Anyone here use vonage or packet8 for home VOIP?
My cell phone contract is running out and I am low on cash, so I am thinking of going with a home-phone only.
Tradition carrier's options are not very cost-effective, considering the amount of long-distance calls I make ( > 45 minutes / day)
I have been looking into home VOIP, particulary Vonage and Packet8.
Vonage
Unlimited calling, all kinds of features: $34.99/month
Packet8
Unlimited calling: $19.99/month
Does anyone have first hand experience with either of these companies? I'm particularly wondering how the delay situation is. Any input is appreciated.
I'm leaning towards Packet8 because it is cheaper and I can get a Cincinnati (513) area code.
Tradition carrier's options are not very cost-effective, considering the amount of long-distance calls I make ( > 45 minutes / day)
I have been looking into home VOIP, particulary Vonage and Packet8.
Vonage
Unlimited calling, all kinds of features: $34.99/month
Packet8
Unlimited calling: $19.99/month
Does anyone have first hand experience with either of these companies? I'm particularly wondering how the delay situation is. Any input is appreciated.
I'm leaning towards Packet8 because it is cheaper and I can get a Cincinnati (513) area code.
Comments
If the quality is the same as PSTN, then I don't see why anyone with a broadband connection wouldn't get it!
My problem is cutouts resulting from bandwidth competition. I have a 256k DSL line at my office (all I can get out here, apparently), and I cannot use the Internet at the same time as talking on the phone without voice cutouts making the call unbearable.
Every now and then you'll get a bad connection, or some bad echoing in the line, too.
I was going to use it for my business line, but it's a little buggy yet for mission critical phone applications. It's great as a casual 2nd line, or a long distance line.
Originally posted by mpls244
I have Vonage. I like it quite a bit but there are some caveats. The delay isn't too bad at all.
My problem is cutouts resulting from bandwidth competition. I have a 256k DSL line at my office (all I can get out here, apparently), and I cannot use the Internet at the same time as talking on the phone without voice cutouts making the call unbearable.
Every now and then you'll get a bad connection, or some bad echoing in the line, too.
I was going to use it for my business line, but it's a little buggy yet for mission critical phone applications. It's great as a casual 2nd line, or a long distance line.
It will likely be my only line if service is okay. I haven't had a PSTN line in over a year and have been fine wtih just the cell phone, but this should be quite a bit different.
Fortunately I have the world's fastest cable modem connection, I must be the only one on my segment. I can regularly get 1.2mbps downstream. i guess upstream will be an issue now too.
I've been using a new phone service for the last few weeks that some of you may find of use. Vonage (http://www.vonage.com) is a VoIP service that gives you unlimited calls to anywhere in the US and Canada for $40/month (small business plans slightly more) over your broadband Internet connection.
Included are all the standard phone company features (call waiting, caller ID, voicemail, call forwarding, repeat dialing, call transfer), as well as some other fun bits, including:
- Pick any area code
Even though I'm now in Hendersonville, TN, my phone number is a Dallas-area 214 number. It's a local call for Dallasites, while I get to enjoy the hills and trees of Tennessee.
- Virtual Phone Numbers
For an additional $5/mo., you can add as many virtual phone numbers as you want. Let's say you want your main number to be a 214 area code, but your family lives in Denver. Just add a 303 area code virtual number and it's a local call for them, but will ring through on your main line.
How's it sound? Pretty damn amazing. No one I've spoken to using the service knows that I'm using anything other than a land line. My wife and I have been using it for the past three weeks solid (1,032 minutes used so far) and not once have we found any sound quality issues, drop outs, dropped calls, anything.
It's crazy easy to install. They sent me a Cisco ATA (analog telephone adapter) as part of my welcome package. I plugged the ATA into my home network (I'm using a Linksys Cable/DSL VPN Router - Model BEFVP41), and then plugged my regular analog phone into the ATA. Once I verified that the ATA had been able to get an IP, it was all good.
The beauty of all this is that it's utterly transparent. You make and receive calls on a regular phone. In fact, I hooked up the ATA and plugged the phone my wife usually uses into it and she started making calls without even knowing that anything had changed.
There's even a 14-day money back guarantee if you want to give it a shot. If you're at all interested let me know and I can add you to my referral list. That way, we both get a free month's service.
Just wanted to let you know.
Note: I'm not affiliated with Vonage in any way, shape, or form other than as a paying customer. I've just been really happy with the service.
If any of the details listed above has changed, my apologies. Wanted to share the thoughts, but am too lazy to look up the info. ;-)
I'm still a major fan. I highly recommend it.
It sure would be nice if I didn't, but then I'd need cable internet, and I can't get that here. I used to, but now they don't offer it anymore.
Originally posted by CubeDude
I know its a stupid question, I just want to make sure, but do I have to keep my line with SBC since I have DSL, if I get Vonage.
It sure would be nice if I didn't, but then I'd need cable internet, and I can't get that here. I used to, but now they don't offer it anymore.
Yeah DSL traps you into needing a regular phone line, so Vonage or Packet8 might not be much good for you since you have to have a regular phone line to get DSL.
no cable in your area?