Switched to Vonage

[Mr_Cheeze]

Just thought I would offer up this review in case anyone was considering the switch. I was tired of paying over $50 a month for a bunch of phone services that I hardly ever use, on top of $35.00 for a DSL line that often didn't live up to its specified performance. So, after being bombarded with ads for Vonage. $24.99 a month for unlimited local and long distance? I did some research. Couldn't find a catch. So I finally decided to make the switch to the internet phone service, as well as to Comcast High speed internet, taking advantage of a nice Best Buy promotion offering rebates up the yin-yang and 6 months of internet for $20/mo. All in all, after rebates, it will end up costing me $50 for the phone adaptor. Not a bad deal at all. And, my phone bill will be cut in more than half. Yes, Comcast will cost about $10 more, but I'll still be saving $20 a month when considering the savings in phone.

As for the phone service itself, haven't had any problems to date. I really like the voicemail features. I'm currently waiting for my old number to port over, but with a temporary number, its still fully functional. I might just start making calls to Hawaii and Wyoming for the hell of it. Hey, why not. It's free! Seriously, for anyone who makes lots of long distance calls and has a high speed internet connection, this Vonage is worth the try.

[off piste]

I've been running Voicepulse for almost 2 years now. I got it when they had a $7.95/mo + 3 cents/min deal going. My phone bill is typically about $11/month. Lots of bells and whistles, like I can set it to forward to my cell, or only specific callers, can set it so specific numbers hear a busy signal, line disconnected, email notification of voicemail, etc.

[Mr_Cheeze]

I had to laugh when I called Verizon to cancel my DSL line. The customer service person was quite taken aback when I told her how much Vonage is per month, in disbelief over the unlimited long distance feature. She tried real hard to convince me that I should stay with Verizon, on both accounts, for a multitude of shaky reasons. She said that she was real sorry to see me go. :'(

The only thing that worries me is the potential for hackers to listen to calls. So I guess I won't be calling my crack dealer or my Russian child prostitutes pimp over the phone anymore. Small sacrifices, I guess.

[stich]

Dude,

I wouldn't worry too much about hackers & VOIP, just the mere jesture of placing those few illlicit words in your reply has tied your ip address & SS# into Echelon.

ISP's are now required to give up the info.

So now you're a suspect in the governments's eyes.

Nice job.

Today's eye opener has been brought to you by The Patriot Act

[Slider]

We've used ATT CallVantage, for a year or so now. $30/month, but you know they'll be around a while.

To me, the Web portal is the best single reason to use VOIP.
The Web interface for managing the service, checking voice mail, setting the "find me" option, call logs, etc, is great. I consult on the side for a software company, and can do what I need to remotely, while working a full time job.

Plus, Big Brother now knows I have nothing to hide. ;)

Slider

[Jisch]

Due to a "work from home" initiative here at work, some of us have set up home offices. Some of the guys have used Vonage because of the unlimited calling thing (once we are in home offices they won't allow us to T&E phone calls! ::)).

I am on conference calls all day, and I can tell when someone who has Vonage calls in, the quality is not as good as regular TDM calls. I called SBC before trying the Vonage thing and I have DSL, 2 phone lines, voice mail and unlimited calling on both lines for $93/month. Ok, maybe I miss out on some of the more advanced follow me features, but honestly, if I'm not at my desk, I'm either on vacation or at a customer meeting.

[nhiker]

We've used ATT CallVantage, for a year or so now. $30/month, but you know they'll be around a while.

To me, the Web portal is the best single reason to use VOIP.
The Web interface for managing the service, checking voice mail, setting the "find me" option, call logs, etc, is great. I consult on the side for a software company, and can do what I need to remotely, while working a full time job.

Plus, Big Brother now knows I have nothing to hide. ;)

Slider



I also use At&t callvantage.....Iam very pleased it is the way to go. Now my wife who considers new technology akin to voodoo hmmm but she lives with it.

[Mr_Cheeze]

Dude,

I wouldn't worry too much about hackers & VOIP, just the mere jesture of placing those few illlicit words in your reply has tied your ip address & SS# into Echelon.

ISP's are now required to give up the info.

So now you're a suspect in the governments's eyes.

Nice job.

Today's eye opener has been brought to you by The Patriot Act


Ok, so then I'll be sure not to mention anything about the IRA militants I am harboring. Oh, and my secretly obtained copies of plans for an anti-matter based weapon of mass destruction that uses simple, household items for fuel.

I'm not woried about Vonage going anywhere in the near future. Apparantly someone within that company has some serious freaking capital with the amount of advertising that they have going.

As for the sound quality. Even if it is sometimes not that great, I can live with it for the cost. Its not nearly as poor as cell service (notably Cingular).