N3OGH
They both suck, we're so screwed
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| Just another excuse
Just another excuse for me to keep my POTS line. I've never had my POTS go out for a full week.
I'd be madder than hell if my CATV and internet was out for a week, but if the phone was out for a week? No way....
VoIP is great to save some money on long distance calls and the like, but I will never get VoIP again without a POTS backup. It's worth the $14/mo (about 16 with the "taxes") to know I can make/receive that call if I really have to.
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Never ask what sort of a computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If not, why embarrass him? -Tom Clancy |
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MadMANN
Premium
join:2005-08-19
 ·Comcast
| I might be wrong if I say the word "ALL", but MOST (if not all) VOIP providers recommend a backup landline. I know Vonage does. That disclaimer should tell you that the reliability of VOIP is significantly less than POTS. At least for the time being.
Of course, nobody reads those disclaimers, just like people do not read their TOS agreements and then they complain when downtime occurs when they were warned about that possibility from the beginning. The bottom line is, is that if you need a 24/7/365 absolute reliable phone connection, you can't use VOIP only at this time. At least not everywhere.
Ironically enough, it is because of the surge of cell phones, fiber, and VOIP that traditional landlines, which are the MOST reliable at this time, are being neglected so that providers can focus on the more-money-making LESS reliable technology. |
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HyPeRbAnD
join:2006-01-07
Stow, MA | I think by default cable companies like Comcast need to provide a quality line. They do not need to be regulated, with competition out there they MUST provide a superior line at a good price or the customer will leave.
That's my take on it. |
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rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO
·Charter Pipeline
 ·Vonage
| reply to N3OGH
said by N3OGH  :...VoIP is great to save some money on long distance calls and the like, but I will never get VoIP again without a POTS backup... ... or cell phone. We've had Vonage since 2003, dumped the POTS line and use Vonage's feature to dual ring the cell. If HSI access is down, the cell still rings and provides the backup.
Regarding the article, I support MO's right to regulate VOIP if they also win the right to regulate ILEC IPTV. Otherwise it'll be more of what we have now; POTS is regualted, VOIP is not. Cable TV is regulated, ILEC IPTV (if and when it happens) -- probably not. |
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hottboiinnc
Kyle
join:2003-10-15
Toledo, OH
·buckeye cable
·Time Warner VOIP
 ·1and1
| reply to MadMANN
Most if not ALL Digital Phone/Voice and VoIP tell you their service does not work during a power outage BEFORE you sign up. At least TWC does this in Ohio which they were required to tell you.
So its not the TOS the person has to agree to this before the order is actually placed and processed. At one time TWC was sending out stickers to be placed on each Digital Phone Modem and on the phones that way if their was an outage someone would know that phone didn't have 911 it was in big red print.
But i see no reason why to regulate TWC or Comcast's Digital Phone/Voice product. It works great here in Ohio (TWC- Mid/Northwest Ohio). Far better quality than AT&T will ever be able to provide on their decade plus old copper.
But I was even without phone a few years ago with AT&T at that time it was SBC- a contractor failed to call the Call Before Dig number and hit a fiber optic cable near my apartment building. my entire complex was out for 2 days. Until SBC had a fiber guy out here to patch it back together. But what did they tell us? Use a cell phone. So either way POTS is only as good as the Telco that operates it and repairs it. |
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rachelsfx
join:2004-09-27
Pensacola, FL | The Telco didn't knock you out. The idiot contractor did.  |
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hottboiinnc
Kyle
join:2003-10-15
Toledo, OH
·buckeye cable
·Time Warner VOIP
·1and1
| I know the contractor did but still the telephone company still waited 2 days before they decided to fix the line.
Being regulated by the state PUC doesn't make your service better or worse. The Telco still responds when they get around to it. |
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digdugguy
@148.183.x.x | Man they don't decide to fix issues they need time to dispatch people to it to fix it. It's not like any one can weld fiber. |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to rachelsfx
said by rachelsfx :The Telco didn't knock you out. The idiot contractor did. It doesn't matter HOW it went out.. it's that it DID go out. It just goes to show that ANY service can and HAS gone out.
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"Wipe out the national deficit over night... Tax the stupid!" - about 50 gMail invites available. PM if you'd like one. |
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