VOIP Anyone?

[mattl]

My only reason for staying with ATT landline is going away in a few days and I"m getting tired of the $40 bill for very little other than voice mail. Seriously looking at VOIP, there are dozens and dozens of companies out there, not sure which to choose. I have a great uverse internet connection, 12m down 1.5 up, very low latency times so I should be good to go. Only thing I need is to take my number with me, that is not an issue with most companies, so who is using what?

Want cheap. Looking at Vonage $9.95, ViaTalk $189 for 2 years, VoipO at $100 year. All have spotty reviews at DSL reports. I had Vonage setup at the office before we closed and liked it, just don't have an idea if there is something better for less out there.

 

[pekedogs]

I retired from Verizon/GTE about five years ago. I used to be a svc rep and sold (read talked people into buying) the various products, including both dialup and DSL. I am now with ATT and have DSL associated with my landline. My only real concern with going to VOIP rather than a landline is that when the electricity is out (as happens often here in the mountains in winter or in summer due to high SCE usage) the phone is out as well as the internet. Sometimes I would be talking with a customer who was using Vonage and the transmission quality was a little grainy, rather like cell phone service when you are in an "iffy" area. Other than that, I have maintained for years that twisted pair telephone service is like a wringer washer (no offense). It is old technology. But this is just my opinion.

 

[whirlcool]

And Clear voice is terrible too. I have been fighting with them for the past 60 days to see if they can make it usable. Some days it works just fine, other days it is totally unusable.
Their Internet product is just fine, I am very happy with that, just the $25.00 per month voice product is terrible.

 

[jeffg]

My only reason for staying with ATT landline is going away in a few days

Matt, what are you referring to?

 

[lordkenmore]

I've never done anything with VOIP. Frankly, there are days when I'm so cranky about phones that I think I'd be just as happy having NO phone service whatever. That said, here are a couple of other possible choices:

Choice #1: Magic Jack. Cheap, and apparently connects regular phone to computer. Some have reported quality issues--this may be an issue of Internet speed.

Magic Jack requires a computer up and running for service--not a problem in many homes these days!

Magic Jack appears to be doing a "free trial" program offered on their web site, which is a plus.

Magic Jack link:

http://www.magicjack.com/6/index.asp

 

[lordkenmore]

Another choice: Skype, which can do calls to regular phones, not just other Skype users.

Rates are apparently about 2 cents/minute to regular phones, less with subscription.

As I said before, I'm not into phones, but if I started making a lot of calls, Skype would be something I'd seriously consider.

Skype might not require a computer running. I THINK I've heard of people using something like an iPod Touch and a wireless router.

Link to Skype:

Free Online Meetings & Video Calls | Microsoft Teams

Start free Teams video calls instantly! Connect, collaborate, and communicate effortlessly. Enjoy features like video calls, chat, file sharing, and more. Perfect for personal use, freelancers, solopreneurs, PTAs, teachers, small businesses and social events. Get started today!

www.skype.com

 

[lordkenmore]

"Other than that, I have maintained for years that twisted pair telephone service is like a wringer washer (no offense). It is old technology."

It probably is old technology.

It's funny--in many ways, I'm out of it. I'll brew coffee in a percolator. I'll take a 40 year old washer over the hot buy at Best Buy this week. Yet, I don't use a wired telephone. In some ways, I like them better--at least, the old ones with rotary dials. But phone service is $20+/month for a basic line, while my prepaid cell phone plan runs me less than $10/month--usually quite a bit less--and yet has more than the phone company's basic plan.

 

[mattl]

Jeff, it's really a silly reason. ATT sent me a letter telling me they were switching to a new voice mail system on 8/16 (for my area...)and all my saved messages will be wiped out. I've had some of them saved for various reasons for over 10 years and now they will be gone. I started a Skype account and added the Pamela plug in and was able to record my saved messages on my computer as an MP3. I should have done it years ago and been done with it, but didn't have the motivation.

Now I'm sorting through all the options for VOIP. I'm paying $40 month for internet, can't see a good reason to pay another $40 for a land line when there are $7 and $8 options out there. Skype is not an option since I have phones scattered all over the house, and a few things that dial out and those may present a problem, but one I hope can be easily solved. Plus, I'd really like caller ID. Last time I checked ATT wanted another $15/mo to add that to my already high $40 bill. No thanks.

 

[whirlcool]

On my Clear phone, you connect the phone module to your telephone system via a regular phone jack, disconnect a few wires at the junction box on the outside of the house and all the phone outlets in your home become active for phone service.
If only the calls wouldn't drop or break up all the time....

 

[runematic]

Here at the shop, we have Comcast. I took a $99 business bundle of phone, internet, & as-low-as-you-go basic cable. I am not a Comcast fan by any stretch, but for me they are the only hi-speed choice as I cannot get DSL at the shop. I love Comcast's internet. I love the speed & reliability. I am not thrilled with the phone though. Latency, noise at times, if I take my phone off the hook for more than about 2 minutes it will come up with some message to callers about my phone number being out of service or something like that. I wish it would just ring busy. Some people actually thought I went out of business because of that. That's my beef with them.

 

[jaxsunst]

My last land line was Vonage. I was really happy with them, no problems at all, We are a cell only family now though.

 

[bajaespuma]

It's very interesting to witness what's going on in the communications industry today. As Boomers' parents start to fade away (ATT's customer base) computer internet phone starts to take over. I myself allowed ATT to gouge me for several years until I retooled my brain a little bit and let Comcast serve my tv, internet and land-phone. I too, am no fan or theirs as they have begun to gouge me as well, but their service is, he says begrudgingly, excellent.