Fisamo
Premium
join:2004-02-20
Apex, NC
 ·VOIPo
·AT&T CallVantage
|  [POLL] Who will you VOIP with when AT&T pulls the CV plug?
Multiple Choice Poll
Which providers are you seriously considering for your VoIP service after ATTCV? |
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view results · flash pie chart
OK, that list got big pretty quickly. All providers are listed alphabetically, so BYOD (bring your own device) companies are mixed in with "disco" (device is supplied by COmpany), and some of these providers may work well with both options.
This is a multiple-choice poll, so feel free to check more than one box. Keep in mind that the poll will only be useful to others if you only check the providers you're seriously considering. Also, remember that once you hit "submit" you can't change your answer. If you want to reply in the thread with your rationale, it may help others wondering who they should consider.
To those using the poll to decide who should service your phone, do keep in mind that with all VoIP, YMMV (your mileage may vary). Do more research than simply reading this thread--the »/gbu list is helpful but not perfect (hint: review text is much more indicative than location on the gbu list). You will find a lot of helpful information in the »VOIP Tech Chat forum, and Google is also your friend.
I have to be honest--I have a little more research to do into some of the companies listed before I answer my own question!  |
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Fisamo
Premium
join:2004-02-20
Apex, NC | By the way, please select "Cableco VoIP" if you're switching to U-Verse. I know AT&T isn't a cableco, but I forgot to include Uverse in the choices, and I figure it fits better there than POTS or "other". |
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rebus9
join:2002-03-26
Tampa Bay
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to Fisamo
Definitely Vonage.
I've been a multi-line Vonage customer since October 2004. I needed an extra line and decided on ATT CV for diversity. If Vonage had an outage, I could still use the CV line.
Every time I've done business with AT&T, I've ended up sorry. |
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NetFixer
Freedom is NOT Free
Premium
join:2004-06-24
Murfreesboro, TN
 ·AT&T Southeast
·Vonage
 ·Cingular Wireless
·AT&T CallVantage
| reply to Fisamo
I will chose cell phone/other.
The "other" will be the AT&T Wireless MicroCell service if/when it is released for public usage. That should provide the same kind of unlimited usage over a broadband connection as CallVantage, Vonage, or any other VoIP service. If I feel the need to use a conventional deskset type of phone, there are bluetooth to rj-11 adaptors available for that.
--
A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
»portscan.dcs-net.net
»nature-pics.com |
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rmrper
join:2006-06-13
Garland, TX
·AT&T CallVantage
·Verizon FIOS
| reply to Fisamo
Giving heavy consideration to VoicePulse right now. I have FIOS, but their new digital voice service isn't widely available yet and the price points I've heard mentioned are pretty close to their POTS pricing. I may investigate Sprint's microcell service since we already have cell service with them, but we'd want to keep our home phone number which I'm guessing means we'd need to add a line. So, that choice may not be cost effective. |
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fxtr
Premium
join:2002-09-15
Reston, VA | reply to Fisamo
One Call Vantage line has already been ported to FIOS. The second existing line will be replaced by the cell phone. I have slowly been going thru all my contacts and changing the Call Vanatage number to the FIOS number. I will miss CV. |
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TomMac
Premium
join:2008-03-23
Dayton, OH | Since this appears to be a busy summer and who knows the time frame for the big disconnect I ordered U-verse today.
Very saddened to see CV die. |
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Mediocrates
join:2008-05-27
Raleigh, NC | reply to Fisamo
Airave Femtocell |
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watts3000
join:2002-01-21
Birmingham, AL | I can't see myself paying for uverse I'm all about the 3rd part voip providers |
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MyDogHsFleas
Premium
join:2007-08-15
Austin, TX
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T Southwest
| U-verse is $30/month for voice with free battery backup, and it runs off the same box as the Internet service (the RG) so no extra boxes, and the voice quality is excellent. Plus you have a single entity to deal with if things go wrong.
