phone service over the internet

[jared22]

Has anyone had any experience using VOIP for their phone service? I am looking into services like Vonage or Voicepulse and wonder what people experiences are.

[guitarman]

I've had VoicePulse for about 2 weeks now. So far, I love it. Crystal clear calls, unbeatable features, and amazing prices.

[andrec8513]

I have had Vonage since last March. Not one problem and sound quality is as good or better than a pots line.

[jay]

Bump. I'm looking into Vonage and similar services. Anyone want to chime in with your experience?

[john802]

Originally posted by jay
Bump. I'm looking into Vonage and similar services. Anyone want to chime in with your experience?

Since January, I've been using a hardware-based IP phone service VoicePulse to place a call. It's cheaper than my local phone service. You need a broadband connection & a router to do this. The service call quality is excellent. Check here for some info about hardware-based services.

-john

[PaulV7]

we use VoIP at my work. We split our T1 out so about half is data and half are voice lines.

We have never had a problem, best thing is I can program everyones phone from my computer.

I'm not sure if they go residentail housing but www.uslec.com is our provider

[kaigoss]

They don't offer my area code. Does that mean when people from within town call me, they have to pay the intra-state rate???

[jared22]

I signed up with Voicepulse about 4 months ago. So far the service is great. The sound quality to better than my landline with MCI. Can't understand why more people aren't using this service. Its much cheaper than the bells.

[jay]

I bit the bullet today, and signed up with Vonage. I bought the hardware at Best Buy- $89.99 with a $50 mail in rebate. I use my home phone infrequently, so the 500 minute anywhere US or Canada plan for $14.99 was attractive. I plan to drop Verizon and their Freedom plan, and save $50 a month.

Setup of the hardware was easy, and activation over the web was super easy. Within 20 minutes I has a phone number (couldn't port my old Contel/GTE/Verizon number) and had voicemail and call forwarding set up (I have calls to my home number ring on my cell phone too, pretty neat.) So far, so good.

Maybe next month I'll be able to report on a true Verizon FREEDOM plan.

[ndusyn]

Have been a Vonage customer for about 6 months now & extremely pleased with their service. I initially had problems 'cause my ISP (TimeWarner Cable) did some netowrk reconfiguration (knew this since my IP address changed radically, entirley different subnet) and my UPLOAD data rate dropped at times to ~ 12Kbit! After the usual hassle with tech support & their assumption of a dumb consumer, I get them to recognize the problem. My upload rate is now ~360 Kbit and download is ~2600 Kbit. Vonage needs at least 90Kbit upload datarate to function correctly. Given that, it just works extremely well. Whenever I travel & will end up with a broadband connection, I take the box and a spare router with me and have my local number with me!

[ramirami]

...hardly use the landline phone and want to get rid of it. However the wife is reluctant to be without a "home" phone. Was looking at getting a VoIP phone (probably from Vonage) as its much cheaper than maintaing the regular phone....

any one has experience using these...how is the quality...and any complains as such??

[john802]

It's been discuss before. Check here. I've been using voice pulse for almost a year now & no complain.

[ramirami]

Originally posted by john802
It's been discuss before. Check here. I've been using voice pulse for almost a year now & no complain.

D'oh!!...thanks I merged the threads


so how do folks with the VoIP service manage to have more than one phone at home?

[TheWorm]

I've had Voicepulse in the home office for the past 4-6 months. It's been excellent in terms of voice quality and reliability.

Some of the features are very cool...I have mine simultaneously ring the home office and my cellphone, and the ability to have voicemails emailed to ya is pretty neat, too.

I personally would not abandon traditional phone service in favor of VoIP (and we haven't; still have SBC for the regular line), as VoIP doesn't provide true 911 capabilities, nor will it work during a power (or cable) outage.

That said, as an additional line it is an outstanding (and very cost effective) alternative.

[ramirami]

Originally posted by TheWorm
as VoIP doesn't provide true 911 capabilities, nor will it work during a power (or cable) outage.

vonage should be comng out with true 911 capability pretty soon....(i worked on the system that does it) ....as for a outage yes thats true.....

but I am looking at alternatives to getting rid of the phone line all togeather...