Vonage going down the pooper

[paulney]

Originally posted by: Andy22

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Dunno why, but there is just something about VOIP that I just don't feel comfortable with. Admittedly, I have never tried it... but something about it just doesn't feel right.

The main problem is that it does not work if your power goes out. Although I suppose a vonage box + cable modem + router could run for a while off a UPS.

Most people have cell phones for those rare occasions.

A bigger problem for me is that you basically can't send or receive fax messages using VOIP.

 

[Crucial]

Originally posted by: paulney

Originally posted by: Andy22

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Dunno why, but there is just something about VOIP that I just don't feel comfortable with. Admittedly, I have never tried it... but something about it just doesn't feel right.

The main problem is that it does not work if your power goes out. Although I suppose a vonage box + cable modem + router could run for a while off a UPS.

Most people have cell phones for those rare occasions.

A bigger problem for me is that you basically can't send or receive fax messages using VOIP.

I do this every day with my Vonage line and have no problems. Having a quality modem helps. It was spotty with a cheap Brother fax but I put in a better quality fax machine and have had no problems since.

 

[Miramonti]

I don't know if this took affect already, but Vonage already signed a deal avoid further patent infringement.

For the judge right now to disallow Vonage from signing new customers is like her making the effort to reach far enough up their @ss to choke them, and is completely inappropriate and abusive due to the circumstances.

Vonage should be able to get an emergency stay on this one.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Andy22

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Dunno why, but there is just something about VOIP that I just don't feel comfortable with. Admittedly, I have never tried it... but something about it just doesn't feel right.

The main problem is that it does not work if your power goes out. Although I suppose a vonage box + cable modem + router could run for a while off a UPS.

Most people have cell phones for those rare occasions.

Which is why I have never worried about using Vonage as my main phone line.

FWIW, I have a friend who works at Vonage and he is not concerned about the future of the company.

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: UTmtnbiker
What's everybody's backup plan in case Vonage does get flushed? I've been with them for over 2 years now and don't want to lose my number.

I'm debating between the following:

1. Switching to another VOIP (but let's face it, Verizon has set precedence - unless you license their technology, they're going to start going after all VOIP providers that are using their tech)
2. Going back to Qwest *SHUDDER*
3. Other option???!!!??

You can always use Skype. You can get a call out (I paid $19,95 for a years service) and you can get a years worth of free unlimited incoming with a number for, I think, $30-$40 a year. Caller ID, Call waiting, the whole regular phone package, only down side, if you want to call it this, is it goes through your pc so it has to be on to make and take calls. I have had skype in for over a year now, had it when it was free and for $20 for the year, everyone I know is out of state, cant be beat. Never had a dropped call, and everyone I talk to cannot tell if Im talking into a headset going through my pc. Caller id for everyone I come up as 1001010100101, cray ass numbers so if I wanted to prank call people I dont know, they would never be able to trace me

As soon as I can afford to Im got for the SkypeIN plan as well and dumping my home phone completly, as for 911 I can just use one of the cell phones I have laying in a box. May not have service, but 911 will always still work on them.

 

[FoBoT]

and you can get adapters for skype to use your regular cordless phones

i use skype and cell phones only

 

[Zolty]

good then they can stop sending me junk mail.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Dunno why, but there is just something about VOIP that I just don't feel comfortable with. Admittedly, I have never tried it... but something about it just doesn't feel right.

It's great. I have Vonage and it pisses me off to no end that it might be going away. Charter, in it's infinite crappiness does not offer VOIP here.

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
and you can get adapters for skype to use your regular cordless phones

i use skype and cell phones only

Do you have a link to this of which you speak???

 

[eplebnista]

Originally posted by: funboy42

Originally posted by: FoBoT
and you can get adapters for skype to use your regular cordless phones

i use skype and cell phones only

Do you have a link to this of which you speak???

several options available

I was looking at vonage too as they just recently added my area to their number transfer list.

 

[paulney]

Originally posted by: Crucial

Originally posted by: paulney

Originally posted by: Andy22

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Dunno why, but there is just something about VOIP that I just don't feel comfortable with. Admittedly, I have never tried it... but something about it just doesn't feel right.

The main problem is that it does not work if your power goes out. Although I suppose a vonage box + cable modem + router could run for a while off a UPS.

Most people have cell phones for those rare occasions.

A bigger problem for me is that you basically can't send or receive fax messages using VOIP.

