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joako
Premium
join:2000-09-07
/dev/null | Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere What's the cost of an ATA186 or similar ETHERNET device (no USB crap)? | |
| Sparky12
join:2000-02-27
Nokomis, FL
| Iconnect seems to be quoting $199 for the ATA unit? And getting a straight answer out of them about area codes and stuff is like pulling teeth.
I'd certainly refer people in that direction, with no bonus at all, but there doesn't seem to be any centralized info source.
Sparky | |
| | | mikey2007
join:2002-05-07
Enfield, CT
clubs:
| IConnecthere is definatley cheaper if you don't need unlimited calling.
I have used IConnecthere with an ATA186 prior to using Vonage. Infact I still have service with them since I just want to keep that #.
If you have any sort of real tech support question that cannot be scripted they do have a very hard time answering and they escalate it but god knows when they will respond. But it seems the same is happening with Vonage too.
Vonage does have a better web interface. Vonage allows you to block dialing international #'s. Also Vonage lets you forward calls and IConnectHere Doesn't.
While when doing the math IConnecthere might come out to be cheaper, for a little more I strongly recommend Vonage. Vonage is almost worry free without all the troubles.
Thats just my 2 cents if you have any IConnecthere questions let me know and I should be able to answer them as I still do have service with them.
--
Get $40 for signing up for Vonage Digital Voice (Unlimited Long Distance) INSTANTLY | |
| | | | | mikey2007
join:2002-05-07
Enfield, CT
clubs:
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere Agreed (assuming your math is correct).
But did you take into account call forwarding? When I was using IConnectHere and even now I believe incoming call forwarding does not work.
Also for the ATA to work you need to forward ports to the device, and I was still having trouble with incoming calls with IConnecthere.
Also Vonage now does now have MANY MANY MANY more areacodes then IConnecthere.
--
Get $40 for signing up for Vonage Digital Voice (Unlimited Long Distance) INSTANTLY | |
| | | Sparky12
join:2000-02-27
Nokomis, FL
| Yes but Cabo, for many people the initial outlay for the ATA will be a factor as well. You can see this as amortized with Vonage, while you have to pay for it up front to hook up with Iconnect. For those who have no VoIP experience, that can be a daunting prospect. At least with Vonage, if you don't like the service you can ship the thing back and it's a wash. Iconnect refers you to a third party to buy the ATA. Even more complications and up front expense.
Sparky | |
| | | | | | | | | Sparky12
join:2000-02-27
Nokomis, FL
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere I see your point. If they would show a list of available area codes before you have to actually sign up for the service, it would be something to consider. btw, I've used an average of 800 minutes per month on Vonage since I signed up. So it doesn't really represent much of a savings to me, especially when I can't tell what I'm getting into from the site.
In fact, the whole sign-up process should be more seamless. As it is, it branches off in 10 directions until you have a hard time knowing what you're even looking at. It's very poorly laid out, makes (at least) me feel like they are just brokering a bunch of random services from other companies, and it's up to me to make sure that I get the services and equipment I was looking for in the first place.
Sparky | |
| 
AJuan
Anon Juan
Premium
join:2002-08-14
Miami, FL
clubs:
| CaboBrett,
I won't add any more re: V vs iC; you, mikey and sparky have covered it pretty well. What I will throw into the mix is Net2Phone and their broadband product.
Net2Phone definitely offers a more mature network.
Where I find them to fall down, and it sounds like iConnect here has similar issues is:
1. A lack of clear consumer guidance on their broadband product.
2. A less refined web management dashboard for non-techie users
3. Ease of simple plug and play. Some non-techie types are petrified of the /dev setup for the ATA! 
4. Really slow customer service. Vonage seems to be playing catch up here though!
So at the end of the day, I think a simpler, clearer marketing strategy, upgraded management console, support specifically for their broadband users and a simple setup procedure would create real competition for Vonage by any of the serious VoIP players.
It wouldn't take much time or money, but the reality is that both Net2Phone and iConnect here have ignored the needs of broadband users for a long time, and have now lost first mover advantage because of it.
I think the real issue raised by your post is that any VoIP company is going to have customer retention issues as setup becomes easy and products become cheaper.
The nice thing is that this will only mean more savings for us - the consumers.
