| Speakeasy VOIP? Has anyone heard any rumours of if/when this will be happening? Now that I'm on OneLink I'd LOVE to disconnect my home phone service. |
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priller
join:2000-10-20
Gainesville, VA | They were supposed to release details this month, not much time left. |
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| reply to maynard001
I can tell you the beta testing is happening right now... and it's working well. When the time comes, I'd recommend getting hold of a digital (office style) phone versus the regular analog (home style) device so you can take advantage of the fun "make the phone dial from your web interface instead of picking up the handset" stuff.
G |
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 scoobyPremium
join:2001-05-01
Schaumburg, IL
kudos:1 | reply to maynard001
God i hope they get some details out soon before I commit to a year with at&t. |
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jfloyd
join:2003-05-08
Seattle, WA | I'm a current 6.0/768 OneLink customer of speakeasy's and just got enrolled to beta test the VOIP service.. dont know any of the good details yet but I should get my number and phone adapter early next week.
The beta runs until the end of october and I can keep the service free until january if I want.
I also heard from a friend who works for them that this was going to be part of their OneLink package but I'm not sure. |
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jfloyd
join:2003-05-08
Seattle, WA | A quick google will give many hints that Speakeasy is going with a Level3 solution vs Covad's GoBeam VOIP service. |
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 KoolMoeAw ManPremium
join:2001-02-14
Annapolis, MD | reply to maynard001
That's interesting that SE may not use Covad's solution.
Do you have the beta service? Can you talk about it (no NDA)? If so, did you get a TA for your phone or is the signal provided from your CO?
I think it's kinda cool if SE goes with a different solution than Covad as that just gives me more choices. If I can get SE VOIP for a bundled discount with a TA, cool. If I prefer Covad's solution and can use it regardless of my DSL provider - cool 
I'm anxious to learn more.
Biggest thing, of course, will be cost. Our monthly phone bill averages about $50/month for two lines, LD, taxes, etc.
I'll likely want to keep one, very basic, POTS line until I'm satisified VOIP will make a complete replacement.
That basic line costs about $15/month. That means the VOIP line will have to be $35/month - max - to make it worthwhile.
KM
--
If Clinton lied, so did Bush.
Iraq Casualties | War Propaganda
Air America - Radio for the Rest of US! |
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scoobyPremium
join:2001-05-01
Schaumburg, IL
kudos:1 | reply to maynard001
I heard they are using the same motorola TA as vonage. I'm currently satisfied with AT&T CallVantage. I'll probably give speakeasy a try when they announce service.
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DSL Provider: Speakeasy Onelink
VoIP Provider: AT&T CallVantage |
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| reply to maynard001
The beta test is only in Seattle... ...which if you think about it, is really DUMB!. If I were Speakeasy and planned to sell my VOIP all over the USA (the world?), I'd want to make sure that it WORKED WELL everywhere I was planning to sell it. |
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adamA6Adam Alexander
join:2003-09-23
Seattle, WA | reply to maynard001
Re: Speakeasy VOIP? ...following up on that-- I've just finished placing a few more of our beta test orders for those Lab Rat volunteers out there.
The beta is nationwide as well, just like the product will be. Not sure where the Seattle only information came from, but it was false.
Thanks,
Adam Alexander
Speakeasy, Inc. |
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| reply to maynard001
It's not just in Seattle. I'm in RI. So far this is a big no-go. Upstream stayed at about 638 but downstream just got cut in half (~750).
I'm having a great time getting this configured for linux....not.
I'm not too sure if this is such a great idea, security-wise.
internet---->voice term----->linux box(router)---->network
The voice terminal stores your user name and password for your speakeasy account. I'm going to take a look at this when I go to work tonight, but I'm guessing it won't be too secure.
I'm going to see if I can do:
internet--->linux box(router)---->voice term---->network
...and assign the voice terminal an IP address with IP masquerading.
Any Speakeasy techs try this yet? |
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| said by j_nichols:
I'm not too sure if this is such a great idea, security-wise.
internet---->voice term----->linux box(router)---->network
But that lineup is done so the TA can do shaping and a degree of QOS for voice traffic...
said by j_nichols:
The voice terminal stores your user name and password for your speakeasy account.
Why would the voice terminal store your username and password? PPPoE? I'm on static, perhaps they pre-set the details in the TA before it was sent out...
Hmm, there was a "MAC address" setup in the web interface you get (to the service, not the TA) but don't know if it was necessary...
G |
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| I just got off the phone with SE inquiring about the Beta program for VOip.
