Vonage

[CMC122]

Do any of you use it? I'd like some input in anyone has it.

Here's the linkie for the peanut gallery http://www.vonage.com/

TIA!!

 

[FancyBelle]

I don't but they sure have started doing a lot of advertising.

 

[CMC122]

I don't but they sure have started doing a lot of advertising.

My husband was on the phone with them last night for quite a while. It's a great deal and we almost did it BUT you can't dial 911 with it Vonage said that, that feature is constantly getting updated in their service area's but having 3 kids that's a big risk to take. I'm sure we could get the number to St. Mary's Communications I'm just nervous on how well that might, or might not work

Still thinking about it

 

[CMC122]

Primary Question:

Are you looking to REPLACE or SUPLEMENT your local telephone serbice from Verizon?
Replace
If you are looking to REPLACE Verizon, forget it! VONAGE is based on your broadband internet service. I suspect that is CABLE? Can you afford NOT to have phone service when the cable goes out. Remember that the Verizon local service rarely fails. It even works during power outages because they power everything with their own generators.
We've never had an outage with our cable, even with Izzy we had cable but didn't have electric for a week
If you are looking to SUPLEMENT Verizon, WHY? Long distance is so cheap, there is no way you could ever make enough calls to make Vonage worthwhile. It's $19.99 a month for unlimited calling, local and long distance. I would get rid of Verizon all together.

Other Caveats:

- Your telephone must be plugged into a network device. So, if you want to have multiple phones throughout the house, forget it unless you have one of the new multi-station wireless phones that don't require jacks for the AUX units.
My husband explained something about a converter, but I didn't really follow him.
- I tried VONAGE because I make alot of calls to South America. 9 times out of 10 I could not get through. I cancelled the service after a few weeks. I had to return the unit to them or face an additional $40 charge. This was not mentioned at signup time.Noted

- When I called, they did not have any numbers local to So. MD. I ended up with a NYC number. Will this work for you?
They have Lexington Park numbers now:shrug: Plus if I wanted to keep my number I could wait an additional 8 weeks for the service for them to do whatever it is they have to do to get the number.
I thought VONAGE was a great idea when I first heard of it. Now I wonder why anyone would ever use it, especially given their high prices. Service reliability is based on your broadband provider and cheap long distance rates can easily be found elsewhere.

When did you check into this

 

[itsbob]

Primary Question:

Are you looking to REPLACE or SUPPLEMENT your local telephone service from Verizon?

If you are looking to REPLACE Verizon, forget it! VONAGE is based on your broadband internet service. I suspect that is CABLE for you? Can you afford NOT to have phone service when the cable goes out. Remember that the Verizon local service rarely fails. It even works during power outages because they power everything with their own generators.

If you are looking to SUPPLEMENT Verizon, WHY? Long distance is so cheap, there is no way you could ever make enough calls to make Vonage worthwhile.

I got a package deal with Verizon, and all my long distance is free.. I get DSL with the package and save about 40 a month on what my phone bills use to be. *NOT a dial up LOSER like some I know!!*

 

[Triggerfish]

aaarrrgghhh....in idea it's great but I'm having major installation problems. Looks like I may be about $75 in the hole. Using trouble shooting guide and being told to mess with my IP address was a sure sign of problems. From there it got worse. Anyone know someone REALLY good at doing this kind of stuff?

 

[SmallTown]

I use Lingo (another VIOP service) and love it. $20 a month for unlimted local and long distance calls. I'm not too worried about the service going down because I have my cell phone just in case.

 

[CMC122]

I use Lingo (another VIOP service) and love it. $20 a month for unlimted local and long distance calls. I'm not too worried about the service going down because I have my cell phone just in case.

That's who we went with. They have 911 service which was the deciding factor

 

[sleuth]

Why not just get a Verizon Cell Phone, CMC?
You can get ~ 400 anytime minutes & unlimited nights and weekends for just $35 or so a month. You also get free calls to any Verizon Wireless customer.

I never use all my anytime minutes and I mostly call people on Verizon. I basically have unlimited local and unlimited long distance for $35, and I get to carry it with me.

I don't even have a home phone. Decided to cut the cord.

