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Bandwagon Central => General => Topic started by: mussa on March 14, 2006, 12:41:46 PM

Title: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: mussa on March 14, 2006, 12:41:46 PM
I just signed up for it. Paided waay too much for regular phone service.  I am saving 40 % now. Anyone have it? Good stories or Bad?
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: Wingspan on March 14, 2006, 12:42:39 PM
call me when your power goes out
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: PoopyfaceMcGee on March 14, 2006, 12:44:46 PM
I have it.  I love it. 

Quote from: Wingspan on March 14, 2006, 12:42:39 PM
call me when your power goes out

I use battery backup on the cable modem, which is fine for short power outages.  For longer outages, Vonage has free voicemail and free call forwarding, should I choose to use them.  My wife and I both have cell phones, and I have a land-based work line should I absolutely need it.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: mussa on March 14, 2006, 12:47:29 PM
I have a cell-phone also, but get horrible reception in my new place.  Thats why i had to get a land line.  I got sick of shelling out 70-80 every month for it.  If power would go out, no big deal. 
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: PhillyGirl on March 14, 2006, 12:49:10 PM
I love Vonage.

if the power goes out, or the cable goes out, I still have backup with my cell phone. I'd rather pay 50.00 less a month for my phone bill and worry about the once in a blue moon chance that the power goes out.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: Seabiscuit36 on March 14, 2006, 12:51:23 PM
How does Tivo hook up with Vonage?  Any problems?
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: phattymatty on March 14, 2006, 12:51:46 PM
people still have land lines?
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: mussa on March 14, 2006, 12:53:48 PM
Quote from: PhillyGirl on March 14, 2006, 12:49:10 PM
I love Vonage.

if the power goes out, or the cable goes out, I still have backup with my cell phone. I'd rather pay 50.00 less a month for my phone bill and worry about the once in a blue moon chance that the power goes out.

word, thats what im screaming woman!

u ever get disconnected?  does it glitch at all? i read online that it doesn't work unless ur computer is on? please say no.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: mussa on March 14, 2006, 12:55:42 PM
the "PULSE" is coming for all you cell phone users. BEWARE!~
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: PhillyGirl on March 14, 2006, 12:58:37 PM
Quote from: mussa on March 14, 2006, 12:53:48 PM
u ever get disconnected?  does it glitch at all? i read online that it doesn't work unless ur computer is on? please say no.

Your MODEM has to be on. Your computer doesn't have to be on. I use mine all of the time with both of our computers off.

I don't get disconnected unless Comcast goes down. No glitches, but once Vonage service went down for like an hour and all I got was busy signals. That was over a year ago.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: Wingspan on March 14, 2006, 01:04:26 PM
it no difference really. it's just a preference as to which company you want to send your money to.

my verizon phone/internet bill is only $70 a month + directv w/HD is $50 + cell phone $15 = $135

comcast digital cable w/HD $85, comcast internet $40, + vonage $15 + cell $15 = $155

i dont love or boast about any one company. but it's all a pick your poison kinda thing.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: Wingspan on March 14, 2006, 01:05:21 PM
a friend of mine has vonange, and they like it, btw...i dont hear them complaining about it ever. then again, we dont sit around talking about phone services very often.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: stalker on March 14, 2006, 01:22:06 PM
I use AT&T Callvantage. Great service. Low price. I have a UPS on my IT equipment. After a 3 minute outage, my computers on the UPS shut down, It helps to conserve battery run time.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: PoopyfaceMcGee on March 14, 2006, 02:34:36 PM
Quote from: Seabiscuit36 on March 14, 2006, 12:51:23 PM
How does Tivo hook up with Vonage?  Any problems?

I believe you need a land-based line for TiVo/DirecTV.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: PhillyPhanInDC on March 14, 2006, 03:00:20 PM
I've been using Vonage pretty much since they started advertising for it. Never had a problem, and like Stalker, I use a UPS which keeps my Cable Modem powered up for more than an hour, plus I have a cell phone for backup. There are some differences you'll notice from a standard land line (ring tones sound different/longer, etc.,) but nothing that is annoying or a PITA. Good stuff and cheap. I found that using the 14.99 one made more sense, as I was never using the long distance features all that much. Another thing that is awesome about Vonage is the international call pricing. My wife is originally from Thailand, and calls back their to chat with friends and family, and it's about ten cents a minute. I don't think I will ever switch back to conventional service.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: Wingspan on March 14, 2006, 03:15:32 PM
Quote from: FFatPatt on March 14, 2006, 02:34:36 PM
Quote from: Seabiscuit36 on March 14, 2006, 12:51:23 PM
How does Tivo hook up with Vonage?  Any problems?

I believe you need a land-based line for TiVo/DirecTV.

tivo can be connected through a broadband internet connection too (i have mine on wireless).

Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: Father Demon on March 14, 2006, 03:47:00 PM
I have it. For the most part, I love it. The portal is very easy, and all the features are top-notch and "free". And the price is right. Check into the smaller 500 minute package, too. You have to talk a lot more than 500 minutes before you reach the point of the unlimited price. Each additional minute is a few cents per minute, so do the math.  If power goes out, like others have said, you have free call-forwarding that can go to your cell phone.

