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 Review by jeisenberg 
UPDATED: 217 days ago
member for 8.3 years, 2161 visits, last login: 1 days ago
 Windsor,ON
 $45 per month
 about 5 days
 "No charge long distance, visual caller ID, visual call waiting"
 "Service dependent on internet availability, a few missing call features"
 "If you use anything beyond basic telco features, you'll save a bundle"
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Update (April 2009): This update is at the request of the wonderful folks who bring you DSLreports. Cogeco VOIP has been the bright spot in a Cogeco bundle that has lost some of its lustre. Call quality is rock steady, and the cable in this area of Windsor rarely suffers serious problems. If I have any gripes, I'd like to see Cogeco offer some sort of loyalty discount (much like insurance companies do). This part of the city offers lots of good alternative carriers, but I'm so impressed with Cogeco's quality, I haven't seen fit to make a big issue of the price I pay. However, with times getting tougher, I may need to start looking for a cheaper bundle.
Update (August 2008): Nothing much to say, actually. Things are still awesome with Cogeco VOIP. Surprisingly few losses of service since my last review. It's one of those services that seems to always be there, so not much to say. The only real reason for this "update" is because I noticed that my avatar no longer indicated that I had a Cogeco VOIP review. I guess it must have expired after a two year absence in updates!
Update (June 24/06): Just had my first major problem with VOIP service. We had a major storm this past Wednesday, and the electrical transformer right behind my house took a direct lightning hit. The transformer had to be replaced, and I noticed that my VOIP service went down during the storm and did not return afterward. I scheduled a service call for today (they had wanted to schedule me for Thursday or Friday, but I was not going to be home), and was out when the tech arrived (missed him by a few minutes). I called Cogeco, and they turned the tech around and he came back within 30 minutes of having left. I needed to have my modem swapped out, which he did in a matter of minutes. My service is back online and I'm tickled pink. Try getting service that quickly from Bell!
I'd been a Bell customer for well over 30 years, including their long distance service. As a long-time customer, they had offered me packages not advertised to the general public. Despite those deals, my long distance service was still costing me between $10 and $30 per month - and I did not subscribe to caller ID.
I waited until the Devonshire Mall location had a working VOIP display before finally committing to the service. Before ordering, I placed several long distance calls directly from the phone in the mall. I booked the appointment on the spot, and was given a four-hour window when the installer would arrive. I elected to keep my existing telephone number, and Cogeco made all the arrangements with Bell to terminate the service at the correct time. It was Cogeco that disconnected the Bell service, so my phones were never "out of service" before the installation.
The installation did not go completely smoothly - with the technician having to do some wiring troubleshooting. However, he stayed until the job was completed, and verified that all my handsets were operational before he left. My cable modem was replaced with a different model that directly ties into my home phone wiring, and is equipped with an 8-hour backup power source. Since I have not yet had an electrical failure, I don't know whether this backup only powers the phone service or the internet connection as well.
With Cogeco VOIP service, I receive call quality that I have to call excellent. Except for two very brief service outages (one coming the day after installation of the service), the service has been rock steady. And all calls within Canada and the continental US are absolutely free of charge.
Soon after installation, I also had an issue with their voicemail. My voicemail box somehow got messed up, and it required a "reboot" of the service (effectively erasing the few messages I already had on file). There have been no troubles at all since then.
When a call is placed, there is sometimes a short (maybe 2 second) period of "echo" on the line. Cogeco says it is a system-wide issue which they are working to resolve. All calls within Canada and the US are dialed with a 10-digit direct number - you don't dial the "1" prefix. In areas that support 7-digit local calling, this works as well.
If you need to call outside North America, Cogeco recommends you purchase a calling card with a toll-free access number, since the VOIP service currently cannot place those calls directly. You also cannot accept collect calls or make calls to pay services (such as 976 or 900 numbers).
The Cogeco website indicates that some call features such as three-way calling may be coming later, though it's not clear whether they will carry an additional charge. I also found Windsor's new "311" service for access to all local government services does not work. However, you can access the very same service by dialing 255-CITY.
All in all, I am extremely satisfied with the service and price. While Vonage seemed to have a lower price, I chose Cogeco because it gave me a single point of responsibility for cable and phone service.
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 Review by fugger
UPDATED: 1 year ago
member for 6.7 years, 1853 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Welland,ON
$35 per month (12 month contract)
"Reliable, free North American calling"
"I can't think of any."
"BETTER THAN BELL!"
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I had this service for 1 year now and not once had a problem with it. Phone is quite clear and we have plenty of features included (Bell charged us for call display, voicemail and 3 way calling).
Unless you're paranoid about a blackout of over 6 hours get Cogeco's VOIP as it's much cheaper than a Bell Land Line.
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Review by Ravage_D
Posted: 1.2 years ago
member for 6.6 years, 310 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Kingston,ON
$45 per month
about 5 days
"Unlimited long distance! Call display/voicemail/call waiting included"
"Random small hiccups, but rarely. Cannot dial europe"
"Fantastic phone service especially if you make lots of long distance calls"
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My household got Cogeco Voip two years ago and we haven't looked back! All of us are away at school and not having to worry about long distance calls ever is fantastic.
