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Need some help deciding on VONAGE/SKYPE/PACKET8/SUNROCKET or (???) somebody *other* than Verizon......

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Originally posted by: redgtxdi
Skype sounds cool, but being that there are too many parents/grandparents involved I'd have to steer clear. (If I were still a bachelor, though I'd be totally all over it!)


So between Vonage/Sunrocket/packet8.........any big advantages/disadvantages between the 3???

(Looks like Sunrocket hits you w/ $39.95 equipment charge. The other 2 don't??????) 😕
Click to expand...

No equip charges for Sunrocket. Been a subscriber for 21 months and I am very happy.

Read the Sunrocket thread in Hot Deals for more than you would ever want to know.
 
Originally posted by: azoomee
Sunrocket -- been really happy with them.
Click to expand...
Same here. I've had them since the first week of the original Hot Deals thread (almost 2 years now!). No problems, cheap, free equipment/phones.
 
Originally posted by: redgtxdi
Skype sounds cool, but being that there are too many parents/grandparents involved I'd have to steer clear. (If I were still a bachelor, though I'd be totally all over it!)
Click to expand...

no, no , no
skypeOut and skypeIn means people can call you with a normal phone to a normal phone number and you can call regular telephone numbers

you are the only one that has to use a computer and they have skype phones that are just like "real" phones, so even you don't have to be a computer genius
 

only reason I haven't dumped the landline is because of my home alarm system.

need to see how much getting a panel that has cellular backup so I can ditch the landline...

anyone able to use their VOIP phones with satellite STB's that require a landline connection or monitored home alarm systems?
 
Originally posted by: FoBoT
no, no , no
skypeOut and skypeIn means people can call you with a normal phone to a normal phone number and you can call regular telephone numbers

you are the only one that has to use a computer and they have skype phones that are just like "real" phones, so even you don't have to be a computer genius
Click to expand...


Ahh........OK, I think I get it now. And you'd basically just use like a headset on your computer and a "skype browser" would be your dialer, etc. Correct?? (Website has tons of info, but none of it very simple. Lotsa' text.....needs to be condensed).

And skype-phone would definitely be a must.


Only problem I have w/ them as a service is that it appears after the end of the year, they're gonna be a "per minute" company and I don't know if that's as care-free as an "unlimited" setup like the other three companies.

????

P.S. Also looks like "in" & "out" (mmm, now I'm hungry....LOL) still cost something as a little "subscription" fee so only skype to skype is free. (Still, not bad, but then you've got 2 pieces of software/subscription to deal with, etc.)
 
Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
Originally posted by: redgtxdi
(Looks like Sunrocket hits you w/ $39.95 equipment charge. The other 2 don't??????) 😕
Click to expand...

No equip charges for Sunrocket. Been a subscriber for 21 months and I am very happy.

Read the Sunrocket thread in Hot Deals for more than you would ever want to know.
Click to expand...



Even when I go to the direct link from the "official sunrocket thread" it still show..........."Equipment Only $39.95" 😕
 
Doh!!! Just saw what's called a "Skype" key on ebay!


Do Skype keys really make things as easy as it sounds??????
 
Originally posted by: redgtxdi
Originally posted by: FoBoT
no, no , no
skypeOut and skypeIn means people can call you with a normal phone to a normal phone number and you can call regular telephone numbers

you are the only one that has to use a computer and they have skype phones that are just like "real" phones, so even you don't have to be a computer genius
Click to expand...


Ahh........OK, I think I get it now. And you'd basically just use like a headset on your computer and a "skype browser" would be your dialer, etc. Correct?? (Website has tons of info, but none of it very simple. Lotsa' text.....needs to be condensed).

And skype-phone would definitely be a must.


Only problem I have w/ them as a service is that it appears after the end of the year, they're gonna be a "per minute" company and I don't know if that's as care-free as an "unlimited" setup like the other three companies.

????

P.S. Also looks like "in" & "out" (mmm, now I'm hungry....LOL) still cost something as a little "subscription" fee so only skype to skype is free. (Still, not bad, but then you've got 2 pieces of software/subscription to deal with, etc.)
Click to expand...

