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iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 Reviews:
 ·Comcast
| reply to dcdeadbeat5
Re: Goggle Voice is great - been using a long time Then again, your cheap LD providers probably also use packet-switched voice on the long haul. Seems what Google is doing here is just that, so it's no more VoIP-ish than, say, the penny-a-minute VoIP-powered LD plans out there these days.
Also FWIW Google Voice is awesome. I've used the callback feature several times to ring a landline and connect me to an otherwise-LD call. My family's landline (LifeLine for whatever reason is on there, so the bill is just a few bucks a month for unlimited local and inbound, nothing else) is suddenly empowered with GV, so I'm hapy.
As an added bonus, my 210 area code number effectively serves as a free calling card at San Antonio International Airport, in case my power-hungry cell goes dead  | |
| said by iansltx:Then again, your cheap LD providers probably also use packet-switched voice on the long haul. Seems what Google is doing here is just that, so it's no more VoIP-ish than, say, the penny-a-minute VoIP-powered LD plans out there these days. Also FWIW Google Voice is awesome. I've used the callback feature several times to ring a landline and connect me to an otherwise-LD call. My family's landline (LifeLine for whatever reason is on there, so the bill is just a few bucks a month for unlimited local and inbound, nothing else) is suddenly empowered with GV, so I'm hapy. As an added bonus, my 210 area code number effectively serves as a free calling card at San Antonio International Airport, in case my power-hungry cell goes dead But it is VOIP. They use SIP for the connections and terminate with L3.
Why is this so difficult fore people to understand? It is VOIP just like Skype, Vonage, Verizon Business, etc. | |
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Comcast
| When people think VoIP they think of having to have some box (ATA, computer, eMTA, MagicJack dongle, tin can with an Ethernet port) that's not the same as their typical RJ-11 or GSM/CDMA based fixed or mobile phone.
I agree that Google Voice is VoIP...what smart provider wouldn't be? However I'll bet some cellular companies route their calls over IP transport at this point, and VoIP-based long distance is what makes calling inside and outside the US cheap.
Yes, I'm blurring the line here but so is Google. GV isn't your daddy's VoIP and honestly the average Joe doesn't care how his call is routed (circuit-switched, packet-switched, laser beams, smoke signals, carrier pigeons) as long as the darned thing works  | |
| said by iansltx:When people think VoIP they think of having to have some box (ATA, computer, eMTA, MagicJack dongle, tin can with an Ethernet port) that's not the same as their typical RJ-11 or GSM/CDMA based fixed or mobile phone. I agree that Google Voice is VoIP...what smart provider wouldn't be? However I'll bet some cellular companies route their calls over IP transport at this point, and VoIP-based long distance is what makes calling inside and outside the US cheap. Yes, I'm blurring the line here but so is Google. GV isn't your daddy's VoIP and honestly the average Joe doesn't care how his call is routed (circuit-switched, packet-switched, laser beams, smoke signals, carrier pigeons) as long as the darned thing works I agree that most people don't care how their phone calls are transported. The only reason this does matter is a legal one. VOIP providers don't have the same regulations (or uptime guarantee) that telcos (ILECS and CLECS) do.
People are accustomed to their traditional phone (PSTN) working all the time (and with 911). VOIP works when it works. There is no quality or regulatory control with VOIP.
So people need to be made aware of this when ditching their traditional phone lines for a service like Google Voice or Skype (Skype even warns about this on their website).
There are no guarantees with Google Voice or any VOIP provider. User beware on this one. | |
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Comcast
| GV can't be used as a traditional phone provider. At best it's a calling card that'll route wherever needed, but you still have to have some sort of phone at both ends from another company. As such, you also have a fallback when GV doesn't work: your regular phone provider | |
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