Going VOIP... a few questions....

[QED]

I'm sick and tired of paying $60+ a month for my land-line phone service. I don't make a lot of long distance calls, but it's mostly the extended local calls that bloat my phone bill.

Anyways, I'm looking at switching over to VoIP... but what provider to go with?

I would've thought Vonage, but after hearing some of thorror stories here I'd rather not.

Sunrocket sounds great, but theire websites claims they don't offer service in my neighborhood-- which leads me to my next question: WTF does it matter what neighborhood I'm in? The only thing I can think of is they won't be able to offer me a phone number that corresponds the neighborhood I'm in... but I don't really care about that. Couldn't they give me a phone number for an area that they do supposedly service? Or is there some FCC mandate against this?

Also, are there any other providers you guys can recommend? Or is there some website that will show you what providers are available for a particular area (like DSL reports used to have for broadband)?

 

[ajayjuneja]

just had to deal with vonage tech support last night to get a new router. They suck.

Use packet 8 if you have the chance, or someone other than vonage!

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Wait a couple months. Earthlink will have their DSL/VOIP bundle out. It will have 911 calling and free unlimited LD and local calls. They use the Covad network as well as PSTN network. At least go read about it.

 

[astrosfan90]

Check out the SunRocket thread in the Hot Deals forum, they can answer a lot of your questions and someone can probably help you figure out what the deal is (ie, how to get it anyway) with the availability.

SR Hot Deals Thread

 

[TheTony]

Originally posted by: MathMan

WTF does it matter what neighborhood I'm in?

E911 is another reason it's not available everywhere. As they reach agreements with more regional/local carriers, this is less of an issue.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Originally posted by: MathMan



Sunrocket sounds great, but theire websites claims they don't offer service in my neighborhood-- which leads me to my next question: WTF does it matter what neighborhood I'm in? The only thing I can think of is they won't be able to offer me a phone number that corresponds the neighborhood I'm in... but I don't really care about that. Couldn't they give me a phone number for an area that they do supposedly service? Or is there some FCC mandate against this?

They have to be able to offer 911 service, and if that service is not in your area, no service.

 

[Crono]

I have the Cabelvision's Optimum Triple Play, which is $30 a month each for VoIP, cable tv, and cable broadband for the first year (it's now at something like $120 total for me since it's been more than a year). The line quality is good and luckily I haven't had any need for customer service. Overall I am happy with their service.

 

[RossMAN]

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/voip

 

[KoolAidKid]

Some providers will allow you to use their service if they have numbers available in your local calling area. I know for a fact that ViaTalk allows this, other companies may as well. In my experience Sunrocket is very firm in their availability policy. In my case, SR's service was available in a town 6 miles from my house (in my local calling area) but they would not let me sign up for service.

 

[QED]

Hmmm... took a look at Verizon's offering. It's kind of a shame they don't offer free unlimited call to/from Verizon Wireless numbers included in the plan-- that would be pretty sweet. Without that, they are way too expensive, and their reviews are horrible.

Looks like Packet8 is available in my area... I'll probably go with them.

 

[RossMAN]

If you go with Packet8 and need new phones:
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=334652

 

[Linux23]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
If you go with Packet8 and need new phones:
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=334652

Rossman, you still with SunRocket?