VoIP providers -suggestions?

jef

Power Pig, Hello!
Oct 12, 2008
3,849
185
63
So, AT&T has officially killed CallVantage, their VoIP service. It's going away sometime this year, so I need to start shopping for a new provider.

Does anyone have any experiences or opinions on any of the players out there? I looked about 18 months ago and picked CallVantage mainly because I got a discount for having AT&T DSL. It seems like half of the players who were around when I was initially looking aren't around now. Others are, and I wonder if anyone has anything good to say, or even anything bad to say, about any of them.

I've only just started looking again, and don't really have any specific requirements except probably porting my current number. Not too concerned about locked/unlocked ATA's as the craptacular dlink from AT&T is tied to them - so I'll be starting from scratch.
 

TheScionicMan

Last non-Hating Stern Fan
Oct 11, 2008
2,171
93
48
I get it through my DSL provider speakeasy.net

Really solid service-wise and great CS. I noticed recently that T-Mobile is offering home voip service for its customers for 10 bucks a month. I'm thinking about trying that out.
 

limegrass69

Confused
Oct 12, 2008
6,079
245
63
New York
I know some people who are relatively satisfied with Vonage. The feature set is really good. Customer service is a horror show, but there are a lot of forums on the Internet that can help you solve problems if they come up. It's one of those things that will either work or not work. I think that runs about $25 per month.

I have the voice service through my cable company (Cablevision). The customer service is local and good. The voice quality is better than Verizon. I pay $29.95 for unlimited US/PR/Can with 13 calling features (then another $14.95 for the second line).

I have another friend with the T-Mobile service and they like that. Lots of good choices for you. I just refuse to give money to the phone company.
 

memebag

Top Brass, ADVP
Oct 11, 2008
17,404
5,807
168
Lake Huntzing
+1 on magicjack.

I've read some bad reviews of Magicjack, but the killer is the spam-ware it comes with. It has to display ads to run, and the EULA says it spies on your calls to focus your ads. No thanks, our household blocks all advertisements.
 

xan_user

Banned
Dec 16, 2008
3,234
74
48
Nor-Cal
I've read some bad reviews of Magicjack, but the killer is the spam-ware it comes with. It has to display ads to run, and the EULA says it spies on your calls to focus your ads. No thanks, our household blocks all advertisements.
thanks for the heads up/
- but every call/data transmission in the US is recorded and stored for an undisclosed period thanx to patriot act.:ignore:
 

Andrew8468

Plans on freezing in the dark
Oct 26, 2008
4,309
551
113
Canada, eh?
I'm sure most cable companies offer a VoIP service by now. Contact them to see what they offer in your local area.
 

limegrass69

Confused
Oct 12, 2008
6,079
245
63
New York
The cable company offerings are actually better than the usual VoIP suspects.
The voice packets usually stays within the cable provider's network where the traffic can be prioritized. In addition, the bandwidth used for the call does not (theoretically) eat away at your bandwidth since it is on a different channel than your Internet (porn) traffic.
 

jef

Power Pig, Hello!
Oct 12, 2008
3,849
185
63
Thanks for the suggestions so far. Vonage seems to still be the big name, but I'm still investigating other options.

I actually dropped Speakeasy about 18 months ago because of the service cost. Great provider, but I was paying almost $130 a month including VoIP - couldn't really justify that anymore. I was actually worried about moving to AT&T after being spoiled by Speakeasy, but things have been trouble free.

I've also heard bad things about MagicJack. As for cable, they are out as well. Comcast does not get any money from me as long as there are alternatives. I'm a satellite TV guy, and cable companies really seem to hate customers that don't subscribe to their TV packages.

Has anyone dealt with ViaTalk or Packet8?
 

Jon

Well-Known Member
Dec 16, 2008
15,259
5,279
168
I use a skypephone as a backup phone and number, and it works decent and is cheap, however, it may still be too shakey for a fulltime line.

That's really all I would use it for is a backup. You can't make emergency calls with it. I have the skype app but I have yet to use it.
 

jef

Power Pig, Hello!
Oct 12, 2008
3,849
185
63
I'd love to just go straight cellphone, but for some reason, the wife doesn't feel comfortable not having that "real" phone number. Even though I've explained how VoIP works and that a power outage pretty much takes us out, she doesn't care. She just wants friends and family to have one place to find us - despite most of those people usually calling us on our phones. :-/

Oh well, thanks for all the info gang!
 

Andrew8468

Plans on freezing in the dark
Oct 26, 2008
4,309
551
113
Canada, eh?
Thanks for the suggestions so far. Vonage seems to still be the big name, but I'm still investigating other options.

I actually dropped Speakeasy about 18 months ago because of the service cost. Great provider, but I was paying almost $130 a month including VoIP - couldn't really justify that anymore. I was actually worried about moving to AT&T after being spoiled by Speakeasy, but things have been trouble free.

I've also heard bad things about MagicJack. As for cable, they are out as well. Comcast does not get any money from me as long as there are alternatives. I'm a satellite TV guy, and cable companies really seem to hate customers that don't subscribe to their TV packages.

Has anyone dealt with ViaTalk or Packet8?

Not knowing where you live, have you been to the Comcast website to see what they offer? I'm seeing phone service for $19.99 for 6 months and a $50 gift card
 

TX WJ

Intelligent Donkey
Oct 15, 2008
4,828
87
48
59
Chucktown
I have Vonage and I love it. Getting an email and a text when a message is left is cool.
 

DAB

Mod Emeritus
Oct 9, 2008
9,434
149
63
Louisiana
I have Vonage and I love it. Getting an email and a text when a message is left is cool.

I've thought about Vonage. Let me ask you, do you take it with you on the road to use a various locations or just at home?
 

jef

Power Pig, Hello!
Oct 12, 2008
3,849
185
63
Not knowing where you live, have you been to the Comcast website to see what they offer? I'm seeing phone service for $19.99 for 6 months and a $50 gift card

I'm in Comcast-land, but they will not get any money from me for anything as long as I can choose something else. It's a long story, but I had some awful experiences when they assimilated MediaOne in my area. On top of that, to add insult to injury, I had them for internet only - It only took them a short time to announce that they wanted to charge me more for not having TV service. :(
 

microbob

Well-Known Member
Oct 14, 2008
624
307
63
Thanks for the suggestions so far. Vonage seems to still be the big name, but I'm still investigating other options.

Has anyone dealt with ViaTalk or Packet8?


I've been a Packet 8 customer since 2005 and I have had 2 outages. They are really reliable and they are now called 8x8 Business Phone Service Provider: 8x8, Inc. which is the corporate name. I as understand it they were out before Vonage and have 64 patents on VOIP technology.