EricJRW
join:2001-12-19
Fort Worth, TX
| Freedom Essentials vs. Digital Voice?
Can anyone help me as to why I would choose one over the other?
Last week, while doing my research, Digital Voice was not available, so I thought it was going to be Freedom Essentials.
Today, when I went by the Verizon shop, I learned that Digital Voice is now an option.
The only thing the CSR could tell me is that it ends up being "$10 to $15 savings per month because taxes are less."
When I asked for hard numbers and/or examples, he did not have an answer.
Are taxes and or fees really that much less on a VOIP product?
The CSR also claimed the quality is better, but that is not my experience with other VOIP products.
The only other thing that might be in my future is a monitored alarm system. It's my understanding that these don't play well with VOIP solutions.
Thanks,
Eric
PS. Should I try this question in »/forum/vzdirect ?
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Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights do make a left. |
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marc3565
join:2009-10-08
| It is hard to know exactly as it can vary wildly by State.
Below is a cut from my bill in the WNY area.
Federal Excise Tax $0.26
State Tax $3.63
Surcharge(s) $1.11
911 Surcharge $0.35
Federal Universal Service Fund Charge $1.08
Federal Universal Service Fund - Long Distance $1.20
FCC Line Charge $8.76
Now on Digital Voice i'd likely still have the state sales tax but the others would not be there. |
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EricJRW
join:2001-12-19
Fort Worth, TX
| Thank you for your reply.
So the potential to save really is there, I guess because VOIP is taxed differently... That really is odd, because even with VOIP, we (or rather Verizon) still needs to get to copper, but I guess it's a shared expense and our share is in the bill.
Except for my alarm quandary, sounds like DV will save us money.
Thanks again.
Eric
PS. I would love to see more examples like mar3565's, especially for any extra charges on a DV plan.
Thanks
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Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights do make a left. |
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JohnA
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Pittsburgh, PA |
There is no outside copper plant required for FIOS digital voice. The ONT does the translation. The only copper is on your end of the ONT. |
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justin9876
join:2006-04-21
Keller, TX
| reply to EricJRW
Eric,
I am in Keller so not too far from you. The "Taxes, Fees & Other Verizon Charges" on my Freedom Essentials voice service total $12.68. Some of that of course is unique to Keller, but I would imagine Ft. Worth would have similar charges. There are also some taxes and fees on TV and internet on my bill.
I am surprised that Digital Voice is available here, I would have thought Verizon would have been marketing the service. I have had FiOS for over 5 years, they typically inundate me with letters and phone calls whenever they offer something new, haven't heard a thing on Digital Voice. Did they quote you a monthly price for Digital Voice?
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Justin
Verizon FiOS TV and Internet
Motorola QIP6416 HD DVR
Sony KDL-V40XBR1 |
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EricJRW
join:2001-12-19
Fort Worth, TX
| reply to JohnA
said by JohnA  :There is no outside copper plant required for FIOS digital voice. The ONT does the translation. The only copper is on your end of the ONT. I was trying to imply some calls end up on copper on the other end, but I guess we taxes on our end of the copper, so since no copper with VOIP, no copper taxes.
Sorry for the confusion.
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Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights do make a left. |
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Lee GWB
Yaco
Premium
join:2001-10-13
Allendale, NJ | FYI ..OOma is @ $249 + tax one time fee. I got it for $229 plus Tax. I will roughly save over $115 the first year alone,then about $320 every year after that. This is by dumping VZ Phone service or Cable Phone service which uses VOIP.
Lee |
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EricJRW
join:2001-12-19
Fort Worth, TX
1 edit | reply to justin9876
said by justin9876 :Eric, I am in Keller so not too far from you. The "Taxes, Fees & Other Verizon Charges" on my Freedom Essentials voice service total $12.68. Some of that of course is unique to Keller, but I would imagine Ft. Worth would have similar charges. There are also some taxes and fees on TV and internet on my bill. I am surprised that Digital Voice is available here, I would have thought Verizon would have been marketing the service. I have had FiOS for over 5 years, they typically inundate me with letters and phone calls whenever they offer something new, haven't heard a thing on Digital Voice. Did they quote you a monthly price for Digital Voice? Hi Justin,
Actually I am in the process of moving to Keller... This is the source of all my confusion. Moving from an AT&T area, which just got U-verse, and now we move and the only fast Internet seems to be with Verizon (FIOS is sexy though).