It's been extremely reliable. The modem for our internet also doubles as the phone connection too.
The random hiccups are things like number not being able to be connected, random bleep sounds and sometimes when dialing other people with Cogeco it instantly connects with no ring! Nothing to worry about.
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 Review by Adam20
UPDATED: 1.3 years ago
member for 2.3 years, 861 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Sarnia,ON
$34 per month
"Just as clear as any pots line/UL Canada+USA Calling"
"some outages"
"Best value for the money"
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Receiving intermittent outages, phone doesnt ring for extended periods of time, however we are able to make outgoing calls most of the time.
Dont believe its a modem issue as with the internet am still receiving 10+mbps download speed, and if modem was faulty would lead me to believe that would be effected as well.
Cogeco doesnt know whats going on with it.
guess we shall have to wait and see
****Update Sunday July 5th*****
Phone was out today, tech didnt know why(grrr), internet worked normally, as it has, been getting 10megs consistently.
Just discovered the wonders of bit torrent. but most ive been able to get out of a torrent is 5megs. Wish I could get more but wont complain considering what most people get lol.
Internet and tv worked fine during phone outage hours(phone outage was just no dial tone). Phone worked flawlessly in the past, so we shall see what goes on.
updated ratings to reflect todays issue
Dispite having some issues with my cogeco pro internet connection I have NEVER experienced any issues with the voip phone system.
Even when the internet and cable were down, the phone still worked!!.
Ofcourse we havent had any power outtages lately, and we all have cell phones so its not a concern.
and Free LD!!!
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 Review by blackzero
UPDATED: 1.4 years ago
member for 2.2 years, 189 visits, last login: 43 days ago
Trois-Rivieres,QC
$30 per month (12 month contract)
"Unlimited USA/Canada calling,good voice quality,very reliable"
"Direct internationnal calling,should be have more features,but it's ok."
"A nice way to piss-off bell canada."
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I have cogeco's voip service since december 2007 and the service is awesome.
The connection and voice quality are excellent.
All i like is the unlimited calling to USA/Canada. Is sometimes useful in some circonstances.
They offer good features with no charge,but they could have more. They could work better for international calling. You know i have most of my family living in France and is not so much funny to always recharge your "prepaid" card through a call center.
BTW. This service worths your money.
I highly recommend that service.
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Update for June 2nd 2008
It seems that call display blocking doesn't fully work with tool-free numbers.
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Review by Phorkster
Posted: 1.7 years ago
member for 5.4 years, 783 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Windsor,ON
$45 per month
"Cheaper than Bell Landline"
"Price is a little more than other VOIPs"
"Great price and service from Cogeco."
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Great phone service, more expensive than most VOIP providers but its on a dedicated line so doesn't count toward bandwidth.
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Review by zaph0d
UPDATED: 1.9 years ago
member for 2 years, 1 visits, last login: 1.9 years ago
Oakville,ON
$42 per month
about 5 days
"Price/Sound quality"
"Happy with Cogeco Internet and Phone"
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It's not often you run across a company who sr management actually reads concerns posted and acts on them. Kudos to Cogeco for being one of those companies!
Excellent voice quality.
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Review by fluffydog
UPDATED: 2.1 years ago
member for 2.2 years, 0 visits, last login: 2.2 years ago
Belleville,ON
$35 per month
about 4 days
"free North American calling at any time, lot-o-features,"
"some (rare) connection/quality problems"
"good value for the money"
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Overall Cogeco VOIP has been a good experience. Much cheaper than the POTS (Bell), and required no deposit or contract. Customer support agents however could be best described as vacuous.
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Review by goingfishing
Posted: 3.2 years ago
member for 4.4 years, 18 visits, last login: 3 years ago
undisclosed location
$40 per month
about 9 days
"Call Quality"
"Nothing Bad to say."
"Bye Bye Bell Canada"
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Bye Bye Bell Canada, finally VOIP with a Sarnia number, Cogeco Rep. just installed and call quality is excellent, I do not have a single thing bad to say about Cogeco, keep up the great work.
Had Vonage with a London number for a while and had problems with echo that did not get fixed. When we cancelled they charged $50.00 disconnection fee and did not refund any part of the month I just paid for.
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Review by cog tec
Posted: 3.5 years ago
member for 3.5 years, 14 visits, last login: 3.5 years ago
Fort Erie,ON
$39 per month
"Works great"
"Still have to deal with a phone book listing"
"Great service"
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I am aware that this may be a bit biased, seeing I am an employee, but I am also a tester. I live in the Fort Erie area of Niagara, and have recently gotten my Cogeco Digital Phone installed. It is working great. I have made about two dozen phone calls to different areas of North America and have noticed no issues with echo and audio drops. Very unintrusive install, basically just hook it into the demarc point and your off to making phone calls.
I had an installer hook it up for me, and he was completed within 20 mins. If you are thinking about making the swaitch to voip...........do it.
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