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rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | Don't forget features... I'm a defect from Vonage because since the lawsuits, my quality went down. This could have been a coincidence or it could have been that my ATA 186 didn't provide optimum support for the patent "work-arounds". Regardless, over the past year, our quality was degraded. (Specifically call setup time increased substantially and the "simulring" feature rang the cell phone way before the VOIP number...)
That said, the features on CABLE VOIP (Charter) just aren't the same. We miss "simulring" (ring two numbers at once, pick up on either) and the ability to make account changes on-line. If you want to shut off voice mail or change the number of rings before voice mail takes the call, Vonage had a near real-time web interface. I can make similar changes with my cable company but I have to call, they take 72 hours to apply the change and they charge me $5/change!
In the end, however, reliability finally trumped feature and prices. Call setup time on the cable VOIP is lightning fast compared to Vonage. (Vonage was taking almost 10 seconds to start ringing the other number. Calling another cable VOIP subscriber is virtually instant. Calling a POTS subscriber is only about a second.)
There was also a concern that Vonage may not last and I didn't want to lose my local number. When the cable company offered me $14.95/month for 12 months, I decided to switch since even with the added local taxes and fees, it was still cheaper than Vonage's $24.95 + taxes & fees. I know the cable bill will go up in 12 months but we're much happier with the reliability and performance of cable VOIP even though we lost some features.
I'm hoping that AT&T brings U-Verse to our neighborhood soon so we can have a competitive choice for video and voice. I haven't been an AT&T (SBC) since I left for Vonage in 2003. | |
ed56
join:2008-01-13
Cincinnati, OH | said by rradina:In the end, however, reliability finally trumped feature and prices. Call setup time on the cable VOIP is lightning fast compared to Vonage. (Vonage was taking almost 10 seconds to start ringing the other number. Interesting, my vonage call set up time is about 3-4 seconds. Works very well! My other options are:
Cincinnati Bell $37.95 with no long distance (includes Voice mail and other features, like call waiting and three way calling.) I have this line for business and for the alarm system, with taxes, $50.12 per month
Time Warner digital phone - if bundled for 2 years, Voice Mail is additional:
Local calling only - $20.00 per month (plus taxes)
In State calling - $25.00 per month (plus taxes)
All of US, Canada and Peurto Rico calling - $30.00 per month (plus taxes)
Makes my $24.95 Vonage (plus taxes)= $30.91 for everything look pretty good!
Overall, I think a great value. | | |
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 dennismurphyPut me on hold? I'll put YOU on holdPremium
join:2002-11-19
Parsippany, NJ
 ·Verizon FiOS
 ·Optimum Online
1 edit | reply to rradina
said by rradina:That said, the features on CABLE VOIP (Charter) just aren't the same. We miss "simulring" (ring two numbers at once, pick up on either) and the ability to make account changes on-line. If you want to shut off voice mail or change the number of rings before voice mail takes the call, Vonage had a near real-time web interface. I can make similar changes with my cable company but I have to call, they take 72 hours to apply the change and they charge me $5/change! ... that depends on your provider.
With my Optimum Voice (Cablevision) service, I can do all of those changes from the web portal.
We also have the simulcall service - Cablevision calls it "Find Me".
So, some cable providers are "more competitive" than others. At $29.95 for the first line, and $14.95 for the second, (all taxes included) I can't ask for much more than OV is providing! | |
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