 

[sleuth]

By the way.. has anyone had any problems with Comcast Cable Internet lately? I've been having to reset my modem daily, when it used to be only once or twice a month at most.

 

[CMC122]

Why not just get a Verizon Cell Phone, CMC?
You can get ~ 400 anytime minutes & unlimited nights and weekends for just $35 or so a month. You also get free calls to any Verizon Wireless customer.

I never use all my anytime minutes and I mostly call people on Verizon. I basically have unlimited local and unlimited long distance for $35, and I get to carry it with me.

I don't even have a home phone. Decided to cut the cord.

I do not feel comfortable not having a home phone. I have small children and not everyone who cames over to babysit and stuff has a cell phone. Our landline gets used alot, I have an 11 year old daughter in middle school, the phone never stops ringing.

I don't get where $19.99 is expensive for phone service that includes unlimited local, long distance and a multitude of other services

 

[CMC122]

Lingo

The equipment got here in 2 days and was set up in less then 5 minutes Working fine

 

[kwillia]

The equipment got here in 2 days and was set up in less then 5 minutes Working fine

But can you hear me now...:shrug:

 

[CMC122]

But can you hear me now...:shrug:

 

[itsbob]

I do not feel comfortable not having a home phone. I have small children and not everyone who cames over to babysit and stuff has a cell phone. Our landline gets used alot, I have an 11 year old daughter in middle school, the phone never stops ringing.

I don't get where $19.99 is expensive for phone service that includes unlimited local, long distance and a multitude of other services

VERIZON will give you the same deal.. Unlimited long sdistance and allt he bells and whistles for about $20 more then the normal service..

Consumer Reports did a story on phone service this month.. would be worth a read for you!!

 

[CMC122]

VERIZON will give you the same deal.. Unlimited long sdistance and allt he bells and whistles for about $20 more then the normal service..

Consumer Reports did a story on phone service this month.. would be worth a read for you!!

But I'm now paying $19.99 a month for total phone service. This isn't in addition to anything else. See what I'm saying?

I had that Verizon deal that you're talking about but hell, now I have the same thing for about $25 less

 

[911Carrera]

I'm curious to see how your venture into "Voice Over IP" works out. I hope you plan to keep us posted on how things go. Great Price!

One thing I hate about Verizon is their service.

My Verizion phone at my home went out (total outage) about 6 months ago. It was a Tuesday morning and they wouldn't send anyone out until SUNDAY! I did the self test crap, then called back and asked for a live person. The Customer Service person said, Sunday, all day appointment, that's it.

I said, "it's Tuesday and Sunday is too long." I asked for a supervisor, same answer! It was fixed by Saturday. I never saw the Verizon tech either. They didn't credit my account either.

Let us know how things work out.

 

[CMC122]

I'm curious to see how your venture into "Voice Over IP" works out. I hope you plan to keep us posted on how things go. Great Price!

One thing I hate about Verizon is their service.

My Verizion phone at my home went out (total outage) about 6 months ago. It was a Tuesday morning and they wouldn't send anyone out until SUNDAY! I did the self test crap, then called back and asked for a live person. The Customer Service person said, Sunday, all day appointment, that's it.

I said, "it's Tuesday and Sunday is too long." I asked for a supervisor, same answer! It was fixed by Saturday. I never saw the Verizon tech either. They didn't credit my account either.

Let us know how things work out.

I've had bad Verizon experience's myself down here. Only being here for 2 years I've lost service with them several times. Each time it happened took them 5 days to come out and fix the problem.

I'm sure you'll be hearing about the new service from

 

[Oz]

I'd like to go the other way... Get rid of my $84 per month cable modem and go Verizon DSL.

 

[911Carrera]

Oz, you may find some interesting, upcoming changes with GMP's Internet service (if you live in a GMP service area).

GMP was recently acquired by another company and they will more than likely make some competitive changes in some service offerings, Internet related, High-Def channels, additional channels etc.

Most of the cable system has been rebuilt (80%+ complete and is ongoing) to a higher technical standard (fiber optic rich) which is capable of delivering additional services, faster speeds etc.

I have some friends who work at GMP.

P.S. You have a great Avatar. One of the best on somd.com