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Livadia
| Service evaluation after more than a month's use
Hi. As the subject title shows this is an overview of the Callcentric service that I have for more than a month now.
1) I have not had a lot of experience with other VoIP providers, except Skype and one from overseas, so I cannot compare Callcentric with other North American companies.
(BTW, I am in Canada)
2) I chose Callcentric because from user reviews seemed to be the most stable (albeit not the least expensive) and there were not any complaints on the quality.
3) I use an ATA (PAP2T-NA). I use one of its lines for my Callcentric account and the other for that overseas one (for which I have a DID). It was a breeze to set it up (Callcentric has a help page on how to do that. I do not recall whether it is for the PAP2T, but the SPA2102 is similar.) And, responding to a question from previous message, using the laptop speaker and mike will create a lot of echo. Use either a headset or a regular telephone through an ATA.
4) So far I have been very happy with the service. I have put $15 (I think) into this account till now, of which most has been used for overseas calls and my wife's calls to N.America (I still have Skype NA unlimited for that, but needing a computer, its WAF is down to zero!) All the calls
I have made were excellent quality. The only problem I would note here is that a couple of times that I called an overseas mobile number I was charged a minute for each call, although I was sure that the other end did not answer my call. Now if it were a land line, I would not mind it (it is only 2 cents), but a mobile is charged 20-30 cents a minute... it makes you not to want to try another mobile call.
5) DID: I have not purchased any yet. I may do it at some point. Both prices (per incoming minute or unlimited) are reasonable. At least here in Canada we do not have to pay for the 911 service. OTOH, its lack of 911 makes it no suitable substitute for a landline. So, I still have the latter, but maybe a second line is useful.
6) I have posted about this in another forum, but I have not got specific replies to it. As I noted above, currently I have the unlimited NA Skype service. As this expires in a month or two, and I do not want to renew it with skype I looked for a Callcentric similar offer. The closest I found was $19.95 per month. Now, personally, I find it too expensive. What is your opinion? For a comparison, I would say that (here in Canada, at least) Primus Broadband has a plan that includes number (i.e. DID), unlimited incoming, basic 911, hardware (ATA), and unlimited NA calling for $19.95. So, how many of you have this callcentric plan and what is the rationale for that purchase? There must be something that escapes me.
PS. So that you do not ask me with another post:
WAF: Wife Acceptance Factor (I saw it in one of the forums somewhere. I liked it so I use it.) 
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Livadia
| Sorry, correction:
The Primus (Canada) NA plan is $29.95 (perhaps, I was still thinking of the old value of the CDN$ ), but there is a discount of $4 if you have your own device. | |
Brian Grif_n
Wireless Guru
join:2001-01-17
Reno, NV
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·Callcentric
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| reply to Livadia
For the amount of our long distance/2nd local line usage my family and small business uses, the Pay Per Call (outgoing) and Pay Per Minute (incoming) rates made the most sense for me. We don't call internationally. For outgoing if I used over 1000 minutes/month it would make sense to go to an unlimited plan - but we use only about 1/2 of that. I like the flexibility of Callcentric's plans.
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Check out my website: www.renowirelessinfo.com | |
Livadia
| I am on the same page with you here. I also like the flexibility in rates of Callcentric. If I get a DID, I would have it, initially at least, at pay-per-use. However, what would you think if they had a plan for $9.95 (say) unlimited incoming and unlimited NA outgoing. Perhaps, the latter could be capped at 400/500/1000 minutes, or something like that that would make sense to them, as well.
(No, I am not Callcentric employee, trying to get clients' reaction. I just give them some ideas )
[Note to Callentric: You see, we like you guys (et gals) so much, we want to stay with you, as long as possible.] | |
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