As a previous poster noted, the Beta test is for anyone that wants to request it. The trial lasts for 2 months at which time you can either keep it or have it disconnected.
SE has the service priced at $30/month. I'm paying $30 month for MCI "The Neighborhood" right now. Free long distance and more importantly, I get frequent flyer miles for every dollar I spend.
I'd love to get completely off of Bell and go VOip but SE needs to make it worth it. I'm not thrilled with the idea of paying the exact same for a service that has the potential for NOT being as reliable as what I currently have. Not to mention the hassle of changing numbers... |
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scoobyPremium
join:2001-05-01
Schaumburg, IL
kudos:1 | I'm sure they will allow you to port your number. Atleast I would hope so if they want to do well with voip. |
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| reply to maynard001
said by maynard001:
SE has the service priced at $30/month. I'm paying $30 month for MCI "The Neighborhood" right now. Free long distance and more importantly, I get frequent flyer miles for every dollar I spend.
I'm paying about $29.95 a month to SBC (mostly because I don't really use it that much.)
Tricky, OneLink costs a very little bit more than equivalent lineshare packages, so when I evaluate my "entire communications picture":
- dsl
- landline (unlimited local, metered LD, 911)
- mobile (some 800 mins, incl. LD)
all for $x
swapping the landline for voip gives me
- dsl
- voip (unlimited local, unlimited LD [i guess], 911 dependent on dsl)
- mobile (some 800 mins, incl. LD)
all for $y
and $y > $x. I'm missing some key aspects here, obviously...
G |
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| I agree...I think. I'm not sure if your post was agreeing with me or questioning my math.
Here's how my current charges breakout:
DSL - (SE Onelink)
$55
Local Phone svc - (MCI: local, LD, 911)
$30
If you substitue MCI for SE's VOIP, my cost remains the same. I don't see how SE is going to generate much interest in this based on the price. There will always be a certain percentage of people that either: A.) Want to be on the bleeding edge of technology or B.) Want to get AWAY from the local Bell...regardless of price.
If SE could offer VOip for $15/month, I'd be interested... |
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| said by maynard001:
I agree...I think. I'm not sure if your post was agreeing with me or questioning my math.
Neither  Just pondering my own situation out loud, and comparing to your own...
said by maynard001:
If SE could offer VOip for $15/month, I'd be interested...
Yes... although after brief discussion, the Better Half is now asking difficult questions about the 911 access "in case of the unforseen" and I don't really have good answers. We have a (small) UPS, so if the power dies the DSL, TA and Phone should be good for a little while...
I know this is a bit OT, but... what about the 911 issue with VoIP? Do you care?
G |
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| Yes. 911 service is definitely an issue for me. I know its the one thing that traditional PSTN advocates bring up every time there is a VOip discussion.
I think it's a valid point though. It's ultimately up to the individual if they want to keep it or not...but I'd hate for my 18-month old son to drink a bottle of Drano and not have the ability to dial 911 because I wanted to save a few bucks a month for phone service.
I know it's an extreme example...not likely to happen...but 911 svc. is the kind of thing you won't miss unless you really REALLY need it one day. |
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 genxrPremium
join:2004-08-11
Arlington, TX | Real savings start to occur if you're a big LD user or have more than one line.
My old line up.
~90 MCI (Local, LD (unlimited), 2 lines)
~67 Comcast (Basic TV, HSI)
Currently doing
~67 Comcast (Basic TV, HSI)
~30 Vonage (Local, LD (unlimited))
~30 ATT (650 min national)
For me MCI shook things up with the Neighborhood plan 950 unlimited LD). Before that, I felt like I was single handedly financing SBC. My phone bills were running 250-300 a month. |
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KoolMoeAw ManPremium
join:2001-02-14
Annapolis, MD | reply to maynard001
Solid, reliable 911 is crucial to me as well, with a wife and two kids. My hopeful plan, as stated posts above, is to keep a very basic (lowest level possible) landline at about $15/month.
This line currently carries my DSL signal as well.
I'd port our main number over to VOIP and run that, of course, over the DSL line - completely abandoning line 1 but leaving the basic line for power outages and 911.
It all comes down to cost though. We're not big LD talkers (though that may change once my wife grasps the VOIP deal). Our current monthly bill is $50/month, about. Less the $15 basic line, VOIP can't cost more than $35 to make it worthy. $30 may do the trick. $25 and less, DEFINITELY.
KM
--
If Clinton lied, so did Bush.
Iraq Casualties | War Propaganda
Air America - Radio for the Rest of US! |
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