Voice over internet phone service - thoughts?

[strokeoluck]

I'm getting tired of seeing my phone bill. My wife and I are considering switching over to Vonage, or a "Vonage-like" phone service. We're not big techies and we have a four year old Windows based computer. We tried Vonage several years ago but there were some technical glitches in the line. I forget what exactly, but I recall little gaps and delays in the two-way communication. We dropped the service due to these issues.

But now I'm reconsidering.

Does anyone have any input on Vonage or similar services? We just need it for basic residential phone service, nothing fancy. We do have two young kids at home (10 and 9) so my wife's main concern is it's effectiveness in the case of an emergency. The kids can easily share our address w/a 911 operator if necessary; but what happens if we lose power? Our internet is connected through a phone line.

Thanks!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Voice over internet phone service - thoughts?

I have friends that use Magic Jack and they are pleased with it.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Voice over internet phone service - thoughts?

I have the Magic Jack,It works fine but if the power or the cable based internet goes out you will not have phone service.That and the fact that the computer has to be powered on 24/7.
I figure my cell phone will work if needed during storms,cable or no power.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Voice over internet phone service - thoughts?

I have the Magic Jack,It works fine but if the power or the cable based internet goes out you will not have phone service.That and the fact that the computer has to be powered on 24/7.
I figure my cell phone will work if needed during storms,cable or no power.

I agree on the cell phone thing. I'd prefer to just purchase a third cell phone for the house but the wife has concerns. I forget what they were, but in the interest of family harmony I agreed we'd get some sort of home phone as long as the bills were < $100/month.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Voice over internet phone service - thoughts?

I know two Magic Jack users - they are happy.

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Voice over internet phone service - thoughts?

Down here in Houston we're a little "hurricane challenged". (Last year Ike was a real doozie, not to mention Rita, Allison, Alicia, Carla, blah blah blah.) Anyway, the cable (and high speed internet) is usually the first thing to go...followed shortly thereafter by the power. The cell towers can go down anytime along in there. But time after time, the phone service is the last to go and its the first to come back, and the outages are usually much shorter as well. In my neighborhood all of the utilities are buried so that helps a little. Nevertheless, I've kept the phone company just because they are the most reliable of all of the utilities when the sheriff comes to town. At least for me, it's been the right decision time after time.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Voice over internet phone service - thoughts?

Down here in Houston we're a little "hurricane challenged". (Last year Ike was a real doozie, not to mention Rita, Allison, Alicia, Carla, blah blah blah.)Anyway, the cable (and high speed internet) is usually the first thing to go...followed shortly thereafter by the power. The cell towers can go down anytime along in there. But time after time, the phone service is the last to go and its the first to come back, and the outages are usually much shorter as well. In my neighborhood all of the utilities are buried so that helps a little. Nevertheless, I've kept the phone company just because they are the most reliable of all of the utilities when the sheriff comes to town. At least for me, it's been the right decision time after time.

Ditto, if not a lan line then a cell phone. The other 2 options are way to dependent on power...

 

[OldePharte]

Re: Voice over internet phone service - thoughts?

Good old land line is powered by the phone company and has back up batteries at the exchange. So it maintains power longer in an emergency situation. Of course if the phone lines go down, then nothing.

We maintain a measured service phone at the lake house that costs $15 a month. Most calls are made with a cell phone, whereas the land line is tied into the E911 service, so we keep it.

 

[bucky7680]

Re: Voice over internet phone service - thoughts?

Our home phone is less than $20 total a month. Just basic phone no caller ID. We make all of our long distance calls on the cell. Tell your local phone company that you need the lowest cost plan that they offer.


The wife and I are not the kind that talk on the phone for hours like many people seem to do.

 

[azlakes]

Re: Voice over internet phone service - thoughts?

I have friends that use Magic Jack and they are pleased with it.

... can you get a fone call into your home with magic jack from a non magic jack user?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Voice over internet phone service - thoughts?

i've been using Magic Jack for almost a year. they give you a new local phone #, they register your address for the 911 calls. it does take a second for it to connect on out going calls, but nothing ridiculous. you plug the little box into your computer, then phone line into the box.

i have wireless phones 4 of them with there on chargers, you set the base unit with the computer, and can answer or call from any of the wireless phones.

true, power outages, and internet down, is a problem, but for 19.95 a year, i can live with that.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Voice over internet phone service - thoughts?

... can you get a fone call into your home with magic jack from a non magic jack user?

Of course! Magic jack is simply a VOIP phone service like Vonage. You can call any phone including cell phones. But buyer beware, all is not rosey in Magicjack land....


http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/352/RipOff0352626.htm

http://magicjackscam.net/

 

[Starppy]

Re: Voice over internet phone service - thoughts?

MAgic Jack is dependant on your PC though. If you turn off your PC or it goes out you are out of luck. Vonage sends you a box that you plug into your cable and phone wiring.

I've had Vonage for 2 years and my elderly parents have had it for just over 1 year and no complaints. The power is an issue, but I installed a battery backup unit and it will run for at least 30 minutes after the power goes and I have my cell for backup. You can also configure Vonage to forward calls to your cell if they lose contact with your Vonage box.

The only issues I have run into is that 911 caller ID doesn't work well in our area. That isn't the fault of Vonage though. I found out that the 911 equipment for our county is over 20 years old and can't deal with VOIP based caller ID. The county has plans to upgrade in 2010 so it should work then. The other issue is that the Vonage box needs to be reset about every 6 months. It goes a little wonky once in a while, but a power cycle fixes it.

VOIP in general can have problems depending on your broadband provider. If their network is congested you will get stutter and delays.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Voice over internet phone service - thoughts?

Down here in Houston we're a little "hurricane challenged". (Last year Ike was a real doozie, not to mention Rita, Allison, Alicia, Carla, blah blah blah.) Anyway, the cable (and high speed internet) is usually the first thing to go...followed shortly thereafter by the power. The cell towers can go down anytime along in there. But time after time, the phone service is the last to go and its the first to come back, and the outages are usually much shorter as well. In my neighborhood all of the utilities are buried so that helps a little. Nevertheless, I've kept the phone company just because they are the most reliable of all of the utilities when the sheriff comes to town. At least for me, it's been the right decision time after time.

It was nice to be able to communicate with friends and family because of the land line. I keep the most basic phone service because of these storms. If they would install a jack big enough to plug in an ac unit I might upgrade to call waiting lol.