--
AnonJuan
Get your instant $40 credit before you sign up with Vonage | |
| | 
ITTOLEDO
join:2002-03-14
Toledo, OH
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere vs Net2Phone? said by AJuan  :
Net2Phone definitely offers a more mature network.
Anon,
As Not2phone was my first voip attempt, please, please, please tell me that the others (V & IC) are no where near as horrible as Not2phone. I am ready to make a move to try another provider and am hoping that the others are far better/ (mature?). | |
| | clecrupt9
join:2002-01-22
GA | Where I find them to fall down, and it sounds like iConnect here has similar issues is:
1. A lack of clear consumer guidance on their broadband product
Could not agree more. | |
| | |
ITTOLEDO
join:2002-03-14
Toledo, OH
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere ANON,
First and Foremost, thanks for your advice and info.
Now on to the specs. I am running it on a clear channel 1.5mb SDSL circuit (private atm backbone). During my calls, I have the channel wide open with nothing else using bandwidth. Latency blows away my T1 at work (typically, I can hit Vancouver, WA in under 20ms from Toledo, OH). As far as hardware, I am just using my server with its SB live sound card. However, when using SJPhone, I can call my Canadian buds with the clarity of a POTS circuit. Only problem was no ability to get a dial tone (pc to pc only). Well, that and a a few problems using it behind NAT (couldnt receive calls even with ports wide open) | |
| Cyber2lz
join:2001-11-15
Odessa, FL
| OK, I'm new to this VoIP thing. I've checked out Vonage and Iconnecthere. I did not experience any thing near the trouble that you guys intimated. Vonage has no 813 numbers and Icon. does. Vonage doesn't activate the second port(?) of the ATA, Icon. does. Icon. has a pay as you go plan Vonage doesn't. U say $199 for the ATA, I see $179. The website is no more confusing than Vonage's.
Granted I'm looking at it from a different perspective than you are. I am a home user that is sick of Verizon and WANTS to go elsewhere. My house is WIRED, so I can centrally locate the Cisco next to my Linksys 8port QOS router.
Now to the real question. All of the above is just so much horse hockey if the service sucks. So how about it?
Assuming a high degree of technical competence, what is the buzz on the service?
Inquiring minds want to know!!!!!
--
If you're not livin' on the edge, you're takin' up too much space ! | |
| | | | | 
VonageWannaBE
@verizon.net
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere Well,
As I have said before in this forum, most of the posts here are biased towards Vonage due to there referral. One person, who regularly posts here has atleast 6 domains names registered for Vonage referral and atleast 3 Vonage referral IDs when redirecting to vonage's web site.. so whoever is evaluating VOIP, should read other forums as well, and make an informed decision.
You can get ATA for about 150 bucks from some online retailers e.g. ecost. This is one time cost.. then you don't have to pay any heftly monthly charges and ATA BOX IS YOURS FOREVER. In case of Vonage - you pay them 29.99 activation fee + 10 bucks shipping + 39.99 whenever you cancel your service - which is about 80 bucks.. so you are basically just looking at a 70-80 bucks investment if you compare the two.
They both use THE SAME TECHNOLOGY. Check out the dates when this thread was started, then deltathree required opening those ports, but now it also used ATA version 2.15 which detects the NAT automatically and you don't have to open any ports.. you can call ATA to ATA free and call on a per minute basis which no Fixed costs.
YOU CAN ALSO USE YOUR DELTATHREE ACCOUNT as a calling card from 13 countries, which is a big plus for me as I am a frequent traveller. Overall - IConnectHere gives you MORE value for your money.
(PLEASE: - If someone wants to dispute - please include some math in your response.. not just bogus marketing fundas with a referral link to voange.) | |
| | | | mikey2007
join:2002-05-07
Enfield, CT
clubs:
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere Yes there are many here that are biased towards vonage.
I currently use both and have an active account with both. Although I haven't used my Iconnecthere account for a little while.
IConnecthere makes great sense if you don't need unlimited calling.
But unless their customer service improved greatly it could still use help. But it is true that Vonage's customer support is sliding too.
--
Get $40 for signing up for Vonage Digital Voice (Unlimited Long Distance) INSTANTLY | |
| clecrupt9
join:2002-01-22
GA | DDDC(deltathree) closed at .47 a share today
Value is in the wallet of the beholder. By the way I am not a vonage customer. | |
|
AJuan
Anon Juan
Premium
join:2002-08-14
Miami, FL
clubs:
| VonageWannaBe,
Interesting points all.
