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Vonage

langeweile

Banned
Sep 21, 2004
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In a van down by the river
There are quiet a few techies here, so maybe you guys could explain to me what Vonage is.
I understand that it is a phone service that uses broadband.

1) Do i need special equipment to use it?

2) Can i get broadband access to the net, via them?

3) what is the quality of the connection?

4) Anyone has the service and can commnet?


Your help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
 

papasmerf

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Oct 22, 2002
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Vonage is a broadband based phone service (voice over IP) which offers no additional charges for calls to the US and Canada. Up side is costs, about 30 bucks a month in Buffalo. Down side is should failure. Should a router or T go down within the path you are shut down. They supply the Analog to digital converter and is included with the service fee.
 

Aristotle

Member
Apr 7, 2002
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Just to add..

You need a broadband connection in order to get Vonage. Vonage supplies you with a little black box that you plug into your DSL/cable connection. From the vonage box, you then plug in your PC and a regular analog phone.

In canada, there are different service plans, starting at 20/month right up to 50/month. You can get local phone numbers in major cities like Toronto, but not in most smaller communities.

Like langeweile said, if your broadband connection, or ISP goes down, you are down. Also, 911 does not work.

I've tried it and the quality can be good or bad depending on many factors including how much you are downloading and how conjested your ISP is. Also, if a large worm attack or something similar is rampant on the net, connection quality can be an issue.

I would equate the quality of the calls closer to a cell phone than a landline.
 

xarir

Retired TERB Ass Slapper
Aug 20, 2001
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I've been thinking of using Skype myself.

http://www.skype.com/

The software is free and Skype to Skype calls are also free. The downside to Skype is that you need to have your computer on in order to make a call. Vonage allows you to use a normal telephone.

On the whole though I don't do much long distance calling for personal use. Even when I do, as long as I call within North America I can use the cell phone and the company will pick up the tab. :cool: So VoIP is not something I really need.
 

MartiniGirls

www.MartiniGirls.ca
Feb 8, 2005
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network standard

We had VoIP at our last company through Primus, service worked great, especially having a TO, MTL and VAN local # on one line. But according to a recent slashdot.org article the future of VoIP is not as bright as it seems. Since there is no standard network like there is copper for landline, some american providors have started to block VoIP traffic from competitors network on to theirs and likewise. This is creating huge havoc in the market. Untill this technology is regulated by someone (preferably not the FCC) I would not invest heavily into VoIP. But who knows with miniPowell out of the picture at the FCC this regulation may move forward okay.
 

papasmerf

New member
Oct 22, 2002
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Astrid said:
I've just switched to vonage and it is a great cost savings. I was using over a 1000 minutes on my cell, sometimes 2000. I bought both the box and a small phone at Staples (under $100). It's great to be able to go online and watch the minutes accumulate knowing I am only paying $40 + taxes a month for unlimited.

I find the quality just as good as a landline. However, it did go down last week due to Vonage server problems. I really have no complaints yet.


Down time is the problem for this. If you run a business 30 minutes of down time can cost you far more then the savings will offset.
 

Powershot

Active member
May 18, 2003
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Had someone in my office re-locate to the carribean. They have the vonage service with a 416 number, works like a charm. Huge savings considering the LD rates down there.
 
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