A skype phone is not a must. I purchased one of these a while back and love it. It lets me use any phone as a skype phone. In my case, I use a 2-line cordless system, where line 1 is my POTS and line 2 is Skype.
 
Originally posted by: redgtxdi
Only problem I have w/ them as a service is that it appears after the end of the year, they're gonna be a "per minute" company and I don't know if that's as care-free as an "unlimited" setup like the other three companies.

P.S. Also looks like "in" & "out" (mmm, now I'm hungry....LOL) still cost something as a little "subscription" fee so only skype to skype is free. (Still, not bad, but then you've got 2 pieces of software/subscription to deal with, etc.)
Click to expand...
All the Skype stuff is done through one software program.

SkypeIn allows unlimited incoming calls (with caller-id and voicemail) for a yearly fee (I think it's like $25-$30).

SkypeOut is free to US/Canada numbers for the rest of the year, and the normal rate is 2 cents per minute (which you prepay for in blocks of $10).

Skype-to-Skype calls are completely free and also offer video chat.
 
Went with Vonage a couple months ago to dump my AT&T line. 50 a month vs. $15 for Vonage on a line I don't use a lot(cell reception sucks in my building) was an easy choice.

Plugged everything in and no problems so far.
 
Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
Even when I go to the direct link from the "official sunrocket thread" it still show...........https://www.sunrocket.com/sign_up/signup.do">---Equipment Only $39.95---</a> 😕
Click to expand...

Interesting. AFAIK it's always been free. Neither the AT thread or sunrocketforum.com have anything about a 39.95 charge anywhere. This may be very new. Checking....
Click to expand...



Thanks for the feedback gang. Missed the last few posts y'all put up back on 9/12. I still haven't made a decision yet.


Anybody find anything out about the $39.95 equipment charge thru sunrocket???
 
Originally posted by: Thraxen
Originally posted by: redgtxdi
OK........looks like I already learned something............

VOIP uses VOIP phones *only*???

(Or can you still use a regular phone w/ some type of converter??
Click to expand...

You can use normal phones with most (all?) of them. You just usually get a router to plug into your broadband. We have Vonage at our house and we have had virtually no problems with it. It has lots of nifty features that you can configure yourself from a web page.

I've not tried the VOIP service that our ISP has just started offering, so I don't know how it compares, but the Vonage has thus far been good.
Click to expand...


Yep same here.

Also you know you can get Vonage for $15 a month. That includes 500 minutes or so. Me and the wife don't use the phone much and we have cells so it works out well for $15 a month.
:thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: fire400
cell phone..?
Click to expand...

Already addressed that one, but there still are a few instances where a "home phone" is needed. Cell minutes, cell batteries & most significant....... cell reception issues, etc.


I'm seriously thinkin' the Vonage $15 plan. (My only fear is that once we *had* long-distance ability again, perhaps we'd abuse it more & push over that 500 minute mark??)

Dunno.

Also, still wonderin' if anybody's signed up w/ sunrocket lately & really had to pay that $39 equipment charge???
 
Originally posted by: redgtxdi
Originally posted by: fire400
cell phone..?
Click to expand...

Already addressed that one, but there still are a few instances where a "home phone" is needed. Cell minutes, cell batteries & most significant....... cell reception issues, etc.


I'm seriously thinkin' the Vonage $15 plan. (My only fear is that once we *had* long-distance ability again, perhaps we'd abuse it more & push over that 500 minute mark??)

Dunno.

Also, still wonderin' if anybody's signed up w/ sunrocket lately & really had to pay that $39 equipment charge???
Click to expand...


Well you can go online and see how many minutes you have used with Vonage. So if you see you are using 500+ minutes then juts upgrade to the $24.99 plan.
 
Ahhh............very good idea!!!! Me likeeee!! (Thanks Marlin!)




Or maybe ya' think it'd be better (since they're currently doing the 6mos. at $19.99 thing) to do the "unlimited" for 6 months, then jump down to the $15 plan?????

Just to kinda' get the whole "being able to call anybody/anytime" kinda' thing outta our system. 😛
 
OH, BTW...............


Anybody know what comes in those orange Vonage boxes???

I looked at a Super Wal Mart this weekend in an effort to push me over the fence, but it doesn't look like they carry 'em.


Anybody know where you can actually "buy" those little boxes???
 
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