VoIP Phone Services -- worth the money?
Remember when Al Gore flicked the Internet on and we were all promised free phone service within 6 months? What happened to that? Politicians, I tell ya...when are we going to learn? Fortunately, there are people looking to make good on the promise to rob traditional landline customers form the Baby Bells by exploiting the Interent in order to offer free local and long distance phone service to deprived consumers across the country. Deprived...seriously. While the Baby Bells might argue against the term "deprived," UCAN begs to differ. The amount of competion in the local/long-distance marketplace is laughable. The Bells were broken up because of monopoly-type conditions, but mergers and acquisitions have steadily consolidated market power back into the hands of a select few. A new wave of Internet-exploiting phone companies could help change all that.
You can say that you heard it here first. VoIP is BIG. Is it probably going to become the predominant medium by which people verbally communicate in the next decade, so understand what it is about. Have you heard about Skype? That's VoIP. How about Google Voice, or Yahoo Voice? Or Vonage? Or Magic Jack? Or your cable company's digital phone service. Those are all flavors of VoIP. And coming soon, you'll be able to use your wireless phone to access the Internet and make phone calls via your cell phone without incurring any phone charges. Most savvy users of smart phones can already do this. And you wonder why wireless carriers are planning on changing how they charge for data plans?
VoIP service is provided over the Internet, so local exchanges become irrelevant for the purpose of assigning a phone number. Internet telephone providers are able to assign you a phone number for any area code that you want. In fact, for a nominal charge, customers can receive a VoIP phone number from an area code in any part of the United States, regardless of where they are located.
The prevailing sentiment amongst telecommunications insiders is consistent with my own professional assessment that VoIP will eclipse copper-wire and wireless networks as the primary source of home phone service. You might as well prepare for this “brave new world” of VoIP, because it is only a matter of when – not if.
At this point the quality of VoIP is comparable to wireless -- not great but not ear-twistingly bad. It promises to get better over the coming years, so check it out. We've tested a number of these services and here's our findings, so far.
Google Voice - The "free" price tag makes it pretty attractive. The quality is good but not perfect. Best for customers with high-speed Internet connectivity.
Skype - The "free" price tag makes it also pretty attractive. The quality is good; perhaps on par with Google Voice, although we found Google Voice's integration with the other Google apps made it a better option than Skype. Best for customers with high-speed Internet connectivity.
Magic Jack - This was a bit disappointing. The low upfront cost (appx. $30) caught our attention. But the quality was consistently troublesome and the integrated-whether-you-want-it-or-not-voicemail caused constant headaches for us. Also, the length of calls are limited by Magic Jack; they can't exceed an hour. Not horrible, but we found the other two free services superior in most ways.
Ooma - We were skeptical, especially with the large upfront cost of $199 to buy the interface device. But the quality has been surprising good and the service quite reliable. Moreover, you don't need a computer to use it; it will connect to any phone device. But you do need high-speed internet. With about six months, the device is pretty much paid for, assuming you'd pay $30 per month to Vonage, your cable company or some other VoIP provider. One of the better deals out there if you use your phone a fair amount.
Vonage - We liked Vonage. The quality was decent, although we think Ooma might be a bit better. The biggest problem was its monthly $25.99 + taxes cost. Ooma is a better value proposition, in our mind, if you are willing to pay some money upfront.
All in all, if you are considering buying "digital phone service" from your local cable or landline provider, you should definitely consider these options first. If you use your phone a lot and don't want to sit in front of a computer, Ooma may be worth a look-see. If you don't mind sitting before your computer when you chat, then the free web-based services are a pretty good bet.
Oh, and don't forget that the web-based phone services should be accessible to most smartphones soon. The quality might be a bit rougher than what is offered over high-speed internet service, but with the advent of 4G speed and improved cell infrastructure, using your smartphone for VoIP phone service may be the best option for more sophisticated users.
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The More Kinks You Put In The Plumbing...
...the easier it is to stop up the pipes.
Interesting to see thousands of disaster-stricken Japanese lining up to use...a pay booth: POTS.
Keep it up. Soon, any disaster will be able to bring down the entire communications network if "the Net" isn't running.
Idiocy.
We can't complain about not
We can't complain about not having options in internet phone. My first Voip experience was Skype, we've come a long way since then. Now we can enjoy different service voip packs and things won't stop here. Business managers have already understand, a lot of them switch to voip considering it's a lot cheaper.
So many opportunities
There are so many phone opportunities that have been opened up with the uprising of the internet. It's incredible. Everything from Vonage type applications, to Skype-ing with someone halfway across the world, to the ability for corporations to set up an in house hosted call center to handle the incredible load of calls they get. We cannot complain. Technology offers us more and more opportunities to be successful in business, save money and live more comfortably.
version or sprint wireless connect cards for laptop
I have a question, how can I still use the wireless connect cards if I no longer have service? Does anyone know of a way that this can still work. I appreicate the assistance.