VoIP issues:
- Agreed: they do both use the same technology.
Service Issues:
- I think that the major issue raised with iConnecthere is support?
Cost Issues:
- I would agree with you that for anyone planning on using VoIP for the long haul is better off buying their own ATA box and then signing up with whichever service provider they want. Excellent suggestion.
- The answer to which service provider to select is really an issue of individual calling patterns, technical competence and willingness to "work" to get things setup, or not. I would dare to say that any math anyone provides here doesn't prove one service better than the other; merely a lower cost of one based on their needs.
- Let me say it; Vonage is by far not the cheapest VoIP provider unless you spend '000s of minutes on the phone each month; so we can all agree on that. They are one of the cheapest phone service providers!
Vonage Referrals:
- Please, can we leave the sweeping assumptions behind? There are a number of us, referrals aside, that actually believe in the product. I am quite sure that anyone who takes the effort to read more than a few posts in this forum will be able to differentiate between the informed positions and the "marketeers". For me, the pre-configured box is the reason I would order and send a Vonage box to my parents, but wouldn't send them an empty box and ask them to configure it.
- Domains, etc: Could we leave the personal attacks out of this forum? Some people work with the web for a living, through promoting products and services. It's an honest living, and in this particular case it helps to promote a VoIP service to the masses. I would have thought we could all agree that is a good thing? Maybe eventually.
Seasons greetings all!
--
AnonJuan
Get your instant $40 credit before you sign up with Vonage | |
| | Sparky12
join:2000-02-27
Nokomis, FL
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere Very well said Anon. You touched on all those points perfectly, and before I even had a chance to toss in 1 cent, let alone 2.
Now go to bed! A little birdy told me you were up real early
Sparky | |
| | |
LameDuck
@Dial1.Detr
| I still don't have a broadband connection so I'm not a Vonage customer, nor am I making any money on referrals, nor do I personally know anyone who is. That said, I believe that for the average (non-techie) phone user, Vonage has some clear advantages.
For one thing, if you REALLY want to see the difference, ask your mother or father (or, if you are over 50, a sibling or non-techie friend that is about your age) to sit down in front of your computer and go through the steps of ordering phone service, first at iConnecthere's site and then at Vonage's. Ask them to act as though they might really be interested in ordering the service for their own personal use (that is, don't just click on the first thing they see). Obviously you'll want to stop them at whatever point they're required to give valid personal information, but when you get to that point, ask if they've received enough information to make an informed decision. Don't help them make selections, but write down everything they click on (if you have a video camera, point it at the screen so you can watch the tape and make notes later). This is the sort of research that ANY company that wants to do business on the web should do.
In my opinion, iConnecthere's site is a case study in how NOT to construct a web site that is designed to induce people to order. For example, let's say I want to have the equivalent of phone service provided over my Internet connection. Do I click on "Make Calls", "Receive Calls", or "Broadband"? And it just gets more confusing from there. No matter which way I go, I get presented with a bunch of options, things to read, and so on. Now, personally, I find this all very interesting, although it would be nice if there were more information on fewer pages, but put your mom or dad in front of this and I suspect you're going to see them say, "Okay, what the [insert expletive of choice] am I supposed to click on now?" - or - "How did I wind up here and how do I get back to that other page?"
Vonage understands two cardinal rules of marketing - 1) Don't confuse the customer. 2) Give the customer options, but not too many (too many options violate #1). Or at the very least, feature your most popular options up front.
iConnecthere's site violates another rule of marketing - anticipate customer questions, and have an answer ready. ANY customer that wants to get incoming calls is going to want to know, PRIOR to starting the order process, whether they can get a number in their own area code (or whatever area they're interested in receiving calls from). If that information is on their site, it's certainly well-buried (again, I'm speaking as someone who wants this information BEFORE starting the order process).
Vonage basically gives you two choices (actually four, but you probably already know if you're a business or residential customer, so that isn't really as much a choice as a selection, like saying male or female in another type of application). Do you want the unlimited plan, or the one that limits you to a certain number of minutes?
Now this is a lot smarter than is sounds, because you have to think of WHY a customer would switch to Vonage. And I submit to you that saving money is NOT necessarily the most important reason. Well, in one way it is, but here is what the customer - almost all customers - REALLY want. They want to get a GOOD price with a minimum amount of hassle.
