Not and ad or even an endorsement, but does anyone else have it? I've had it since the end of January, and so far it's been fine. I especially like the rates since my daughter-in-law and grandkids are in Japan while my son is in the middle east. The freakin' ads are everywhere though, aren't they? Finally using my broadband for something other than fast web surfing and speedy downloads of questionable content.
Things equal to other things are not necessarily the same.
Originally posted by MetalGod "Not free" bites the big one. Since it's now a for-profit service, can one use it with a wireless phone or is it still tethered to a headset?
No it's different now.
How Time WArner did it was they would bring in their VOIP modem and plug it in to the cable line (coax) and the Phone line.
That would light up all the outlits in the house. So You can use any kind of phone you want now.
One of my co-workers got Vonage. Unlimited calling for $24.95 a month. It uses a special VOIP modem plugged into the router. You then plug any phone you want into it.
The only downside is that the only "local" numbers it has for my area code are for Ventura which is more than two hours away and definitely not a local call from here. It's no problem if you make calls to others, but if someone else wants to call they'd have to pay toll charges.
My co-worker got it because his 16-year-old son makes a lot of outgoing calls and it costs him plenty. He and his wife have cell phones in case they need to be reached locally, and he has cable internet so he was able to ditch the phone company completely.
It wouldn't make sense for me to use Vonage because I have a DSL connection, so I have to keep up phone service anyway.
Originally posted by MetalGod "Not free" bites the big one. Since it's now a for-profit service, can one use it with a wireless phone or is it still tethered to a headset?
Actually, I have it plugged into my house phone wiring (after disconnecting from the Bell system at the box). It's completely transparent, that is to say all the phones (and they're all cordless but one) work just like they did before. It uses a special router to do that. It's really quite easy to hook up. Of course now I have a Netgear single port broadband router to get rid of, but I'll put it on e-bay. Plus, I now have caller ID, call forwarding (really useful with the boy in Iraq) and voicemail for free. I'm way too cheap to pay extra for that stuff. Now of course if the power goes out or the internet goes down I don't have a home phone, but on the other hand it forwards to my cell.
I used to use VOIP too, I like this better. Even having to pay for it. The way I see it this costs about a third of what I'd been paying the phone company (adding rates and long distance together) and that helps defray the cost of broadband. When I figured it out, I'm now paying less than 10% more for phone plus internet service than I would be with Bell South phone and dial up. Well worth the cost. I have the plan Inky refers to. $24.95 unlimited to the US and Canada, plus overseas rates are much cheaper.
It wouldn't make sense for me to use Vonage because I have a DSL connection, so I have to keep up phone service anyway.
True, but if someone has DSL from a vendor other than the phone company...
Things equal to other things are not necessarily the same.
I was under the impression that other DSL vendors re-sell the phone company's service. When I was in Fresno, I used Fresno State's DSL service... and the modem they sent me came in an box with the SBC logo on the side. SBC owns and maintains all the phone lines out here, after all. I'd think that when the phone company shuts off service, the whole nine yards would get shut off so another vendor's DSL wouldn't be able to reach you either.
Originally posted by Inkara1 I was under the impression that other DSL vendors re-sell the phone company's service. When I was in Fresno, I used Fresno State's DSL service... and the modem they sent me came in an box with the SBC logo on the side. SBC owns and maintains all the phone lines out here, after all. I'd think that when the phone company shuts off service, the whole nine yards would get shut off so another vendor's DSL wouldn't be able to reach you either.
That's all true, but if someone else is leasing the lines for your dsl the phone co. can't physically disconnect the line.
Things equal to other things are not necessarily the same.
I thought there were programs out there that would let you use VOIP for free? I guess the program is free but you are still charged by your cable company? I haven't tried it out yet, or even made one phone call, but there is a program called skype that i have installed and wanted to try.
Originally posted by proKrastinate I thought there were programs out there that would let you use VOIP for free? I guess the program is free but you are still charged by your cable company? I haven't tried it out yet, or even made one phone call, but there is a program called skype that i have installed and wanted to try.
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