posted October 22, 2004 12:29 PM
I have had it with Verizon and I am thinking of switching to VOIP. Their is a great deal right now at Amazon on packet8.net set up.
Anyone use Vonage or Packet8?
What are your experiences?
It is a substantial savings over a land line, it will save me about 40$ a month.
posted October 22, 2004 12:52 PM
Kim...I know that Vonage had a great package a few weeks ago. The equipment cost me $85.00 and there was a $50.00 rebate and their service started at $14.99 per month. I don't have any experience with the other but Vonage is terrific.
posted October 22, 2004 01:06 PM
Well this is the deal that I bought with Packet8 from Amazon.
Adapter was $59.99 with a $59.99 mail in rebate. So that is free after I get my rebate back and when you buy it from Amazon, Packet8 throws in 2 months of free service. Which is regularly $19.99.
Packet8 has all of the features of Vonage for $5 less per month that is why I decided to go with them. Plus the bonus of 2 months of free service. If I don't like it, I am not out anything.
I am so glad to hear that you like Vonage. I am a little scared about sound quality but if it works out, Verizon is GONE!
Thanks for letting me know your experience with it.
posted October 22, 2004 01:23 PM
There is no difference with the sound. I actually think I get a better sound through VOIP than I do thru my landline phone!
Glad you were able to find a deal and I hope it works well for you
posted October 22, 2004 01:57 PM
I have had packet8 for just about a year so far. I havent had any major issues at all. The only bad thing I can think of is that of course if you are having internet problems then you will be having phone problems too As far as quality, it was like talking on a cell phone at first, but there have been some firmware upgrades since then and I havent had that problem for many many months now. I hope you like it...I know i plan on keeping mine when we move. Thats a plus too..my hubby is military and I can take this with me anywhere, even overseas and keep a stateside number.
posted October 22, 2004 02:10 PM
I've had Packet8 for almost a year...looooooove it!
We had 3 regular phone lines in our house before Packet8 (1 was my wah line, the regualr house line, the kids line). My kids are 13, 15, 17...nuff said there...huh? (lol).
Plus none of our family lives here, and are primarily in 3 other cities so long distance was racking up.
We've saved literaly hundreds of dollars per month since switching...not only on long distance, but also on calling features which SBC nickel and dimes you for...these features and more are included on Packet8 for $20 bucks a month (per line).
[This message has been edited by Storm (edited October 22, 2004).]
posted October 22, 2004 04:47 PM
I have AT&T Callvantage service and its great. The only downfall is if the internet or power goes out it won't work. Other than that, its great. Unlimited long distance, voice mail, pages me on my cell phone when I get a message. Its great! The best part, its a lot cheaper than regular phone service.
posted October 22, 2004 05:21 PM
Storm, You said $20 a month per line....just out of curiosity, how do you split the lines up? I would love to know how to do that.
quote:Originally posted by thesillygirl: Storm, You said $20 a month per line....just out of curiosity, how do you split the lines up? I would love to know how to do that.
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Hi Kim!
I have 2 Packet8 DTA's (one for each line), and I have each one plugged into the router. The router has 4 ports so I still have one free (the 3rd port is used so the other computer can have internet access).
We have the residential service plan (unlimited local and long distance for $19.95 per month +tax), so it's basically $40 bucks for the of them. HTH
Edited to say: One of the other features I love is how I can have the call forwarding ring at home and my cell at the same time...
My sister in Chicago lives in an Assisted Living home and the only phones there are pay phones in the halls. I have a Kall8 number that's forwarded to my Packet8 number and she can call anytime she wants to for free, and it doesn't matter if I'm home or not she can always reach me.
[This message has been edited by Storm (edited October 22, 2004).]
posted October 22, 2004 06:11 PM
I sell a VOIP, but I have never used it. One thing I have heard from other Vontage customers is this. You have to be carefull how much you use it. If you make too many calls, or call during specific hours a lot they consider you a business customer which makes your prices go up. I don't know if that is the same with all companies or not.
Verizon seems to have a great service as well.
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posted October 23, 2004 05:17 PM
If you can't find a Voip plan that you are happy with but want to boot Verizon, check out MCI The Neighborhood.I have been using them for a year now.I have unlimited local and unlimited long distance as well as my dsl service through them plus a ton of features for $100 a month.I was also able to keep the number I had when I was with Verizon.
posted October 25, 2004 12:44 PM
Ok, I've been thinking about getting this too. So the phone service is between $15 & $20 a month (per line)plus any tax. This is in addition to your cable/DSL or whatever correct?
I pay $40 for cable internet (Charter)and another $98 for 2 phone lines. One with no features (local calls only - kids) and the other with no features except unlimited long distance & I also have an 800 # that is included in my unlimited plan (I talk to my family several times a week - all LD).
Either way... I don't see how I can not take the VoIP choice or am I missing something?
posted October 25, 2004 01:59 PM
Make sure to read the small print on those VoIP providers sites, it is not always unlimited calling. Some are unlimited only to 1000 minutes, some to 2500, and I think one was 4000 minutes.
And in my expreince there was an echo and a delay on the line and it made it VERY distracting when trying to talk with a customer because we were both speaking at the same time (because of the delay).
posted October 25, 2004 02:52 PM
Know what I wish someone would do? Make wireless phones better.
1. SBC who owns Cingular, also owns a great number of landline towers in the US. Why not put a cell receiver on the top of every 10th telephone poll. Connect all the receivers together then onces every 5 miles you can bring all the cables down to a box on the ground. This will reduse the number of "Towers" there are cluttering up the greenspace, and also help to improve the signal. Plus I bet the $500,000.00 to $900,000.00 it cost to put up one tower would go a lot futher this way. After all poles are already there, they own them and very little would have to be rented.
2. Unlimited calling. I wish someone would come out with a plan that gives you unlimited minutes ANYTIME. Not between specified hours, or between specified customers.
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posted October 22, 2004 12:29 PM
