Anybody using Vonage?

[trof]

How do you like it?
And how does the internet/ISP thing work?

[SacredCow]

1. Have it here, and it works very well....

I'm not sure what you're asking re how it works- I certainly can't explain the technology. I'll just say that the installation was very easy- just cascading their router to mine and plugging it all in. And that's about it.

[trof]

2. Just found out not available in my town.

oh well...
:-(

[Madrone]

4. I'm sure you can...

There probably just isn't a local number available in your town. I use another company (Broadvoice) - but I don't think there are local numbers available for where I live ... which is fine by me, I got a number from my home town, and now my friends and family back home can call me for free.

[nadine_mn]

3. we have it - I like it

you have to have dsl for it to work,but seriously it saves a lot of money

[Pierre.Suave]

5. No you dont...

you can have cable internet and use it too...

[nadine_mn]

14. you are right

I use cable/dsl interchangeaility because I am doofus and computer illiterate (the internet is a series of magic tubes that Al gore invented)...lol

All I know is that I never want dial up again

[Pierre.Suave]

17. Damn skippy.,..

no dial up for you!

[Fredda Weinberg]

6. I've had it for several years ... never a problem. I have cable internet

and like that I'll be able to move my Vonage box when I move painlessly. Got me the equivalent of landline service w/no installation charges ... and while it's not the equivalent - you'll get an occasional uncompleted call - but once connected, never dropped, unlike cellular.

I can explain the technology, but prefer to just use it. Vonage is a good solution and an honest company so far.

[qb]

7. Damn, am I ignorant. I thought this was a prescription drug thread. nt

[Eurobabe]

8. I have it, use it from overseas to call home and have

everyone call me from USA. I have the Vonage V-phone, it's a phone on a USB stick.

Works like a charm. I've been with Vonage since 2003, first time in decades that I have had a stable telephone number (because I move around so much!)

[DarkTirade]

9. It is teh awesome.

A phone with just about every feature you can think of for the same price you'd pay for a phone line with NO features from a phone company. And free long distance to boot. :)

[SKKY]

10. I tried it, but I much, much prefer Packet8...

...But, I know people who swear by it.

[China_cat]

11. We had it, it worked very well under XP

When I got the new computer running Vista, it quit working and all I can get out of the company are instructions on how to install it...which I did a year and a half ago and then again when I got the new computer. I've been trying for a month now to get it back but nothing works. So I have no landline, no help from the company and they keep billing me for the time I haven't been able to use the phone.

When it worked, it was absolutely great. Since it stopped it has been nothing but an immensely frustrating pain in the ass.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

12. No, but their commericals are annoying....

With the stupid repetative song in the background. That and Head On commericials.

[no name no slogan]

13. I've had it for awhile, using Comcast cable internet

Supposedly Comcast was throttling some Vonage customers in order to promote its own VoIP service, but I've never noticed any problems.

It's a good service, especially for the cost ($25/mo unlimited calls).

[Popol Vuh]

15. I use Vonage

I've been using Vonage for a little over a year now and it works great. Never had any problems with sound quality and my payment is set to automatic monthly deduction which no matter who I call in the US and for how long its always about twenty seven bucks.

The way it works is: you simply hook it up to your broadband modem/router hub and that's it. If it doesn't work for you (like it didn't for me) when you first hook it up. Its probably one of two problems or both. You'll need to unplug the power on your modem and router and Vonage modem, then plug them back in. This resets them. I for some unknown reason still couldn't get both my computer net connection and Vonage to work at the same time even though I was using a router hub. So what I did (and you shouldn't have to) was went to my IP website and selected multiple connections for five extra bucks a month.

Its nice not to have to have any concern about my phone bill no matter where in the US the number that I am calling. And what's cool is you don't have to do anything if you move. Just plug it in your new place and your service is still the same with the same number.



P.S. I have used it so far using both windows xp and vista. It shouldn't matter what operating system you're running if you have a router plugged into your broadband 'external' modem and your computer net connection and your Vonage modem plugged into the router.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

16. I use it with a Comcast cable modem

No major problems, especially since I have a cell phone for back up (which you need if the power goes out. Unlike a regular landline, it won't work unless the power is on).

Occasionally the router needs rebooting, but everything's back to normal in about five minutes.

Voice mail, call forwarding, and call waiting (which I don't like and don't use) are included, and so if a call comes in on the rare occasions when the phone is out, it just goes to my cell phone.

Since I'm not a great phone talker, I get by with the $15+tax limited version and then spend an extra $10 for a dedicated fax line.

Because it serves several countries, it has some interesting deals for people who do a lot of international calling. You can pay a bit extra per month to get a UK/French/whatever phone number in addition to your U.S. one, so that you're friends/family overseas can call you toll free.

[OzarkDem]

18. Have it at home and in the office

works well, is much cheaper and hassle free.