In this particular case, those two things are closely intertwined. The biggest hassle a customer has with the incumbent phone company is figuring out their bill! Now here comes a company that says, you pay us $40 a month and we won't hit you with any strange charges or fees that make no sense to you, and you won't have to pay extra for "custom calling features" and you won't have to select a "package" of features and you won't have to sit down every month and go over your bill with a magnifying glass to see if you are being charged for calls you didn't make (or, alternately, feel a bit guilty for not doing so).
And Vonage's web site, while perhaps not the absolute easiest to use on the web, certainly continues this theme. You are shown your options, you select one, you read about it and go from there. Want to know if your area code is available? It's on the web site.
Now, personally, I am willing to pay a premium for flat rate service. I always have been. I do not want to be on a meter. Just off the top of my head, I would easily pay $5 or $10 a month more to not have to deal with an itemized bill of calls I make, and to know that the amount I pay will be ALL I'll have to pay regardless of the number of calls I make. I'll never have to argue with some bozo in customer service who claims that I MUST have placed that six hour call to Nome, Alaska, that's mysteriously shown up on my bill, even though I don't know a soul who lives there. Not everyone feels that way, of course, and the difference in the two Vonage plans is closer to $15 so that would make me think twice if I were a low volume user. But even there, Vonage has the advantage in simplicity of ordering.
Let me put it this way: You go to Vonage's web site and you get the feeling that this is a company that wants customers, that wants to sell you its service. It could be improved (most sites could) but it doesn't throw up any big roadblocks in your way. If a friend called and asked you to set up service for him and you only had five minutes to do it, you could do it easily.
But iConnecthere's site looks like a business-to-business site, where the customer will deliberate over his options, consult with his accountant and maybe a technical adviser or two, and then reach a decision. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating just a little, but that is the FEEL I get from their site. Too many options, no consumer-friendly ones. If someone told you to "order replacement phone service for me from iConnecthere" and you'd never been to their site before, there's no way you could do it in five minutes (well, maybe some people could, but I couldn't).
So in conclusion I think there are two things hurting iConnecthere:
1) Poorly designed web site - they really need to watch real people (not employees or other "geeks") trying to navigate it and make changes.
2) Lack of a simple flat rate option that covers both outgoing and incoming service. I know, I know, you'd rather pick your options ala carte. Well, so would I sometimes, but first of all the option I'd REALLY want isn't there (flat rate) and second, marketing study upon marketing study has proven that people really don't want too many choices (or more precisely, they want them only if they ask for them. Like holding the onions on a fast-food burger - it may not be explicitly offered but they will do it if you ask).
Anyway, I don't want to start a flame war so I will just say that these are my opinions, and I realize some have opposite opinions. But I will say that I would probably never even consider dumping my landline phone, which gives me unlimited local calling, for any VoIP service that doesn't at the very least give me unlimited calling within my own region, no matter how good the rate is on calls (well, unless you are going to give me a rate of a penny per HOUR, or something like that). | |
| | claudeo
join:2000-02-23
Redmond, WA
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere Lameduck states: (snip)...Now here comes a company that says, you pay us $40 a month and we won't hit you with any strange charges or fees that make no sense to you...(snip)
I'm not sure about that. I almost signed up for Vonage but then I read the TOS -- which is a binding contract -- that states that "Customer is responsible for paying all charges posted to its account, including but not limited to, monthly Service, subscription fee, usage charges, advanced feature charges, Device charges, shipping, and others. Charges, including disputed amounts, must be paid by the date shown on the invoice." followed by some threatening language along the lines of "pay first, or else." -- Note that nowhere in the TOS does it state what those "other" charges can be, or that the only charges will be those stated in the plan description. I understand that this kind of language used by all kinds of service providers, not just Vonage, but let us not be blindsided here. While the Vonage team now appears to be a bunch of very nice people, the contract remains in force even if some scumbag company buys them out and decides to fleece the customers by tacking on new fees and running with that. The same TOS states that even if you cancel within the 5 days after email notification of changes of service (such a notification can easily be formulated as an email that will get discarded by most spam filters) you are liable for everything that was billed, plus termination fees -- which can also be changed at any time, BTW.
Paranoid, me? No way. Just been fleeced once too many.
