Comments on: VOIP: It’ll Save You Money, I Promise. http://www.americanconsumernews.com/2007/06/voip-it%e2%80%99ll-save-you-money-i-promise.html News for Consumers in Changing Times Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dough Roller http://www.americanconsumernews.com/2007/06/voip-it%e2%80%99ll-save-you-money-i-promise.html/comment-page-1#comment-699 Dough Roller Thu, 07 Jun 2007 23:41:00 +0000 http://www.americanconsumernews.com/2007/06/voip-it%e2%80%99ll-save-you-money-i-promise.html#comment-699 We've used Vonage for about two years and have been happy with the service and lower cost. When our Internet service is interrupted, we lose our phone line. However, all Vonage calls are routed to our cell phone, so we don't miss any calls. The 911 issue raised in a previous comment is a concern, although we live just minutes from a fire station and police department, so finding us wouldn't be a problem. One thing to note about Vonage, however, is that Verizon won a patent infringement suit against Vonage in federal court in Virginia that threatens to shut down Vonage. The case is on appeal. We’ve used Vonage for about two years and have been happy with the service and lower cost. When our Internet service is interrupted, we lose our phone line. However, all Vonage calls are routed to our cell phone, so we don’t miss any calls. The 911 issue raised in a previous comment is a concern, although we live just minutes from a fire station and police department, so finding us wouldn’t be a problem. One thing to note about Vonage, however, is that Verizon won a patent infringement suit against Vonage in federal court in Virginia that threatens to shut down Vonage. The case is on appeal.

]]> By: Chris http://www.americanconsumernews.com/2007/06/voip-it%e2%80%99ll-save-you-money-i-promise.html/comment-page-1#comment-698 Chris Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:03:00 +0000 http://www.americanconsumernews.com/2007/06/voip-it%e2%80%99ll-save-you-money-i-promise.html#comment-698 I live in Metaire, LA (right next to Katrina ravaged New Orleans) and internet service is avaiable from two providers, the local phone company(Bell South) and the cable company(Cox Communications). The phone company REQUIRES you to have a phone line to get DSL so VOIP is pointless. The cable company gives you a substantial discount for bundling TV, Internet, and phone so VOIP in my case would not actually be cheaper. <br/>If you are fortunate to live in an area where you can buy naked DSL <i>(2 of the 4 lines in a twisted pair. Basically DSL without a phone line and I swear that is what it's called)</i> it is probably worth it to switch. <br/>One example where it would work would be if you get satellite TV and cable internet it's probably worth it. In many places DSL is all that is availble and the phone providers will often force you to buy both services.<br/>For business owners though the cost savings can be huge because there the rules change. I live in Metaire, LA (right next to Katrina ravaged New Orleans) and internet service is avaiable from two providers, the local phone company(Bell South) and the cable company(Cox Communications). The phone company REQUIRES you to have a phone line to get DSL so VOIP is pointless. The cable company gives you a substantial discount for bundling TV, Internet, and phone so VOIP in my case would not actually be cheaper.
If you are fortunate to live in an area where you can buy naked DSL (2 of the 4 lines in a twisted pair. Basically DSL without a phone line and I swear that is what it’s called) it is probably worth it to switch.
One example where it would work would be if you get satellite TV and cable internet it’s probably worth it. In many places DSL is all that is availble and the phone providers will often force you to buy both services.
For business owners though the cost savings can be huge because there the rules change.

]]> By: mapgirl http://www.americanconsumernews.com/2007/06/voip-it%e2%80%99ll-save-you-money-i-promise.html/comment-page-1#comment-697 mapgirl Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:11:00 +0000 http://www.americanconsumernews.com/2007/06/voip-it%e2%80%99ll-save-you-money-i-promise.html#comment-697 I work in telecom and I'll tell you now, I have a landline for 911 calls. It's $15 bucks a month for the local service, but worth it if that means faster response by a dispatcher because they know my exact location. All long distance is handled via Skype or via cellphone.<br/><br/>Read about VOIP and 911 at these FCC sites:<br/>http://www.voip911.gov/<br/>http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/voip911.html<br/><br/>It may save you money, but maybe not your life or property if your VOIP provider does not have your physical location properly recorded from a recent move, etc. I work in telecom and I’ll tell you now, I have a landline for 911 calls. It’s $15 bucks a month for the local service, but worth it if that means faster response by a dispatcher because they know my exact location. All long distance is handled via Skype or via cellphone.

Read about VOIP and 911 at these FCC sites:
http://www.voip911.gov/
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/voip911.html

It may save you money, but maybe not your life or property if your VOIP provider does not have your physical location properly recorded from a recent move, etc.

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