility

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quote:

ORIGINAL: celticlord2112
Note on 911 service. Vonage lines fully support E911, and if there's a lingering concern after that, be aware that even "dead" phone lines in your house are good for 911 calls. Part of the rules governing 911 service--any telephone has to be able to make 911 calls (even cell phones without active billing accounts associated, which is why battered women's shelters appreciate the donation of old cell phones).

The information you posted seems to be accurate regarding cell phones. I have been searching for a link to support your comment about land lines and I cannot. I'd like to read up on it if you have a link available.

I work in the telecom industry. I am not aware of any regulation that requires the phone company to maintain a connection back to their switch in the event that you cancel your home phone landline. I know that in most cases the dial tone is shut off on or shortly after the day your disconnect order is due. Also it is not uncommon for the intermediate facilities such as aerial cable pairs to be disconnected and reused on new incoming service for new customers.

As long as you have dial tone you can likely call 911 but without dial tone present I cannot see how this occurs. Dial tone represents the presence of switching equipment at the far end awaiting reception of incoming dialing digits.

Since a cell phone does not operate off of dial tone that point is moot in that situation.

< Message edited by Evility -- 6/16/2008 4:39:29 PM >

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RE: Vonage and others similar - 6/16/2008 7:04:16 PM

RuheMaus

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VoIP rocks! :)

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RE: Vonage and others similar - 6/16/2008 7:18:56 PM

kyraofMists

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I loved my Vonage when I had it. My favorite part was simultaneous ringing and virtual number. He could call one number and it would ring several different phone, cell, work and house.

The cons were that my internet provider did something about 4 months after I installed Vonage and I could rarely be on the phone and viewing web cam at the same time after that. It was a pain in the ass to get anyone to fix the issue. The internet provider blamed Vonage and Vonage blamed the internet provider. Personally, I think it was the internet capability.

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RE: Vonage and others similar - 6/16/2008 8:10:10 PM

xxblushesxx

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Hello Kyra;

Thank you for the info!
Do you mind if I bother you to ask who your internet provider was at that time?
(and how long ago it was?)

Thanks!

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RE: Vonage and others similar - 6/17/2008 7:24:00 AM

pahunkboy

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my opinion? it is over rated. it knows how to bill you but offers no reliability, try to resolve get no where.

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RE: Vonage and others similar - 6/17/2008 7:26:49 AM

Leatherist

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I did not like the fact that they billed me automatically.

I did not like the fact that I had to argue with the service rep to get my account cancelled-and that they then zinged me for a month of service I did not get-and for that adapter that they claimed would be paid off in six months-telling me it was a YEAR instead.

Ended up costing me 140 bucks to get RID of them-I would not do business with them again-ever.

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RE: Vonage and others similar - 6/17/2008 7:54:53 AM

pahunkboy

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my "free" month cost me over $42. i did not get even 1 phone call. so to me-they can keep their deal.

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RE: Vonage and others similar - 6/17/2008 4:46:41 PM

DomAviator

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I use Vonage on my business lines and I love them! I dont have any of the issues people complain about but you need a pretty decent internet connection. I have a full T-1 at the office, and the audio quality is great. Its a little degraded on my home wireless but still better then a cell phone. I like the automatic billing - one less thing for me to have to remember to pay.

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RE: Vonage and others similar - 6/17/2008 4:58:56 PM

kyraofMists

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My pleasure, Christina.

It was Comcast in South Florida and it was just last year. Personally, I don't think they had the bandwith to handle the number of customers they had and all of their products suffered in certain areas.

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RE: Vonage and others similar - 6/17/2008 6:28:58 PM

xxblushesxx

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Thank you Kyra and everyone!

I had a friend who had it (or perhaps it was something similar) back in '98. I believe it was just becoming available to the public at that time. He really liked it. At the time he said his connection was crystal clear. I only had dial up at the time, so it was not a consideration to me. I also thought that over time, they could work out whatever kinks they had. Sounds like they need to work out a few more though.

They've been advertising heavily around here, so, was curious about others' experience with them.

Not what I wanted to hear, but, at least I have the info!

Thanks Again!!

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