hoffa69
join:2007-07-17
| [General] No VOIP leaders?
I'm looking for a new VOIP provider and I'm not seeing anything out there. I've had experience with several VOIP providers and just don't see any standouts. Nearly all have had problems that are sometimes serious.
I know Vonage is #1 market share but at those prices you might as well just get cable phone or regular phone. Packet 8 is also big but I had billing issues with them as well as quality problems. Broadvoice was out-right aweful like a operation out of the basement.
Now I'm hearing similiar horror stories with Viatalk and VOIP.com. I just don't see anyone that makes the A list anymore. |
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N9MD
Premium
join:2005-10-08
Wayne, NJ
 ·VOIPo
·ViaTalk
·PHONE POWER
·Callcentric
1 edit | said by hoffa69  :...I just don't see anyone that makes the A list anymore. I am not a VoicePulse customer and I do not work for VoicePulse. I was a SunRocket customer --- and I currently use ViaTalk, VoiceStick, GizmoVoice, StanaPhone, IpKall, CallCentric and AxVoice.
But if you ask me which is the most stable and most reliable at this moment in time --- I would have to say VoicePulse. During my membership with the BBR Forums, I must admit that VP has had the fewest posts containing moaning and groaning.
Check out »/gbu |
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Prayer
join:2001-12-29
Warminster, PA
·Axvoice
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
·STANAPHONE
| reply to hoffa69
Depends on what is the most important criteria for the beholder. Is it ?
1. Price
2. Uptime
3. Signal quality
4. Customer Service
5. Fringe needs (BYOD, asterisk, Two ATAs etc.)
6. Business needs/call volumes etc.
For me, SR was great for 1-4 and I was so happy. Now I am giddy with excitement of expanding to more horizons. i.e. more trunk lines.
I'd have to agree that VoicePulse would be number one, two or three in all the above categories.
What have I gone to?
1. Net2Phone because of the great offer. #1 don't know about the other 5 items yet.
2. OneSuite, I upgraded to SuiteAdvantage and ported my signature no. ( I hope ) Due to low usage I'll probably spend less than $3.50 month for that one.
3. CallCentric, I signed up then found out a $2.50 monthly surcharge for E911 for ALL numbers based in USA. So my deal at $3.50 jumped to $6 monthly. So its just a SIP connect with no PSTN priviliges.
I still have $9 left on a calling card that came with a DECT phone from Staples. If n2p is erratic in service I have many fall backs BEFORE I need to feel to pay Verizon for any LD fees. I still pay $15 mo for orig Verizon line and make NO outgoing calls on it. Good for receiving calls without the porting headaches. When I see something that passes the wife reliability test then we MIGHT port to it.
PS The spell check on dsl stopped the review window. It worked once last message and I exited and it dos not work any more. Did I kill some pop up feature ? |
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hoffa69
join:2007-07-17
| reply to N9MD
LOL, yes I was thinking that too. I think when your website looks as dated as theirs you don't have to deal with too many new customers. In other words, their customer service isn't too busy with new customers.  |
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hoffa69
join:2007-07-17 | I'm thinking of maybe switching to Viatalk after the herd has settled down and the deals come back. Or I might stick with MagicJack if I get the bugs worked out. |
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Test99
Premium
join:2003-04-24
San Jose, CA
 ·DSL EXTREME
·InPhonex
| reply to hoffa69
Like the OP, I have tried Packet8 and BroadVoice. I roll my eyes when people argue that one or two-hour outages once in a while are acceptable.
If you want phone service that just works, try InPhonex. One person who PMed me recently assumed that I work for them. I don't. I just like their service because it's always there when I need it.
--
50775@fwd.pulver.com |
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Lenagainster
join:2005-01-07
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse
 ·DIRECTV
·magicjack.com
| reply to N9MD
said by N9MD :..which is the most stable and most reliable at this moment in time --- VoicePulse. ..Check out » /gbu Have to agree. VP managed to stay at the top of the list for quite a while with AT&T CallVantage a strong second. But some of the reviews that make up the ratings are skewed and it would be wise to read a good sampling for each provider to be able to sort out the rants from the well thought out reviews. |
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stephencole
join:2007-08-21
| I don't know a bout the other voip providers out there but I don't want to happen to me what happened to SR customers who just relied on SR for their phone service.
I got Onesuite for my prepaid phone card and voip and also got magicjack as a back up. |
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PCInTech
In another place and time.
