Your experience with VOIP

[jeffmem]

VOIP works pretty good for me, don't need to spend that much on it either, free from system to system, only pay for international calls.

[aukxsona]

Have Skype, the free service was awesome but now that we are paid (60$ for a year) it never works. We have tried to configure it for our computer, bought new head phones and a new jack. Nothing. I won't be buying it next year. The only GOOD thing it does is collect our business messages rather well, but calling out leaves people confused and unable to hear us.

[sweeps]

Have Skype, the free service was awesome but now that we are paid (60$ for a year) it never works. We have tried to configure it for our computer, bought new head phones and a new jack. Nothing. I won't be buying it next year. The only GOOD thing it does is collect our business messages rather well, but calling out leaves people confused and unable to hear us.

Actually I ended up choosing Skype as well, and -- knock on wood -- it's going pretty well. I did have one problem. The call quality was really good as long as only one person was talking. As soon as I and the other person was talking at the same time, everything got all garbled. (Even worse on conference calls.)

Basically I had to make a change to my firewall to allow Skype to use its preferred incoming port, rather than the alternative port (HTTP port 80). That seemed to make a big difference.

[Car Insurance Guy]

VOIP is great - Vonage is outstanding - no I don't work for them, nor do I receive any compensation for these comments

I've had experience with 2 separate VOIP companies: Lingo and Vonage. Lingo was spotty. I didn't think I would care that my phone was up just 98% of the time. However, that 2% is a big deal when you're trying to make a phone call and the line is dead. Granted, that was 4 years ago - but I probably wouldn't go back because of my experience. A friend of mine works for Lingo. He agrees with me about them.

Vonage is excellent. We've got good power here, so I don't usually deal with that issue. It's reliable, unlimited long distance, and cheap ($31 with tax). Ma Bell doesn't overcharge me anymore - I'm a happy VOIP convert.

[arthurb999]

There are 2 reasons I don't have VIOP:

1. It wont' work with alarm system
2. I get a bundle with cable company and phone is basically "free"

[nmboone]

This sounds like a terrible idea for people in Louisiana like me. When hurricanes come around, the phone line is the only thing that will work. If it even snows like it did earlier this month miraculously, the lights will go out in a lot of areas.

[ljd1971]

Sunrocket causalty here

I got about 5 months out of my 15 month contract with SR before they went out of business. I reluctantly signed on with their successor Teleblend for $15.95/month for the remainder of my SR contract term. With the money I prepaid, it works out to around $25/month. Despite the SR fiasco, I have been happy with the service. I have a battery backup that powers my modem, router and VOIP converter. I have weathered two minor power outages just fine. Cell phone is my backup.

[biff]

I have a need for 2 home phone lines, and the local phone company is raking me over the coals on price. I'm paying $60/month which gives me unlimited minutes, all features plus voice mail on one line, but no features at all on the second line.

I'm strongly considering switching to VOIP. What are your experiences as far as call quality and service reliability? Any tips or gotchas to pass along? Switching 100% to cell phone -- while tempting -- is not really an option for me. Thanks for your input.

I tried using the Magic Jack and I give it a big thumbs down....Call quality is very choppy, day in and day out...Very inconsistent service, IMO.
Internet speed is not a factor for me as I am DSL, and Vonage works great with no problems!

[biff]

"I highly recommend VoIP, in general, and Vonage, in particular."


+1


[/QUOTE]

[Hot dog]

Does vonage just work with your regular phone lines so you can still have as many phones as phone lines in your house or can you just have one hooked to your computer? Someone was talking bout needing cable jacks?

[poundwise]

Does vonage just work with your regular phone lines so you can still have as many phones as phone lines in your house...

Yes. wikiHow

However, many people just use cordless phone systems that have multiple handsets. Similar to, and including, this one from Panasonic.

I only have a single basic cordless phone (vtech, 2.4GHz) hooked directly to my Vonage box. The handset works throughout the house and outside.

[livingcheapguide]

I have used Vonage for two years now and have been very happy with it. It has been very reliable. I have never had any issues with it at all.

I use skype also but usually just to communicate online with others who have skype. I use it as more of an IM system than a phone system.

I have seen a lot about Magicjack lately. They even featured it on one of the shopping channels. The overall price is very inviting as the deal they were offering was a 39 dollar price for the jack and a years service included.

My biggest concern with MagicJack would be customer service. Have seen a lot of reviews online and there are a lot of bad ones. There are also some good ones.

At the price, it might be worth a shot though. I'll keep watching the reviews.

Scott

[Hot dog]

Has anyone tried Phone Power it seems to have pretty good reviews and a really good price.

[carlsguide]

I vote magicjack.

[ScottON]

I'd say go for it, don't use it personally but I've heard good things