Where's internet phone at? Do I still need a landline?

[bovinda]

Wife and I are finally moving next week. Trying to get all the services I need figured out now. As we're still on a limited budget for the next three years, I'm trying to figure out what we really need.

We have cell phones, so do we really need a landline anymore? And couldn't we just use an internet phone for that anyway? Where is that at? I remember a few years back when there was a lot of talk about Vonage and Skype and all that.

Anyone use an internet phone service? If so, what are your thoughts on using your PC rather than having a hard land line?

 

[mfenn]

If your phone usage is light, Skype is a good deal. There was a big thread the other day about VOIP. Lemme try to dig it up.

EDIT: Here it is.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I use MagicJack. I paid something like $95 for the device ($40), five years of service ($50), and shipping ($5).

So I have an "internet landline" until 2013, for under $100 bucks. I've been using it for over a year, I would say that it's 99% reliable. A few times, I've called people and they can't hear me, or I couldn't hear them. But lately it's been fine. Also, during periods of heavy demand (holidays), sometimes they adjust the call limit timer. One time it was set to 30 minutes. So if you talk longer than that, it just hangs up on you. The "normal" limit timer is something like 2 hours.

Also, if you use your MagicJack "too much" (they won't tell you how much is too much), then they will stop giving you free calls, and require you to purchase international minutes on their web site to continue to make calls. The service is not "unlimited", and is not advertised as such.

 

[bovinda]

If your phone usage is light, Skype is a good deal. There was a big thread the other day about VOIP. Lemme try to dig it up.

EDIT: Here it is.

Great thread! Thanks for the link, mfenn.

I'll check out the Magic Jack as well, though it seems like others are concerned it may be bloated with spyware/adware?

 

[Fox5]

Get a cell phone with wifi and skype built in and you're good to go.

 

[mmntech]

I use MagicJack. I paid something like $95 for the device ($40), five years of service ($50), and shipping ($5).

So I have an "internet landline" until 2013, for under $100 bucks. I've been using it for over a year, I would say that it's 99% reliable. A few times, I've called people and they can't hear me, or I couldn't hear them. But lately it's been fine. Also, during periods of heavy demand (holidays), sometimes they adjust the call limit timer. One time it was set to 30 minutes. So if you talk longer than that, it just hangs up on you. The "normal" limit timer is something like 2 hours.

Also, if you use your MagicJack "too much" (they won't tell you how much is too much), then they will stop giving you free calls, and require you to purchase international minutes on their web site to continue to make calls. The service is not "unlimited", and is not advertised as such.

Well there's a great example of something being too good to be true. Skype doesn't have that limitation. Well they do but that's only if you really abuse the service, like racking up over a thousand minutes.

Skype isn't perfect but it works. Nothing beats a land line just yet but they do still gouge people on long distance. I'd look into a commercial VOIP service like Vonage or one through your cable company.

It's also worth noting that most VOIP phones don't support emergency (911) calling. Something to consider.

 

[simonizor]

Skype should work just fine for you. You get a local number that people can call (you select the area), the prices are pretty cheap ($2.99 for unlimited US and Canada then $30/year to have the local number), and the call quality was always good for me when I used it.

You have many choices when it comes to how to use it. You can buy a phone that plugs into your computer, or you could have a cell phone (or even an iPod touch with a mic pluged in) that has skype on it and use skype when you're connected to wifi.

 

[M0RPH]

I don't think I've heard any reasons why he needs a landline instead of just using cell phones. If there is a reason, let's hear it. Personally, I'd say you don't need it.

 

[Zap]

I use MagicJack... I've been using it for over a year, I would say that it's 99% reliable. A few times, I've called people and they can't hear me, or I couldn't hear them. But lately it's been fine. Also, during periods of heavy demand (holidays), sometimes they adjust the call limit timer. One time it was set to 30 minutes. So if you talk longer than that, it just hangs up on you. The "normal" limit timer is something like 2 hours.
...
The service is not "unlimited", and is not advertised as such.

Thanks for the info. Your description of the reliability actually sounds as good or better than my mobile phone service.

The call timer is interesting. If it hangs up on you, can you just redial?

It's also worth noting that most VOIP phones don't support emergency (911) calling.

Magic Jack supposedly does. You have to register your address with them for it to work.

I actually just bought a Magic Jack from Best Buy. Haven't hooked it up yet, but once I make it work, I'll be canceling my landline. I barely use the landline and I'm looking forward to losing the number. Whoever had my number previously was a total loser. Since I got the number (5 years ago) I've gotten numerous calls from collectors asking for someone I don't know. I also get telemarketing calls in Chinese, calls from "your local fire/police association" and most recently I've been getting endless collect calls from prisons through Global Tel, plus the occasional call asking me to dial *72-something. :thumbsdown:

 

[RebateMonger]

I've used Vonage for several years. It's been quite reliable (I have a Cox Business Internet connection) and the voice quality is good. I love the simul-ring option, where my phone numbers ring simultaneously. I can change my location and my cell phone at will and always be sure I'll get any inbound calls.

