Vonage phone service...

[BeemerBoy]

Okay, so I think it's time to give up on the local phone company, and Vonage has me intrigued. Without turning this into some sad infomercial, does anyone out there have Vonage, and what are your thoughts on it? Worth it, or not?

 

Thanks.

[Cameron]

I signed up for Vonage a few weeks ago and am so far very happy with it. Loud, clear voice, etc.

 

When you pick out the voice-terminal, make sure you get one that sits between your router and DSL/Cable modem .. that way it can do "Quality Of Service" and give priority to the voice traffic. It means that up/downloads will be slower while you're on the phone, but the quality of the call will not suffer at all.

 

The perks are nice (having voice-mail emailed to me), along with all the free stuff. Although the virtual phone numbers are great .. I can't wait until they offer that in Australia.

 

I still have my 'real' phone, as I wanted to try out Vonage before switching for good .. but I will likely soon get my old number transfered and have my land-line disconnected.

 

Cameron.

 

ps: PM me if you want and I can give you my number so you can call and hear the quality.

[okinawaboy11]

Psh, Verizon.

 

Everything on the east coast, or atleast DC, MD, and VA are dominated by Verizon wireless. They do my Internet (FiOS! ), Cell, TV, and Home Phone.

 

It's really convienient having everything come in on one bill. lol. I've had it for 2 years and I mean, I'm pretty satisfied with it.

[shesaidboom]

I personally wouldn't get it for three reasons. 1) If you call 911 they can't trace your call like they can with a regular land line. 2) If your internet goes down you have no phone service. 3) If your power goes out you have no phone service.

[ParkTrips]

Who has home phone service anymore? I dont think I even have a phone jack in my house!

 

One of these days I may get a "landline" but it will be broadband or through FIOS (if it makes its way down here anytime soon...)

[okinawaboy11]

FIOS (if it makes its way down here anytime soon...)

 

FiOS has been amazing so far. We've had it for about 2 months. Verizon basically tore apart every neighborhood in Maryland and installed FiOS. Everyone has it here.

[Cameron]

1) If you call 911 they can't trace your call like they can with a regular land line. 2) If your internet goes down you have no phone service. 3) If your power goes out you have no phone service.

 

1) You setup your address when you sign up for Vonage, so in most areas dialing 911 is no different than from a 'real' phone.

 

2) and 3) are both true, but my I have DSL which I think has gone out about 3 or 4 times in the 7 years since I first signed up. (I know cable is a very different story). If my internet is down, or the power is out, I can use my cel-phone instead. You can also setup a backup number, to which all calls will be forward if Vonage loses contact with your voice terminal.

 

The fact that my phone bill has dropped from an average of $80 a month, to $25 a month, makes all the above points irrelavent.

 

Cameron.

[BeemerBoy]

Who has home phone service anymore? I dont think I even have a phone jack in my house!

 

People who have/ have had home-based businesses.

 

 

Btw, thanks for the feedback so far guys. I appreciate it.