Support NeoGAF

[aparisi2274]

So does anyone use these VoIP services yet? I have been reading about them lately, and I seem to see that Vonage is a pretty good one followed by some other names, that I am still reading about. I was just wondering if anyone on here uses this service, and what they think of it! Do you ofter get annoyed at disconnects when the power goes out, or when your cable modem drops its signal? How is the voice quality?

Just looking to get some real people reviews, as opposed to what I see on CNET.com and other sites.

Thanks

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

Been using vonage for over a year.

 

[aparisi2274]

Been using vonage for over a year.

Wow what a great in-depth review you just gave

Care to elaborate a little

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

It's great. I rarely get dropped packets my connectivity rate is far better than it is on my cell phone.


The price is reasonable

You can assign virtual numbers with any area code you want. So if you want a friend/family member to call you in a long distance area you can get a number their area code so they don't have to pay long distance chargers.

 

[aparisi2274]

It's great. I rarely get dropped packets my connectivity rate is far better than it is on my cell phone.


The price is reasonable

You can assign virtual numbers with any area code you want. So if you want a friend/family member to call you in a long distance area you can get a number their area code so they don't have to pay long distance chargers.

Ok so with virtual numbers, lets say I have my existing phone number that I use right now with Verizon. I am going to keep that, and then I can setup virtual numbers, lets say in Vegas and Florida, where I have family, and they can call that number, and will it then ring on my normal house phone? Or are the virtual numbers limited to my PC, when using a softphone?

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

Ok so with virtual numbers, lets say I have my existing phone number that I use right now with Verizon. I am going to keep that, and then I can setup virtual numbers, lets say in Vegas and Florida, where I have family, and they can call that number, and will it then ring on my normal house phone? Or are the virtual numbers limited to my PC, when using a softphone?

Yes you can keep that existing number and setup numbers in Vegas and Florida and it will ring just like a normal call.

You don't use a softphone. They send you a phone emulator that connects to you regular phone. And you all get the full suite of services that come with regular phone service like call waiting, 3 way, call forwarding and the like. You can also set up call forwarding on your numbers so they can go to another number (like a cell phone) so they can call you at home and it will forward to you cell phone and they still won't get charged (you will get charged minutes). Aslo you can check your voice mail online and it can send you email updates when someone leaves a message.

 

[RedDwarf]

I've used Vonage for over a year as well. I had problems with my service for one whole day, and then it turned out to be a Comcast problem after all. The only thing that messes with my quality if Bittorrent. Using BT and talking on the phone is a stuttering mess. Otherwise, thumbs up!

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

Also people that use Vonage are smarter and sexier than the general populace. If you don't believe me look at their ads.

 

[alejob]

I think the screensavers is running a feature on VoIP today, you could watch that.

 

[Seth C]

How many times do I need to recommend PAcket 8 in here before it catches on? I've been using it for about 4 months now, and have absolutely no complaints. $20, unlimited calling, all 50 states and Canada. How can you beat that?

 

[aparisi2274]

How many times do I need to recommend PAcket 8 in here before it catches on? I've been using it for about 4 months now, and have absolutely no complaints. $20, unlimited calling, all 50 states and Canada. How can you beat that?

heheheh, I just heard about this one on Howard Stern this morning. Does it have all the features of Vonage? Can I setup Virtual numbers in different states, and what not??

I also was looking into Verizon's own VoiP, which is called VoiceWing. It is crazy. They want like $35 a month for the same shit you get for Vonage. So I will be skipping them.

Anyone ever use or try lingo??? Someone at my job recommended them, and I work at a Telecom place, so I assume he knows what he is talking about.

 

[open_mouth_]

I'm gonna get vonage when I get a my own house. Forget the phone giants that charge too much as it is.

 

[Cloudy]

Anyone ever use or try lingo??? Someone at my job recommended them, and I work at a Telecom place, so I assume he knows what he is talking about.

And the first month is free so the startup cost is $39 then $19.99/month after that. I think I'll try this one out....

 

[Cloudy]

Amazon and CircuitCity.com both have vonage and packet8 adapters free with rebate. I just got the Packet8 one with 2 free months for $56 with a $60 rebate at Amazon

 

[Willco]

I heard Vonage can use a regular touch tone phone. How does that work?

 

[aparisi2274]

I heard Vonage can use a regular touch tone phone. How does that work?

I am pretty sure they all use touchtone phones. You just need to plug the phone into the vonage box, or something like that. Idont really know.

 

[Cloudy]

I heard Vonage can use a regular touch tone phone. How does that work?

You plug your regular phone into the adapter which is hooked up to your broadband connection...

 

[Lhadatt]

The VoIP adapters are just boxes that hook into your broadband Internet connection. I have an older Vonage box that has a WAN jack (the input connection), a LAN jack (for outputting to your PC or router), and two phone jacks (one for each line). You plug normal phones into it. It has a light on the front that blinks to tell you the connection status. When you plug it in, it talks to Vonage's servers and tries to log your phone in. After that, it's pretty transparent. There's no discernable lag, no breakups (unless you're downloading lots of pr0n or something) - it just works.

My ex-roomie just got a new-style Vonage box. It's a Linksys router/VoIP adapter. It has the standard ethernet ports a router does, plus two phone jacks (one for each line). It has a web interface that provides features comparable to ye olde standby BEFSR41 broadband router. It works well.

So, yeah, Vonage is quality stuff. Subscribe, tell them someone here referred you (PM someone to get their info first) for the freebies.

 

[Lhadatt]

Oh, one other thing. With my Vonage box, I don't have to put it in front of the router. It's actually behind the router - I didn't have to do any configuration at all. This may depend on your router, but at least for me, it works great.

 

[Cloudy]

Just hoked up my packet8 adapter. Took like 10 minutes to get working. It works flawlessly even while I have bittorent running

PS: I still had to pay $30 to activate it but since the hardware was free, I didn't mind much. Plus you get 2 free months...

 

[DarienA]

I had Vonage for a few months... worked great in my small apt.. Was thinking about getting it in our current house then I realized it just wouldn't work well unless we picked up one of those cordless phones systems were only the master base unit actually has to be plugged in to a phone jack. We recently did track one down at a price I was willing to accept and even additional handsets aren't too bad.. so I'll probably decide in the next month or so if I want to go back to VoIP services...

I know some of the VoIP services are actually bundling those services with that type of cordless phone system now.

 

[SteveMeister]

I had Vonage for a few months... worked great in my small apt.. Was thinking about getting it in our current house then I realized it just wouldn't work well unless we picked up one of those cordless phones systems were only the master base unit actually has to be plugged in to a phone jack. We recently did track one down at a price I was willing to accept and even additional handsets aren't too bad.. so I'll probably decide in the next month or so if I want to go back to VoIP services...

I know some of the VoIP services are actually bundling those services with that type of cordless phone system now.

You can always disconnect the phone line feed coming into your house, plug that into the VOIP phone adapter, and then all the phone outlets in your house will be using VOIP instead of the land line. There was a post about this the other day and they have step-by-step instructions how to do it on Vonage's website.

 

[DarienA]

You can always disconnect the phone line feed coming into your house, plug that into the VOIP phone adapter, and then all the phone outlets in your house will be using VOIP instead of the land line. There was a post about this the other day and they have step-by-step instructions how to do it on Vonage's website.

Really? Hmm I'll have to check Vonage's site... thanks for that piece of info.

EDIT: Just looked... interesting... Unfortunately we probably can't use it because of the connected townhome style of house we live in... unless that box outside in the back is it....