Vonage vs. VOIP

[amberbamber]

We currently have our telephone through Vonage but in searching for any and every way to cut our bills I have come across two other VOIP phone companies. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them?

We've been with Vonage for over 6 years now, but if it can lower our bills I will change companies.

VOIP.com and Lingo.com

Anyone use either of these companies?

Do you think I'd have any luck calling Vonage and asking them to lower my bill?

[Broken Arrow]

Well, to be clear, Vonage is commercialized VOIP....

I hear Vonage isn't too bad, although you can do it for free if you use it over computers only. If you still require a phone number, then it will cost money to maintain it. My friends and I use Skype or Steam.

[amberbamber]

Yes, understood that. I need a dedicated line though when we are not "online".

[kork13]

MagicJack has been recommended to me for when I move overseas, and I've heard generally good things about it... Beyond the initial purchase cost ($30 I think), it's ~$20/yr as compared to the $25/mo that I think Vonage costs. It's largely the same as Vonage, except that I believe you need to have your computer turned on and connected to the internet to use the phone. But you do set up a phone/answering machine and get a standard phone number just like a regular landline telephone.

[segmond]

how technical are you? if very, you can learn to get a SIP account (free), then get an incoming (a couple companies offer them for free too) / outbound number (cheap as hell too), can pull it off for $5-$10/month.

but cellphones are so cheap these days, you can get unlimited for cheap. so i don't even use my voip phones.

[kobe008]

Vonage may have a good product but their customer service is the worst I've ever dealt with. I used them for a year and when i tried to cancel the service it took me around 6 different phone calls with them lying to me each time in order to get it canceled. I finally had to lie back to them in order to get it canceled by saying i was moving to the remote woods where there is not internet connection. By the end though they were offering me their full package for like 5 bucks a month so i think if you call and say you want to cancel they will make you a good deal.