Vonage going down the pooper

yobarman

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
11,642
1
0
no new suscribers...

Not only that... but if you're using Vonage you're probably not able to receive calls right now. It's not good if you're running a business and can't answer your calls. Ugh. I think its time to switch to something else.
 

Boonesmi

Lifer
Feb 19, 2001
14,448
1
81
sunrocket has really worked well for me




edited to add:

had it for about 2 years.. each year i was able to find a deal for about $100-$120 per year (2nd year is about up :( ) not sure ill be able to get it as cheap for the next year.

sunrocket.com
 

KK

Lifer
Jan 2, 2001
15,903
4
81
I jumped ship to AT&T callvantage about 2 weeks ago. So far so good, plus its basically free with the employee toll reimbursement.

If you have cingular you can get the unlimited calling plan for $20. I personally don't have cingular but I got a cingular work phone that I put in to qualify.
 

Crucial

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
5,026
0
71
I am getting calls just fine at home and my office. This judge sounds like she has it out for Vonage.
 

UTmtnbiker

Diamond Member
Nov 17, 2000
4,129
4
81
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???!!!??
 

tw1164

Diamond Member
Dec 8, 1999
3,995
0
76
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???!!!??

I think I'll go w/ verzion's VOIP, I hope to get a package deal when they start to offer cable in my area.
 

yobarman

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
11,642
1
0
We have comcast internet, so i figured a switch to their VoIP would be best to keep everything in one place, but i'm not familiar on their service.
 

skrilla

Senior member
Oct 22, 2004
833
0
71
That kinda sucks.

I have had Vonage for about 6 months. The other alternative is going back to comcast at 30+/month. The reason I switched is because I didn't like paying in the mid $100's for my Comcast bill (cable/phone/internet).

It is probably time to just do away with my home phone.
 

hanoverphist

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2006
9,867
23
76
Originally posted by: Crucial
I am getting calls just fine at home and my office. This judge sounds like she has it out for Vonage.

if the judge had it out for vonage she would have shut them down. to rule no new subs instead of stopping operations altogether at least lets them continue to operate with the current revenue they are gaining. they are basically stagnated tho, but not dead. id say she was giving the company a chance to NOT go into debt or get into a trouble spot from no operations and massive overhead costs.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Considering that I haven't even had a phone hooked up to my Vonage box in months, and the TiVo that has been using it has been switched to ethernet, it's just a glorified voicemail service for me. I think I'm just going to get SkypeOut + SkypeIn.
 

43st

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 2001
3,197
0
0
Still works fine for me, calls from the in-laws are still coming through... but that may be black magic or voodoo though. :p
 

KarenMarie

Elite Member
Sep 20, 2003
14,372
6
81
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.
 

Mr Incognito

Golden Member
Feb 20, 2007
1,035
0
0
Originally posted by: skrilla
That kinda sucks.

I have had Vonage for about 6 months. The other alternative is going back to comcast at 30+/month. The reason I switched is because I didn't like paying in the mid $100's for my Comcast bill (cable/phone/internet).

It is probably time to just do away with my home phone.

Doesn't Comcast do a 99.00 dollar for everything plan? Or is that only for new subscribers?
 

jlbenedict

Banned
Jul 10, 2005
3,724
0
0
I may go with a couple of coffee cans tied together with a piece of string in the upcoming future

:p
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
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.
 

yuppiejr

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2002
1,317
0
0
Interesting... It sounds like Verizon is abusing the patent system to drown competition in hope of gaining market share long term, would be funny to see Vonage fight back with an anti-trust lawsuit. From the sounds of it, the issue is with the VOIP/POTS handoff technology used which ALL of the non "big-Bell" VOIP telephony providers must use to make calls to land lines. If this suit sticks it's entirely possible Verizon could go right down the list of smaller independents like Sunrocket, Skype, etc... which is bad for everyone but Verizon and the other big Telecom behemoths. This is the same concept that RDRAM used to try and hold the RAM manufacturers hostage that took years to sort out and ultimately cost consumers in the form of higher RAM prices.

IMHO - this is bad for the industry and the consumer since it's effectively a dirty way to kill off the competition that currently forces Verison to innovate and price their products competivitely. I have enjoyed superb service from Vonage for 2 years now and have no intention of jumping ship to support one of the big boys. Love or hate Vonage this is a bigger issue than them against Verizon and will impact ALL of the independent VOIP providers out there.
 

sohcrates

Diamond Member
Sep 19, 2000
7,949
0
0
i've had vonage for 2 years as well and i've been following this case pretty closely


i don't intend to do anything until i pick up my phone someday and it doesn't work

at that point though, i'll definitely try to get some type of number portability so i can take my vonage phone number over to some other voip service i guess

 

Boonesmi

Lifer
Feb 19, 2001
14,448
1
81
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.

it can... and does... a sucky $20 ups ran mine for about 45min while the power was out (im not sure how long it would have lasted, power was only out for 45min)
 

yuppiejr

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2002
1,317
0
0
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.

That's pretty much the standard configuration for the Comcast and other "pro" digital phone setups I've seen installed. When I put Vonage in my house I threw a UPS in to power my router, cablemodem, VOIP adapter for 2 hours during a power outage. Pretty much anyone worth their salt doing a DIY VOIP setup is going to have a battery backup installed.

Funny thing is, most people I've seen who are afraid of using VOIP because they would lose their voice service during a power outage also have cordless phones. When the power goes, so does their base station which means bye-bye phone service.
 

RbSX

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2002
8,351
1
76
I dunno, I haven't had any problems and 20$ a month with no 'connection' fees.. it's worth it imho.
 

Andy22

Golden Member
Jun 8, 2001
1,425
0
71
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.
 

tw1164

Diamond Member
Dec 8, 1999
3,995
0
76
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 lot of people have only cordless phones in their homes, so even with POTS they can't make phone calls.
 

OzzieGT

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
506
4
81
Yeah...I'm not sure what I am going to do either. I have had Vonage for at least 3 years now. I might try sunrocket. I need the unlimited calling to Canada...