VoIP phone line for $11.45 / month

[nekote]

The "Hot Deal" is a phone line w/unlimited in-state for $11.45 / month!

I'm trying VoIP over Comcast Broadband with BroadVoice.
At least, so far, for my teenagers' phone line.

Not perfect, yet.
No 911
Caller-ID has phone number, but no name
Calls to/from *cell* phones have a tad noticeable extra delay.
Other typical VoIP issues.

But has been a 200% winner.

$11.45 / month for an unlimited in-state phone line!
Lovely features.
Voice mail optionally also sent as .wav to a designated email address!
Everybody loves going back to 7 digit dialing (for same area code calls)!
Just need to add "#" to signal dialing done!

Also, there is OneSuite for out-of-state long distance.
OneSuite's 2.5¢ / minute even beats BroadVoice's 3.9¢ / minute rate!
(But requires calling OneSuite's local access number, rather than just dialing 1)

Further, my BroadVoice VoIP phone number is in Massachusetts.
So, with BV's unlimited in-state, I can call "access" numbers anywhere in the Mass., at no additional cost.

Therefore I also use RNK Tel's 1¢ International calling card for overseas calls. RNK only has 2 access numbers, both in Mass., both of which would ordinarily be an in-state toll call with either Comcast Digital Phone or Verizon.

Hey, I gotta' check if I can call domestic USA via my "International" 1¢ deal ???


First month's BV statement:
Balance Forward $0.00

New Charge Details
Unlimited In-State (06/07/2004 - 07/06/2004) $9.95
Regulatory Recover Fee (06/07/2004 - 07/06/2004) $1.50
Activation Fee $39.95
Device Fee $49.95
Device Discount ($49.95)
Shipping & Handling $14.95
Federal Excise Tax (3%) $0.34
Total $66.69


In response to thread responses.
Yep, as I noted, not perfect - yet.
But if it fits for you now, you're all set!
I'm very pleased and am glad to have tried / succeeded with a winner.
Especially, as a second / extra / teenager line.
For $11.45 / month, after initial equipment / ridiculous ($14.95 for ~ 1lb small package!) S&H costs.
Especially as compared to spending about $3/month for a Ring-Mate / Custom Ring "kid's number" .
And, that means ***sharing*** one line!
Rather than having a second, fully independent line.
Ahhhh, heaven !!!!
Hot Deal. IMHO, better than the current market leader, Vonage.

 

[nekote]

self bump.
Sheesh, no takers?

 

[ww4397]

Maybe this will help...

Linked.

 

[josetann]

My area is "coming soon." I've been eyeing them for a while, ever since my Packet8 DTA decided to lock up about once a day, and they do nothing except for the standard "check that it's not your router, try this firmware" answers.

 

[LarryS]

Just signed up.. will report back in a week or so with results. Got a local number in my town.

 

[MrPaulAR]

I'd just go with Vonage as they are known good. Sure, they are a little more expensive but they provide the features this Comcast doesn't have and all reviews I've seen are good.

Has 911
Unlimited long distance
Virtual phone numbers (like say you want a number in NY and Boston)

See their site for more info.

BTW, I'm not a customer and I haven't used them.

EDIT: Maybe I should read their site first.

 

[AAman]

nice idea , but appears to be very limited in area availability

 

[dpopiz]

no 911?

 

[ringzero]

I think it's all about personal preference.

My siter lives in poland and has vonage. Since she lives in poland, she needs more flexibility (better customer service, a number where i can call and be local, being able to call anyone in the US for free, etc) so vonage is obviously a better choice, and she pays more for it.

however, for me, i have my cell phone as a primary method of communcation, so i'm just looking to supplement it so i dont go over my minutes, plus i like the idea of sending/receiving faxes (yes im aware of j2) so the broadvoice for $10/mo would be a better choice for me.

So it basically boils down to:

Vonage: Good customer service, established, many features, their stuff works, better number availability, free long distance, etc... expensive

Broadvoice: good email response, new kid on the block, good featureset, their stuff works just as well, free long distance in state, cheap, no state to state ld for free, poor number availability.

 

[BoKingWen]

I never use Pocket8 before but there was a post about it eariler linky there international rate is better (at least for Hong Kong). I guess the only catch is you had to buy the hardware for packet8. I saw the review from dslreports.com and people is really satisify with it.

 

[dallas4u]

Originally posted by: ringzero
So it basically boils down to:

Vonage: ... expensive

Expensive? Relatively, right? Apples to apples it is MORE, but I wouldn't dare say expensive. I've had Vonage for almost 6 months on the 500 min. $14.99 plan. With taxes it comes out to $16 a month. That's local AND long distance. If I wanted unlimited minutes for local and long distance it would be a VERY pricey $30 a month! Considering local phone service alone is usually around $15 - $35, depending on what you include in the plan, then long distance is another $30 or so plus time used, Vonage (and most other VoIP plans) aren't too expensive.