Recommendations for a VOIP Phone and 3g

[loudee]

I'm about to pull the trigger on getting VOIP service and would like some recommendations on different phones especially ones that are convenient when traveling. Also, any feedback while using VOIP over Att's 3G network?

Lou

 

[Ron Van D]

I've been using Vonage for about six months with no problems. I switched to them and added a fax line with myfax.com and got rid of my two business lines. Saved $100 bucks a month.

Verizon is my cell phone carrier and I have great coverage on my Blackberry. I use it as the modem for my laptop when I'm out and about.

 

[Mark]

How many phone lines can you have with a voip?

 

[allhealthandlife]

I'm about to pull the trigger on getting VOIP service and would like some recommendations on different phones especially ones that are convenient when traveling. Also, any feedback while using VOIP over Att's 3G network?

Lou

The quality of the way it sounds is fine but the reliability is not.

I just disconnected my Comcast VOIP because it was very unreliable for me. I have my land line calls always forwarded to my cell and unbeknown to me many callers were getting a message that my phone was not in service when my internet connection was disrupted. I know of at least 4 sales i lost because of this in AEP for Medicare Advantage.Also you will get dropped calls and this also happened to me with my experiment with Vonage as well.

My advice is that if you plan on using it for business i wouldn't because one fouled up sale can cost you more than you save in a year from traditional land lines. If i could port my landlines number to a cell phone i would do it but i guess i am stuck with that because there is no way i am going change the number i have used for 10 years.

 

[Vitamin C]

How many phone lines can you have with a voip?

If you're talinking about business lines, I used to have about 24 simultaneously through Packet8.

They have a virtual office system that includes voicemail, a virtual attendant and all sorts of other features I love. One of my favorites is your voicemails can be sent as a wave file to any email address and you can play them on any computer, or your phone.

Currently, I have just two lines with a virtual toll free number for marketing. They run about $50/line/month with unlimited domestic long distance.

If you go there though let me refer you for some credit on my existing account please

To answer the original post. With your Packet8 phone, you just take the modem with you when you travel. It's pretty small and lightweight. Anywhere in the world where you have a high speed internet connection, you can plug in your modem with any analog phone and have the same phone line and number as you did when it was plugged in at your desk at home. I haven't done this but, you could be in another country, with a high speed internet connection and call USA for free. That's the way I understand it.

 

[Ron Van D]

The quality of the way it sounds is fine but the reliability is not.

I just disconnected my Comcast VOIP because it was very unreliable for me. I have my land line calls always forwarded to my cell and unbeknown to me many callers were getting a message that my phone was not in service when my internet connection was disrupted. I know of at least 4 sales i lost because of this in AEP for Medicare Advantage.Also you will get dropped calls and this also happened to me with my experiment with Vonage as well.

My advice is that if you plan on using it for business i wouldn't because one fouled up sale can cost you more than you save in a year from traditional land lines. If i could port my landlines number to a cell phone i would do it but i guess i am stuck with that because there is no way i am going change the number i have used for 10 years.

My experience with Vonage has been without problem for the six months I've had them. If my line were to go down, for whatever reason, then the call goes to voice mail, which is immediately sent as an email to my Blackberry. I have yet to have someone tell me that they couldn't get through to me.

 

[patch36]

I have had Vonage for nearly 2 years. I have the 2 line business package. A business number and a fax number. On top of that I have 2 separate toll free numbers that ring into the main line. I have the voicemail to text service so I get texts of the voicemail sent to my mobile iPhone and to my email, which also goes to the iPhone via my gmail. I hate pulling up actual voicemail and listening to it, so it is easier for me to read the transcription and return the call.

Vonage has all kinds of tweeks for the forwarding and voicemail. The fax can be an issue on some machines. Once I got my setting right on my fax machine I have had no significant problems.

 

[myinsurebiz]

All those mentioned above are residential class providers.

If you want robust communications - use a enterprise class provider like:

nextiva.com

I wouldn't dare use the others for business calls.

Tom

 

[jhenderson99]

The problems you will encounter are not with the VOIP service provider but with your internet provider.

I had Vonage and Comcast too, service kept going out and my wife was pissed Girls gotta talk. Anyhow, I switched to Verizon FIOS and am now problem free. Vonage now has the portable sets too.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
.....also, if you live in an area with older homes, chances are the ground cables are old and subject to degradation. - Hence my problem with Comcast. Newer services like Verizon Fios will have less problems.....

 

[CPACINS]

just like jh99 said, if you have good internet connections and speed, you will have no problem with vonage. I use comcast cable and no problems. You can check your connection speed on the vonage website in their help tab. If it shows good upload/download speed, you are good to go.