YAHOO/JAJAH RIP OFF
I got a Phone In line from Yahoo Messenger and had no problems until Jajah took over the service. First they disconnected my phone and it was paid up for a month. Then Jajah billed two separate cards for the service while it was disconnected. After getting all of that straightened out I discovered my Phone In line had been disconnected once again... while it was still paid.
Ok, I can understand they transitions take some doing, but this company is not trust worthy in my opinion by any means! Now I have spent two days on the phone with them and got my service on again... only to discover there are six (6) new charges to my account for $2.99 each.
There is no reason for this kind of behavior and now they want to tell me it will take 5-7 days to refund my money. Unacceptable when it takes only a few seconds to take it from me.
I do not like thnis company and cannot believe that Yahoo says they find this company trustworthty. Apparently they didn't check them out very well before deciding to turn their customers over to them.
Once this issue is resolved I will never do business with Yahoo Messenger Phone In Service again or any company that associates with Jajah.
Want a phone? I chose Vonage and have had no problems with them. Much cheaper than AT&T for sure.
Consumer Beware!
Yes... I second
Yes... I second yahoo/Jajah's fraudulent billing system. Many many many many times I get billed for a call that was not connected. What usually happens is I dial a number and it ring and rings out, but does NOT even go into voice mail, or I cut the line, yet my account gets debited for the call. Does that make sense? How and why should I billed for a call that was not connected. I can't imagine how much they have stolen from me this way. And hey, if it happens to me, then you bet it happens to hundreds of others. Weeks after I sent mails to them, they still don't reply. Bloody crooks.
Unfortunately I still have $ in the account. But of course nobody is gonna be telling to dump they asses once my money runs out, NEVER again to use their service. And the only reason I used them out in the first place was they they actually turn out to be cheaper than Skype, but their theiving ways and poor voice quality cancells that out.
Anyone else with bad experience with these guys, voice it here and let others be pre-warned.
Yahoo/Jajah
Same thing is happening to me. I never had so many problems before.
wich phone?
Can someone give me an idea whether or not I should go for a smart phone or just use a more stylish phone and wait for some better technology? I am on the Sprint network, and was referred to http://www.sanyowireless.com , but I'm not seeing any options that look like smart phones. I don't need an MP3 player or a camera, I'd rather have a phone that is lighter and easier to carry. Any recommendations would be welcome.
"ooma"
I'm surprised that you don't offer "ooma" as an option on your comparison chart...why not? We purchased the equipment a few months ago when the prices dropped and so far, are very satisfied. International calling is an option and can be arranged online, if needed. In my opinion, using ooma is a money saving "no brainer".
I really don't know what's
I really don't know what's the best priced pc phone services ? Please respond to me.
SCE Division OF - UCAN...??
Hi Folks......
I've been watching UCAN for sometime now and the issues at hand, you've been engaged in.
I like what you do and stand for and have donated funds from time to time, though I don't live in San Diego County. I often wondered WHY you don't have a division on SCE's turf, as well. I mentioned this in an email to you a few years back too. Anything changed?
I realize your probably spread pretty thin but, I suspect other interested parties would jump at the chance to be your LEFT arm, and fight the good fight here in SCE country, and in the desert regions specifically, where we pay 12.5kwh min. to 24 cents+ per kwh, in 4-tier billing practices. Bills here, are outa control and some of the reasons are due to faulty meters, and odd circumstances connected with SCEs Neutral lines and more. From what I understand, we don't benefit at all, from the hundreds of Wind Generators that dot the pass areas of the desert either. They apparently, sell it to outa state energy providers.
I don't see anyone, of any consequence coming to the aid of SCEs customer base here, in the Coachella Valley. In fact, the ederly and poor get socked during the summer months, due to the high cost of Air Conditioning use. Even the rich among us, complain. lol.
I realize San Diego PG&E is probably doing the same thing there, as SCE is doing here in many regards. Making matters worse, seems to be the ever-rising costs of energy and the falling purchasing power of the dollar. ( And they say there's no inflation )
Have you folks ever entertained the idea of spreading your wings and helping out the people who reside in Riverside County...?
Hey, tell you what, U start an operation here and I'll push your outfit til hell freezes or Edison
changes their wanton ways. Right now, without a UCAN, its a toss-up which will come first.
Regardless, Thank you for the job your doing in PG&E's Territory. Keep up the good fight.
It may not seem worth it at times, but the end game is worth staying the course for, especially, when you have the public rallying behind you. Of course, donations help too.
I'll send you some more e-tickets when I get the chance, soon. In the meantime..
SEMPER PARATUS !!.
G.D Cull et al
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