I do this every day with my Vonage line and have no problems. Having a quality modem helps. It was spotty with a cheap Brother fax but I put in a better quality fax machine and have had no problems since.

Wow. They must have done something about it. I remember when I was considering Vonage for the office, they even had it in official FAQ that fax transmission was an issue.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
and you can get adapters for skype to use your regular cordless phones

i use skype and cell phones only

I use Skype ON my cellphone..the quality really depends on my coverage area, but when it's good, it's FANTASTIC.

 

[Chaotic42]

Vonage is allowed to sign up new customers again. For now.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: paulney

Originally posted by: Crucial

Originally posted by: paulney

Originally posted by: Andy22

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Dunno why, but there is just something about VOIP that I just don't feel comfortable with. Admittedly, I have never tried it... but something about it just doesn't feel right.

The main problem is that it does not work if your power goes out. Although I suppose a vonage box + cable modem + router could run for a while off a UPS.

Most people have cell phones for those rare occasions.

A bigger problem for me is that you basically can't send or receive fax messages using VOIP.

I do this every day with my Vonage line and have no problems. Having a quality modem helps. It was spotty with a cheap Brother fax but I put in a better quality fax machine and have had no problems since.

Wow. They must have done something about it. I remember when I was considering Vonage for the office, they even had it in official FAQ that fax transmission was an issue.

I've sent a fax using sunrocket with no problem. I haven't tried receiving one.

 

[cherrytwist]

I've gone with Sunrocket and couldn't be more pleased (after some initial customer service issues, regarding offers, not the service itself).

 

[waggy]

Vonage is allowed to sign people up again.

 

[FoBoT]

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provid....aspx?feed=FT&Date=20070406&ID=6717891

Vonage Holdings, the US-based broadband telephony pioneer, won a temporary reprieve late on Friday when an appeals court gave it permission to continue to sign up new customers pending a full hearing of a patent infringement suit.

Earlier in the day, a lower court ordered Vonage to stop signing up new customers after last month's decision that Vonage had infringed three VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology patents held by Verizon Communications.

 

[RossMAN]

SkypeOut FTW

 

[43st]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
SkypeOut FTW

I think it's been mentioned before but if Vonage goes down because of this then all VoIP providers are at risk. The main issue being connecting calls to standard phone lines. So no 'FTW' on this one. Maybe we can all start using Teamspeak though, it's free.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: 43st

Originally posted by: RossMAN
SkypeOut FTW

I think it's been mentioned before but if Vonage goes down because of this then all VoIP providers are at risk. The main issue being connecting calls to standard phone lines. So no 'FTW' on this one. Maybe we can all start using Teamspeak though, it's free.

Better than TeamSpeak

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: 43st

Originally posted by: RossMAN
SkypeOut FTW

I think it's been mentioned before but if Vonage goes down because of this then all VoIP providers are at risk. The main issue being connecting calls to standard phone lines. So no 'FTW' on this one. Maybe we can all start using Teamspeak though, it's free.

Well if that is how it goes, atleast I am only out $20 for the whole year with Skypeout and not $25 a month if I had Vonage

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: funboy42

Originally posted by: 43st

Originally posted by: RossMAN
SkypeOut FTW

I think it's been mentioned before but if Vonage goes down because of this then all VoIP providers are at risk. The main issue being connecting calls to standard phone lines. So no 'FTW' on this one. Maybe we can all start using Teamspeak though, it's free.

Well if that is how it goes, atleast I am only out $20 for the whole year with Skypeout and not $25 a month if I had Vonage

We paid $14.99 each

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Better than TeamSpeak

I thought you loved truth, justice, happiness, and all that was good, but now I see you use Ventrillo...

 

[Miramonti]

Currently there are plenty of alternatives, but a voip failure of Vonage's size will be a huge blow to the voip industry, which is still fighting an uphill battle to gain confidence from mainstream america. Most people don't like change as it is, and this will give them another reason to reject or delay switching to voip.

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: jjsole
Currently there are plenty of alternatives, but a voip failure of Vonage's size will be a huge blow to the voip industry, which is still fighting an uphill battle to gain confidence from mainstream america. Most people don't like change as it is, and this will give them another reason to reject or delay switching to voip.

Frankly I don't see VoIP ever becoming the mainstream solution.

It's too dependant on other factors, namely quality of internet service (mine sketches out and so the call quality sucks).

I just use VoIP because it's a cheaper practical solution.. but when I can afford it you'd better bet I'm going back to a reliabile land line.