Per the guy at the Southlake Verizon shop, the price for DV would be the same as Freedom Essentials. I guess the idea is we both come out ahead... I suspect it saves Verizon money, and our savings are supposed to be in taxes, not in the fee.
So I wonder how I can get the actual fees and taxes nailed down? Not sure how the guy could tell me "$10 to $15 savings", since you are only paying around $13.
My head hurts.
Eric
PS. I found this in another post:
»https://promo.verizon.com/fiosdigitalvoicedemo/
Not sure why it's secure.
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Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights do make a left. |
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EricJRW
join:2001-12-19
Fort Worth, TX
| reply to Lee GWB
said by Lee GWB :FYI ..OOma is @ $249 + tax one time fee. I got it for $229 plus Tax. I will roughly save over $115 the first year alone,then about $320 every year after that. This is by dumping VZ Phone service or Cable Phone service which uses VOIP. Lee How is the quality?
I'll look into this, though the Verizon boys tell me than if I use their VOIP it does not consume any of my bandwidth, but this is intriguing.
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Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights do make a left. |
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Lee GWB
Yaco
Premium
join:2001-10-13
Allendale, NJ
1 edit | So far so good. I can not tell with my Fios 25/ 15 connection. I just have to reup my contract for 1 yr. No ETF for the downgrade to the double play
Lee |
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EricJRW
join:2001-12-19
Fort Worth, TX
| I'm going to be trying to save money, so I'll be going with the 15/5 plan. On DSL I have 2.5/.5, so I think I'll be pretty happy with those speeds. I doubt any VOIP would cause any problems.
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Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights do make a left. |
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Lee GWB
Yaco
Premium
join:2001-10-13
Allendale, NJ
1 edit | Nope, I had Vonage on a 10/2 plan and was fine a few years back
Lee |
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EricJRW
join:2001-12-19
Fort Worth, TX
| Lee,
I must thank you for opening my eyes to other VOIP offerings. I never really looked into it, and must say I am amazed at the options. While Verizon offers tons of bells and whistles, the reality of it is we just want to make and receive calls. Not that big of a deal.
So I'm going to get just FIOS Internet and work out the rest later.
The thing that kills me is if I figured this out two weeks ago, the new house would have had Internet already.
Well it was a good learning experience.
Thanks,
Eric
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Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights do make a left.
[Moving from Fort Worth to Keller] |
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MacGyver973
join:2009-05-18
West Orange, NJ | reply to EricJRW
Is Verizon Digital Voice available in NJ yet? |
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Lee GWB
Yaco
Premium
join:2001-10-13
Allendale, NJ
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to EricJRW
Hi,
To me it is a no brainer. I cn not understand why they do not lower the price to match some of the other options and/or lower the price to match the inclusive tax for each various state. They are not really competitive in that area.
Lee |
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Lee GWB
Yaco
Premium
join:2001-10-13
Allendale, NJ | reply to MacGyver973
Not that I am aware of and from post around here people that do have it say is is in the ballpark of VZ Essentials but with some xtra features.
Lee |
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EricJRW
join:2001-12-19
Fort Worth, TX
1 edit | said by Lee GWB :Not that I am aware of and from post around here people that do have it say is is in the ballpark of VZ Essentials but with some xtra features. Lee That sums it up... More features, same price... You might come out ahead on taxes and or fees, but I have yet to find a Essentials vs. DV bill. I think finding another non-VZ VOIP option is the way to go.
My 15/5 FIOS gets installed Friday morning.
-ew
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Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights do make a left.
[Moving from Fort Worth to Keller] |
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