Five small complaints I have with it:
a) If I'm actively surfing, the call get's very choppy as my computer and phone compete for space
b) Some (but few) people on the other end complain about echo
c) They charge in 1 minute increments -- both incoming and outgoing calls. Calls to toll-free numbers, voice mail, and other Vonage customers are free.
d) Trying to get a poor quality call credited is rough. I have tried about five times, and none of them were credited. I never followed up after that, because I am usually under my 500 minutes per month
e) I can't get TIVO to update over the Vonage line, no matter what I try. I am fixing that by taking my Series I TIVO to wireless, and have it update via the Internet. Yes, it's geeky, but that's why I hire smart people. To work on my technical stuff at my house.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: stalker on March 14, 2006, 06:08:07 PM
Quote from: PhillyPhaninDC on March 14, 2006, 03:00:20 PM
My wife is originally from Thailand

Is that her in your avatar?

(http://www.spysurfing.com/index.php?q=aHR0cDovL2k0LnBob3RvYnVja2V0LmNvbS9hbGJ1bXMveTEzMy9Cb2JiZXJ0b24vUmlvMS5naWY%3D)



   Me so horny
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: mussa on March 17, 2006, 10:05:58 AM
So I got my router yesterday, called customer service for hook-up service and got a frickin indian.  i couldn't understand what the hell he was saying.  it took 15 minutes for me to translate what a normal english speaking customer rep.  could communicate in less than 5 minutes.  jesus! 
so i get it up and working then i try to set-up my voicemail.  call the number, put in what my temporary mailbox pin is and its says it doesn't work.  i try it again and again, doesn't work.  so i call India back and get another indian, this time it was 300 times worse.  I couldn't understand simple words.  I asked him 4 times to repeat what he just said, finally i hung the hell up in pure rage.  i almost threw my phone out the window.
i did call this morning with another problem, waited almost 15 minutes on speakerphone to finaly get to someone, and ALAS! Its an American, who speaks good english.  He hooked me up and I actually downgraded to a lower monthly price of 14.95. 
Overall the price is great, but the customer service is horrible.  I guess thats what you get for 14.95 :-\
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: MURP on March 17, 2006, 10:38:12 AM
i've pretty much decided that anytime I get someone who doesnt speak English well on a customer service call I'll just hang up and keep calling until I get someone who can.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: PhillyGirl on March 17, 2006, 10:38:44 AM
I hate offshore CSRs.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: mussa on March 17, 2006, 12:13:39 PM
Quote from: MURP on March 17, 2006, 10:38:12 AM
i've pretty much decided that anytime I get someone who doesnt speak English well on a customer service call I'll just hang up and keep calling until I get someone who can.

yes i think im going that route now also. 
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: Wingspan on March 17, 2006, 12:35:08 PM
THANK YOU - COME AGAIN!
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: Phanatic on March 17, 2006, 12:44:45 PM
You get what you pay for...
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: Geowhizzer on March 17, 2006, 01:14:32 PM
That sounds like the guy I got for my computer when I first got it.  I couldn't figure out why the computer would hang at the first screen (HP Invent).  Every freaking step, like "turn on your computer," when I did it, the guy would say "Wonderful!  Wonderful!"  I wanted to tell him where to stuff his wonderful.

He never could figure out why the computer did it.  After I hung up on him, I fiddled around with it, and discovered that I had an external hard drive that had to be turned off for the computer to boot.

Wasted an hour of my life trying to decipher that's guy's speaking...  :boom
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: PoopyfaceMcGee on March 17, 2006, 02:25:46 PM
My mom actually sent me this topical joke today via e-mail:

QuoteMujibar was trying to get a job in India.

The Personnel Manager said, "Mujibar, you have passed all the tests, except one. Unless you pass it you cannot qualify for this job."

Mujibar said, "I am ready."

The manager said, "Make a sentence using the words Yellow, Pink and Green."

Mujibar thought for a few minutes and said, "Mister manager, I am ready."

The manager said, "Go ahead."

Mujibar said, "The telephone goes green, green, green, and I pink it up, and say, 'Yellow, this is Mujibar.'"

Mujibar now works as a technician at a call center for VONAGE phone service problems.

No doubt you have spoken to him...
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: mussa on March 17, 2006, 03:40:34 PM
i hate mujibar
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: PhillyGirl on March 17, 2006, 03:49:16 PM
Quote from: Phanatic on March 17, 2006, 12:44:45 PM
You get what you pay for...

What are you saying? because Vonage is 14.99 he gets an outsourced CSR?

That's completely ignorant. Some of the biggest companies (including LARGE credit card companies) outsource their customer service now.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: Wingspan on March 17, 2006, 03:57:07 PM
thats not completely ignorant at all.

it's the truth. even with the large credit card companies. it's a dirt cheap way to not have to pay employees.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: PhillyGirl on March 17, 2006, 04:29:00 PM
Quote from: Wingspan on March 17, 2006, 03:57:07 PM
thats not completely ignorant at all.

it's the truth. even with the large credit card companies. it's a dirt cheap way to not have to pay employees.

You missed my point.

Phanatic made it sound like because you have a cheaper phone service, you get outsourced CSRs.

Well, my laptop isn't cheap and neither is the company who makes it. And I get India CSRs when I call.

It has nothing to do with how much WE pay for the service.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: Wingspan on March 17, 2006, 04:46:43 PM
ah...i [TO]misconstrude[/TO] the post.
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: PoopyfaceMcGee on March 17, 2006, 05:15:36 PM
My company charges an assload for IT consulting, and they're still deadset on moving towards 50% of technical resources being non-U.S.  So there is certainly no correlation between cheaper services and "global" resources.  Even the expensive services are finding ways to outsource overseas.  Yay capitalism!
Title: Re: Vonage Phone Service
Post by: mussa on March 17, 2006, 05:23:43 PM
fargin ingin's