Voice-over-Internet- Does this scare anyone else?

[idea]

What exactly, if anything, is wrong with our current telephone system!? Here is the article I read today (before this, I didn't know about the changes that the major Telco's are planning on in the coming years).

http://www.nydailynews.com/12-08-2003/city_life/tech/story/145261p-128294c.html

There are drawbacks. Electricity or Internet outages knock out service; customers generally have to run extension cords to use multiple phones, and 911 service is not always provided.

Drawbacks!? They sound like down right disasters. I like my 911 service. I also liked having a phone during the Blackout of 2004. I especially like my house having a phone jack in every room I need one to.

Now let's talk about internet security. I really hope Microsoft doesn't design this system, because every hacker in the world would be calling my house or hijacking my long distance. True, I know nothing about "VOIP" but I do know something about every other internet related acronym ending in "P" -- It's open to attack day and night, to any 14 year old with a malicious script.

I think the internet and related technologies are too young for us to trust it with our telephone system that we have perfected over the years. From Pulse Dialing to Captain Crunch whistles, I think we've completed a secure telephone system for the most part and we should keep it. Who's for a petition?

 

[Zombie]

cellphones sucked at one point and now its my only phone


<--------------------- 1000th post wooohooo

 

[BatmanNate]

I'm all for the proliferation of VOIP since that is the reason Comcast is doubling the speed (from 1.5 to 3 Mb) for all of their customers, even the non VOIP subscribers.

 

[Davegod75]

http://www.skype.com/home.html

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

I'm all for anything that will take money out of the pocket of the phone companies. Namely Qwest.

 

[BillyGoat]

Get with the times, 75% of my buisiness clients are using voice over ip its cheap and just as good, takes less the 10k per line, thats alot of phone lines on a t1

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
I'm all for anything that will take money out of the pocket of the phone companies. Namely Qwest.

I'm all for that, I'd do business with Satan himself before Qwest if I had the choice.

 

[43st]

I ordered Vonage this morning.

My current provider is AT&T and it's a little over $50 per month for basic service not including any long distance (I live in NYC). The el-cheapo Vonage plan is $15 per month.

AT&T yearly cost = $600 not including long distance which in my case would bring it up to maybe a $1000 per year.

Vonage yearly cost = $180 + setup fees of $40 bringing it up to $220.

Vonage in my area includes 911 and I'm putting the new phone system and cable modem/router on a UPS. I figure it's worth a try, they're porting over my old number also. I can always change back if it's bad.

I was one of the first Mindspring customers on broadband when it first started being offered, no regrets about that either (now with Optimum).

 

I worked at a company that used 100% voip, worked great.

Everyone will fear new technology until it's proven to meet their needs. The reality of their fear hasn't changed one bit, but their perceptions have.

 

[Rob9874]

I would if I was dealing in illegal activities over the phone. But if someone wants to listen to me discuss what's for dinner, more power to them.

 

[Kadarin]

Dumb question: Is the 911 service offered by Vonage and other VOIP providers the same as the standard 911 service? Or is it their own or subcontracted service?

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: Davegod75
http://www.skype.com/home.html

pretty interesting, but it's just like conferencing with AIM/Yahoo except the quality is better. This is far from replacing real VoIP which replaces phones.

 

[43st]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
Dumb question: Is the 911 service offered by Vonage and other VOIP providers the same as the standard 911 service? Or is it their own or subcontracted service?

FAQ from Vonage site...

How is this different from dialing 911 on a regular land line?

Vonage routes your call to the Public Service Answering Point (PSAP) providing emergency services in your area. The appropriate PSAP is determined by the physical address you supplied. Therefore, if we do not have the correct address your call cannot be routed to the corresponding PSAP for your area. Another difference between Vonage's Dialing 911 service and traditional 911 services is that the Vonage call will be routed to PSAP's general access line, which is different from the 911 Emergency Response Center. You will need to state the nature of your emergency promptly and clearly, including your location and telephone number, as PSAP personnel will not have this information at hand. PSAP personnel can help you effectively and will take necessary steps to provide you with the appropriate assistance, such as dispatching police, an ambulance and/or a fire truck.

Behind the scenes, the call will go to your local emergency response access points immediately if you have provided your address. If you have not given your address, you won't be able to dial 911 at all.

Why do I have to give you my physical address?

Remember that unlike traditional phone lines, Vonage service is portable to any location with broadband Internet access. For example, you can have a New York number and receive calls in Texas. Notifying us of your physical address is the only way to locate the appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) serving your area.

 

[Davegod75]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5

Originally posted by: Davegod75
http://www.skype.com/home.html

pretty interesting, but it's just like conferencing with AIM/Yahoo except the quality is better. This is far from replacing real VoIP which replaces phones.

end to end encrypted as well. this ain't no wimpy encryption too