If you have an "unlimited-usage" cell phone contract, then you don't really need a "land" line. But if you spend hours on the phone, then VOIP is cost-effective. Vonage, while pricier than bargain-basement VOIP services, is super-simple to set up and use. It's all done with conventional phones. With taxes, Vonage is about $30 a month for unlimited calls.

 

[kornphlake]

Vonage does support 911 calls, you have to enable it by providing your home address though. I've had vonage for 2 years and haven't had any problems other than having to reboot the box a couple times a year.

Our household makes way too many calls for anything less than an unlimited cell phone plan to be a possibility, I haven't seen any unlimited cell phone plans for less than $30, so I stay with Vonage. Oomba looks like it might be a good alternative if you plan on keeping it for a couple years, and the service remains available that long.

The best argument I've ever heard for keeping a landline is that if the cell phone towers are some how damaged (volcanic ash?) a copper line might stand a better chance of working.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

i havent had a land line in 9 years, no problems

 

[VirtualLarry]

If everyone gets rid of their hard lines, how are we supposed to escape from the Matrix?

 

[rudder]

I don't think I've heard any reasons why he needs a landline instead of just using cell phones. If there is a reason, let's hear it. Personally, I'd say you don't need it.

The only advantage of a landline is that if you dial 911... your address pops up on the operators computer. I have small kids so I keep a land line for this reason.

Vonage does support 911 calls, you have to enable it by providing your home address though. .

Is this 911 call center specific? I may call my local 911 to see... but of course if the power is out the landline is still working. I figured there had to be someway of registering numbers.

 

[corkyg]

My "land line" is bundled with my cable Internet and TV. Long distance is free like a cell phone. It runs 24/7/365 whereas my computers do not. We also have 2 cell phones - and those are what we consider the luxury items. They cost more than the phone segment of our cable bill.

The "land line" has caller ID, call waiting, etc., - all free. All calls get screened by our answering machine, so we basically eliminate spam calls.

We don't intend to change to cell only. They are not wholly reliable in all areas, but they are getting better. I personally dislike talking on a phone of any kind - always have. I have never understood the compulsion to yack to someone as soon as one gets behind the wheel of a car.

On the other hand, if we were to use a computer-embedded service, it would be Vonage or Skype. Skype has, however, lately become the darling of spammers. I've learned to recognize their Caller ID signature as 000-000-0000 and zap them immediately.

 

[zerogear]

I still have a landline, mainly because if there is a power outage, my security system monitoring will not be 'disabled'. Though I can't see much reason to keep a landline unless you need one for the security system.

 

[phait]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Jack#Criticisms

 

[kalrith]

I've been using MagicJack for 2 years, and I really like it. You can't beat the price, and I've experienced very few negatives with it. I leave my computer on 24/7, so that's not an issue for me, but it might be for others. The call quality is usually really good, but every once in a while we'll have some slight quality issues.

I haven't had a landline in a long time, but I used to pay $60/month for cell service and exclusively used that. Now I pay $15/month (for my wife and me) for T-Mobile ppd and supplement those minutes with MagicJack.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

My "land line" is bundled with my cable Internet and TV. Long distance is free like a cell phone. It runs 24/7/365 whereas my computers do not. We also have 2 cell phones - and those are what we consider the luxury items. They cost more than the phone segment of our cable bill.

The "land line" has caller ID, call waiting, etc., - all free. All calls get screened by our answering machine, so we basically eliminate spam calls.

We don't intend to change to cell only. They are not wholly reliable in all areas, but they are getting better. I personally dislike talking on a phone of any kind - always have. I have never understood the compulsion to yack to someone as soon as one gets behind the wheel of a car.

On the other hand, if we were to use a computer-embedded service, it would be Vonage or Skype. Skype has, however, lately become the darling of spammers. I've learned to recognize their Caller ID signature as 000-000-0000 and zap them immediately.

it only needs to work reliably in your home for it to be a suitable replacement for a land line

 

[gramboh]

The only reason I can think of is for a security system. I never use mine to make or receive calls, cell is easier since it's in my pocket.

 

[corkyg]

it only needs to work reliably in your home for it to be a suitable replacement for a land line

That is correct - but, the unstated factor is the wife - she will not go near a computer and is wedded to her little wireless phone, as well as call screening by our answering machine.

 

[bovinda]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! I'll have to do some more reading and consider the pros/cons some more. I do probably need to keep a landline one way or another, though, as we use it to conduct business for a volunteer organization we help out with. Appreciate all the input!

 

[piasabird]

If you think you need a landline, but still plan on using your cellphones for most calls, you could get a business line where you pay for no incoming calls, and then you pay by the minute for the calls you make from the landline. Some people use this type of phone if they work from home and need people to call them. The drawback is all the stupid telemarketers. This type of phone is around $25 a month or so, as long as you dont call out.

 

[bovinda]

Thanks piasabird for the suggestion. The only thing is it would need to be the other way for us. We can use our cell phones for all the outgoing calls, but we need the landline for the incoming calls primarily.

 

[Rackmountsales]

I like the link, it's just really nice and MagicJack is good and its call quality is also fine,thanks.