I think these advantages are worth the $5/month or so premium over 3rd party services. |
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watts3000
join:2002-01-21
Birmingham, AL | So that's long distance and everything also did you factor in the fees and taxes |
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Lenagainster
join:2005-01-07
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse
 ·DIRECTV
·magicjack.com
| reply to Fisamo
My suggestion to everyone choosing another VoIP service, read, read, read. Don't depend on just the ratings on the gbu chart; they are biased beyond belief. Read as many reviews as you can find, from multiple sources. Consider also the dates they were written and weigh the most recent a bit heavier, as that reflects the current status of the service. Give more credence to actual users of the service, rather than organizations that review the service and regurgitate the specs. Go to the websites and carefully compare all the features. Make yourself some charts and spreadsheets to evaluate the providers. And then go sign up with VoicePulse. :>) |
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planetdell
join:2002-02-07
Round Rock, TX | reply to Fisamo
AT&T wants to charge an installation fee of $149 if you just want to sign up with the phone service! What a rip for those of us who already have Call Vantage. I'm going with Vonage. |
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MyDogHsFleas
Premium
join:2007-08-15
Austin, TX
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T Southwest
| reply to watts3000
said by watts3000  :So that's long distance and everything also did you factor in the fees and taxes It's "unlimited" long distance for $30/month (the terms limit you to 5000 minutes/month which should be enough -- you'd have to average 3 hours/day on the phone to go over that)
All the services have fees and taxes added so that's really not a relevant comparison. |
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watts3000
join:2002-01-21
Birmingham, AL
| IMO taxes and fees are very relevant I looked at Charter there service was unlimited nation wide for 29.00 by time I add the taxes I'm looking at 39.00. I can get a voipo line for 18.00 that's a big difference in my mind. However, let us know how the uverse voice turns out it is a plus that you get the battery backup |
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MyDogHsFleas
Premium
join:2007-08-15
Austin, TX | What you'll find is that the big players charge what they should in taxes/fees. If the small players don't, they'll get caught by the authorities over time and will start charging them. |
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watts3000
join:2002-01-21
Birmingham, AL
| You may have a point there I wonder how voip is taxed. I thought it was taxed differently than a regular lan line. It has to be different because my callvantage bill had 3.00 in total taxes and fees a regular lan line has 10 to 15 in taxes. That is the main reason I decided to go to callcentric or voipo. Also I think that the voip that the cable companies put out carries the same taxes as a regular pots line. So do you need to get Uverse internet in order to get phone |
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Fisamo
Premium
join:2004-02-20
Apex, NC
·VOIPo
·AT&T CallVantage
| A couple of comments overall:
First, before spending too much time researching providers, think about how you use your phone now and which features you "can't live without". Granted, it's harder to narrow down providers by those criteria today than it was an 2004, but you can still probably narrow your choices a fair bit. You may even be able to avoid the spreadsheet suggestion above.
The comments about reading reviews critically is key. Anyone can say, "Get this service. It's better than sliced bread." Chances are, someone else will say that the same provider is the worst business on the planet.
As for taxes and fees, the big difference between POTS and VoIP is the "Federal Subscriber Line charge" (if it's still called that), which is an UNFEE (not mandated, but the carriers are allowed by the FCC to collect it, so they do).
My point is, since we know it's coming, now is the time to look hard at the many offerings out there. If you're undecided, sign up with multiple providers (new number assigned by provider), and evaluate for a month or two. Then, port your number from CallVantage to the provider you like best.
The poll I created above is for information, and I hope it's used primarily to point people to providers they should investigate, not necessarily providers they should choose. |
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watts3000
join:2002-01-21
Birmingham, AL
| Yes I agree I read a lot of reviews and got it down between callcentric and voipo. The thing I like about callcentric is you have more control since your TA is not locked however voipo seems to be plug and play like callvantage. I'm most likely going to order both and do a side by side |
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garbageguts
join:2009-04-23
| reply to Fisamo
I spoke with AT&T CV rep. today - we do not have to send back our CV ATA. In my case DVG-5102S. Unfortunately, CV will not unlock it for us. Is there any site with non CV firmware to download so we then can get our ATA back to factory settings? It would be nice if we could re-purpose the ATA.
Thank you in advance. |
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