svikash
join:2003-02-16
Sunnyvale, CA
|  Two yrs coming due...What to do?
My 2 yr agreement with Viatalk is ending sometime this month. I do see their 1+1 yr free offer on their website, but I think that is for new customers only. What are the best renewal offers people have received?
Also, adding up all their expenses (even if they offer 1+1 for existing customers) it is $199 + 3.45 *24 = $282. At 2c/m thats 600 min/month for 2 yrs.
Since I have setup a asterisk box and most of my family is on local extensions, also we have our cellphones, so we don't end up using that many viatalk minutes every month. So I was thinking of dropping viatalk all together and going PAYG with Callcentric. Does this make any sense or there is something better I could try?
-V |
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dipswich
Premium
join:2003-06-27
Raleigh, NC
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·VoicePulse for Bus..
·ViaTalk
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| You could also drop your plan down to a monthly or quarterly vt_500 plan for a couple of months while you take time to decide.
Since you can use Asterisk as a client for Viatalk, you can even work out a mix of VT and other PAYG providers (recommended, since you don't really want to hit the 3.5cpm overage rate on the vt_500 plan). |
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degauss1
join:2001-07-02
Hillsboro, OR | reply to svikash
Sign in to the control panel and go to 'upgrade account' option.
There you should find that renewal will be $199 with 6 month free added. So, the $282/18 is $15.66/mo all fees included. Sounds like the easiest thing from my PoV. |
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davidm00
join:2000-08-19
Newtown Square, PA
| reply to svikash
I'm also in the same boat - ending next mth. I'm not renewing VT as their fees make it not worthwhile anymore. I want to keep my incoming DID, so I'm debating btwn Future-Nine's $75/yr plan with 3000 mins incoming and 250 out. And Vitelity is also currently offering PIAF users $3.99 DID with unlimited incoming and then go with Voicepulse Connect for outgoing at less than 1 cent. I'm leaning towards F9 since my outgoing is around 250/mth and Nitzan appears to be providing good service. And if you use less than 250 in/out, Voicestick is having an offer for Asterisk users - $3/mth. |
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svikash
join:2003-02-16
Sunnyvale, CA
| reply to svikash
I am not too concerned about my viatalk number because most of the people call me on my Callcentric number which I have had for a long time. Its one of the Dirt Cheap DIDs for $2.95pm with unlimited free incoming.
degauss : I agree $15.xx is not too bad for unlimited US/Canada but the real thing I am debating is if my call pattern does not warrant need for an unlimited usage, I am better off going PAYG. I know I am trying to nickel and dime but whats the point of having something if you are not using it to the fullest.
david: you are right, the $3.95 is also a PITA for me, charge me upfront with the price but don't push xx-a-month after that. I am sorry, but when I am buying something, I don't look at how-much-a-month, I look at the total cost and all these xx-a-month throw all my calculations off.
Anyways, so here is what I am thinking, Cancel the current Viatalk plan and try out PAYG for a couple of months. If I see the total charges exceeding $15.xx ($2.95 DID + 650 min at 2c/min) then I go back and sign up with Viatalk because even though I did not use any of the viatalk features, their service was ROCK SOLID for me. No complaints.
Another thing, if I do end up going back to Viatalk, and sign up in my spouse's name, do I get the 1+1 deal 
-V |
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dipswich
Premium
join:2003-06-27
Raleigh, NC | even though I did not use any of the viatalk features, their service was ROCK SOLID for me. No complaints. If you like your current VT service and have a static IP address, maybe try VTWhite as a PAYG? |
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SalemTheCat100
join:2001-03-21
Coppell, TX
| reply to degauss1
said by degauss1  :Sign in to the control panel and go to 'upgrade account' option. There you should find that renewal will be $199 with 6 month free added. So, the $282/18 is $15.66/mo all fees included. Sounds like the easiest thing from my PoV. That is not quite right.
$199/18 is $11.06 per month. Add the $3.45 for monthly fees brings that to $14.51 per month all fees included. |
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jester121
Premium
join:2003-08-09
Lake Zurich, IL | Anyone who believes that Viatalk will keep their junk fees at $3.45 for th next 12-18-24 months, please raise your hand.
Now smack yourself in the back of the head. |
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svikash
join:2003-02-16
Sunnyvale, CA
| Now thats exactly why I don't like these monthly charges. When I pay upfront I know my exact cost and I know that its not going to change for the term and all the calculations I did when I signed up hold good. But with the per month thing and then they hike it by a buck or two, there goes all your initial analysis of price vs features. |
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svikash
join:2003-02-16
Sunnyvale, CA
| So I went ahead and upgraded my plan for 1 yr with 6 months free with Viatalk. I figured not to change anything if it has been working for me for past 2 yrs and has the wife approval factor to it
Thanks a lot for all your suggestions!!
-V |
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