Who uses Vonage?

[Jason R]

For those of you who use vonage.....Could you tell me if its worth switching. Do you get to keep your old phone #? Is it reliable? How easy is it to install? Thank you in advance.

 

[Dennis Smink]

We had it for about a year. We switched to another VOIP provider that at the time was highly rated and significantly cheaper but since has fallen in ratings. Vonage was okay. I think it depends on how stable your internet connection is. We've had some times even recently when we've had outages. So a cellphone is a necessity. You can keep your old number although the process to change it to Vonage can take a while. You have to fill out a form (used to be online and then you had to fax it somewhere) to process the switchover. Check out Vonage forums. You'll get good information there. Just search for "vonage forums". Installation was a snap. Oh, check out DSL Reports too.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

We don't use Vonage, but do use Voip via Comcast as part of their "triple-play" package. It's cheap and have used it for about a year now, maybe a little more and haven't had a phone outage since.



We have all the same services, and same number. We have one additional service which we like and that is online access to our voicemail messages.



TJR

 

[Dingo]

I use AT&T Callvantage. Same basic theory.

 

[Jason Housman]

My wife's parents used Vonage for awhile. It was horrible. They would have outages and not even know. When they tried to switch back I remember they had a big hassle. They really didn't like it at all.

 

[Gypsy me]

The outages could have been caused by the DSL or Cable providers service not working. Vontage is at their mercy for service. Steady connection means steady VOIP.



The hassle in switching back phone numbers: is IF a person wants their land line phone number back with the telephone company. Or to switch their land line number over to the Vontage or VOIP provider.



A form has to be signed by the customer in order for Vontage or other VOIP company to get a land line number. and the same goes for the Telephone company, if a customer wants them back and their phone number being used by the VOIP provider. It is a mandated process and has strict guidelines for both companies. Also a voice verification recording the customer voice that they are aware of the change, with some companies needs to be done and kept on file.



It's not as easy as flipping a switch like most customers think



The best thing to do is ...IF Vontage can just give you a number within your area code GREAT...take it If you really don't need to worry about having your old phone number and can just get the new number in use for family and friends and business your deal with. Do that.



I strongly recommend that you do not disconnect your land line though until you are up and running with the VOIP. just to make sure you are not without phone service.



If you want some experiment time with Vongtage or other VOIP service ...check on reserving your phone number with the telephone company:



OR ask the telephone company how you can get your old number back before it's recycled for use. Some companies it's 90 days some companies 6 months and some 9 months to a year. This is from the date of disconnection.





This way..if you decide the VOIP service is not for you, you can get that number you had with the phone company. Howver keep in mind, you will have to pay your reconnection fees just as you would for new service with the phone company.



Hope that helps!

 

[Mike Roncarati]

I've had vonage for a couple years now. VERY pleased with it. Loaded with features I didn't have when I was paying twice as much. It's only been down when Charter is down, and thats not too often. Even when it is, it automatically forwards to my cell phone.

 

[Rick Thompson]

Be VERY careful when using any of these internet call services some can connect you to your city but most don't if you use 911.



I am a firefighter in Ohio and we had a message come thru a while ago. from a local person that was using this type of service. No enhanced 911 meaning there was no information on the location. we were lucky that the person could give us an address but it had to be transfered from the state highway patrol to our dispatcher. the call was for a carbon monooxide investigation but if it was more serious like heart attack the extra few minutes could mean life or death. Check this out before you buy this!!!!



Is the few dollars worth a family member or your house burning down???

 

[Jerry Johnson]

We seriously considered switching to Vonage until I started doing research on Vonage consumer satisfaction. I came accross a ton of dissatisfied customers. Vonage satisfaction rate is alarmingly low. I was scared away from them.

 

[Gypsy me]

What drgnslyr says is true, always ask about the 911 service because if it is not a land line and you call 911, your address does not pop up on the 911 data base like it does with land line.



Same with cell phones, that's why it take cops and emergency teans a bit long to show up when you call because they are having to get relayed info ... When .your call may be answered by the national 911 service center OR the nearest state 911 service center, picks y up your call they have to ask because they don't know. "What city and or county are you in;

What is your address " etc. then they relay that to the closest 911 dispatch of the area you are calling from.



All of these internet based services have a website and have an area that addresses 911 capability and functions using their services, read it and ask yourself questions if the answers are not addressed, jot the questions down and call their customer service and ask your questions.



If the rep can't truely confirm an answer for you, be polite and ask for a supervisor for a better explaination.

 

[Jeff C]

Skype anyone?

 

[Ray Gunn]

I have used Vonage for about 3 years and love it. Same about 50% from what I was paying to BellSouth. Connected thru Comcast ISP with no problems. Billing is monthly and accurate to my credit card. Thought about switching to Comcast, while Vonage was in the news with legal issues, but the cost is more. Will stay with Vonage as long as they look stable.

 

[Gypsy me]

As I said earlier on. Your internet phone is as good as your internet connection. If that is stable so is your internet phone.



it still can not provide a faster response from 911 service calls like the land lines can.

 

[James Willis]

I use www.vitelity.net with a trixbox phone server. You do not need a phone server to us Vitelity. If you are interested in a phone server for your home or office, check out trixbox.org. It's free!

 

[Tommy Wright]

Have used Vonage for about 3 years now. Never really had a problem with it. As mentioned above, I have it setup to automatically forward to my cell phone if my internet connection goes down. For us military folks that make a lot of long distance calls it is awesome. Plus you can do a second 'virtual' phone number. I have a local South Carolina number and a second Louisville, KY number. My friends and family back home can call me with a 7 digit local number like I live in Louisville and it rings at my house in South Carolina. That is a really cool feature.

 

[Blake Flood]

vonage sucks... verizon makes me very happy. my partner likes it too.

 

[Dre L]

I have the Optimum Online / cablevision service. VOIP / broadband phones are as good as traditional landlines, and are now required by LAW to provide E911 service from the start. That means as soon as you dial 911 all your information pops up on the operator's screen.



The drawbacks are:

Blackout: NYC traditional phone service stayed up for a short amount of time, but then died eventually. VOIP was out instantaneously since power to your cable modem was out. anyone with cordless phones had the same problem, cell phones as well.



Cablevision guarantees that if you have power to your cable modem / phones, you will still have phone service, so I have a UPS battery hooked up to my phone and cable modem. They'll even sell you this option at set up if you choose. Not every vendor states this clearly, so you should choose wisely.