Premium
join:2004-06-07
Massena, NY
clubs:
·VoicePulse
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to hoffa69
said by hoffa69 :LOL, yes I was thinking that too. I think when your website looks as dated as theirs you don't have to deal with too many new customers. In other words, their customer service isn't too busy with new customers. I suppose that depends on whether you want a whiz-bang, purdy cartoon Web site... or... a phone that just plain WORKS without Mega-DRAMA! I'll take the latter, thanks.  |
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jeremyv
join:2007-05-22
Los Angeles, CA | My Onesuite prepaid and voip works well without any "mega-drama". It just simply works. |
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redshift
Premium
join:2004-03-23
Beverly Hills, CA
| reply to Test99
I'd have to agree Inphonex is pretty good. I had an incoming number with them for a few years, and if it wasn't for the fact that I rarely used it (contrary to my predictions on it's use) I would still be with them.
They are expensive, but they work. I never had any issues with them. |
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N9MD
Premium
join:2005-10-08
Wayne, NJ
·VOIPo
·ViaTalk
·PHONE POWER
·Callcentric
| reply to PCInTech
One caveat, PC...! If all the VoIP providers were as stable as VP seems to be for a relatively long time (in VoIP years), we BBR members would have little to post about. How boring BBR life would become! |
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nycityny
Premium
join:2005-08-09
New York, NY
·PHONE POWER
·VoicePulse
·RCN CABLE
·ViaTalk
| said by N9MD :One caveat, PC...! If all the VoIP providers were as stable as VP seems to be for a relatively long time (in VoIP years), we BBR members would have little to post about. How boring BBR life would become! That's why I had SunRocket and now I have ViaTalk to go along with my VoicePulse service. SR and VT give me reasons (too many if you ask me) to come to these boards...  |
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prestonlewis
Premium,MVM
join:2003-04-13
Sacramento, CA
·VoiceStick
| reply to hoffa69
All the new VOIP providers is part of the problem. There are too many of them for one thing, driving down prices to levels that are unsustainable/unprofitable which result in fiascos like SR. As for VP, I think they have been more successful than most VOIPs because they do not advertise and they don't have a sudden influx or outflux of customers to have to contend with. I don't know their current customer count, but they seem very well prepared to service them.
If you're into VOIP to save big money (cheap service), you have to expect the outtages and other problems related to a cheap service. If you really want to replace your home telco phone, then you'll have to pay the prices that CallVantage or VP charge to come close. You also have to remember what VOIP is good at: inexpensive long distance calls nationally and internationally. If all you do is call local, there isn't much point in using VOIP. |
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laserjobs
Premium
join:2004-05-02
Las Vegas, NV
·Cox HSI
| reply to hoffa69
I have OneSuite and MagicJack both ringing though Grand Central. I use MagicJack for all my US/Canada calls and OneSuite for international and as a calling card. Everything has been working great.
--
Vote for Ron Paul in the Republican Primaries |
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nycityny
Premium
join:2005-08-09
New York, NY
·PHONE POWER
·VoicePulse
·RCN CABLE
·ViaTalk
| reply to prestonlewis
said by prestonlewis :You also have to remember what VOIP is good at: inexpensive long distance calls nationally and internationally. If all you do is call local, there isn't much point in using VOIP. I would slightly disagree. Another great advantage of VOIP is the vast suite of features. Their feature set is generally more voluminous than what POTS provides and all features are included in the price. POTS nickles and dimes for each feature.
So if you want a lot of features and only make local calls, VP is still a good option with their $15.89 (with tax) local plan. Unlimited regional calling and 200 long distance minutes included. |
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redshift
Premium
join:2004-03-23
Beverly Hills, CA | I'd say quite a few users here are actually using them mainly for local calls, especially since VPs local calling area is larger than what MaBell is offering. |
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NGOwner
join:2000-11-21
Leawood, KS
1 edit | reply to hoffa69
»www.lingo.com
Hits it out of the park on all but #5. Fringe needs (BYOD, asterisk, Two ATAs etc.).
'Nuff said.
[NG]Owner
--
It is impossible to create an idiot-proof product. Humanity is simply too adept at churning out better idiots. |
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stephencole
join:2007-08-21
1 edit | reply to laserjobs
said by laserjobs :I have OneSuite and MagicJack both ringing though Grand Central. I use MagicJack for all my US/Canada calls and OneSuite for international and as a calling card. Everything has been working great. Same here...both Onesuite and Magicjack are working in tandem perfectly. |
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byronb
join:2007-02-25
North Vancouver, BC | reply to hoffa69
The VOIP leaders are the cable companies offering phone service bundled with internet and TV. |
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