[text was edited by author 2002-12-19 16:06:42] | |
| | |
LameDuck
@Dial1.Det
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere Valid point, claudeo. I do wish these companies would not let their lawyers write these ToS agreements without subjecting them to a sanity check first. Language like that does scare potential customers away!
(What worse yet is when a company insists you agreed to something like that when you know you didn't, simply because they NOW include some language in their terms of service. When do consumers get some rights?) | |
| | | |
LameDuck
@Dial1.Det | Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere P.S. I meant the ToS language should be subjected to a sanity check, not the lawyers! | |
| | | claudeo
join:2000-02-23
Redmond, WA | I tried the iConnecthere softphone a couple of days ago. Poor quality. Intelligible, but nowhere like a real phone, even with good headset/mic combination. I don't know how it works out with the IPphone hardware they are selling as option. | |
| | | | 
AllTheRuss
join:2001-12-01
Saint Paul, MN
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere said by claudeo :
I tried the iConnecthere softphone a couple of days ago. Poor quality. Intelligible, but nowhere like a real phone, even with good headset/mic combination. I don't know how it works out with the IPphone hardware they are selling as option.
I use the "softphone" as well, but I do use it with an Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard, it works fine for me.
I'd like to get an ATA 186, but they are too spendy right now.
We never use LD on the landline anymore. | |
| 
dconnor
Premium
join:2002-01-03
The Beach
clubs:
| I find everyone’s statements in this thread interesting. Many are very valid. However, some of the comparisons that have been made are like apples and... carrots? Forget about oranges..., not even close.
I actively promote Vonage, for reasons I do not need to explain. However; I do love the product, or I would not promote it to the extent that I do.
I am not posting to bash another product or company. But that will become the final outcome of my statement.
I post as a telecom professional who has dealt with the companies mentioned in this thread on various levels; from multi-million dollar contracts, to being an end-user of the product.
D3 & Net2Phone are poorly funded companies. Period. Take that as you will.
Both D3 and Net2phone have released broadband VoIP products in the past that have failed, for various reasons. Neither company has released anything significant since then. They might have a web page, but they do not have a product (Hello FTC? Are you listening?).
Net2phone will be around tomorrow, as their will also be a market for their "now nostalgic, scream into the headset, VoIP product". For some people, that is a great product. I would guess, for most posters on this forum, it is a little dated... However, in certain parts of the world, it might be better quality and much less expensive than the public network. But far from what you and I would want to use as our main means of communications.
Tomorrow, D3 will still be trying to find itself. Everything is always "coming soon..."
--
Danhttp://www.vonage-promotion.com | |
| | spired
join:2002-09-30
japan
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere As you're fishing for referrals I think your argument is flawed:
You're comparing two public companies (Deltathree/IConnectHere and Net2Phone) with an 8 month old startup. By looking at the financials of DeltaThree and Net2Phone you can see that they both have sufficient cash ($64M for net2phone and $21M for Deltathree at last reporting) to survive for the short term with the last reported operating losses at about $3m/quarter for Deltathree and $18m/quarter for Net2Phone. Neither company looks particularly healthy but Iconnecthere at least looks it still can afford to keep going for a couple years. With Vonage, the company is privately held. You can't see how much cash they have, you can't see who all of the officers are, how much they promised their financiers they'd be able to pull in before they get shut down, etc. etc. Unless you have information you're willing to post, it's hard to believe your argument.
Now granted there are by all measures 'well-funded' telecos like Global Crossing and Worldcom which have shown their spots.
Vonage has definately made a splash as far as getting PR from Time Magazine and the such, but the same could be said for Net2Phone, Dialpad and Go2Call in the days when they thought they could make money off of advertising alone.
Back to the topic, has anyone tried IConnecthere through the soft-phone rather than an ATA186? I'm interested in taking my phone number with me without carrying around the Cisco box in addition to my laptop.
Spired | |
| | |
VonageWannaBE
@verizon.net
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere Yes, I have used iConnectHere with both softphone and with ATA186.. the softphone quality cannot be compared with ATA quality. Specially on a lower band width. If you have access to atleast true 56K and a good headset, the softphone will work just fine. | |
| |
VonageWannaBE
@verizon.net
| Well - nothing personal - but the people whom I referred in my post have already jumped in this forum..
I don't have much to add as by now I guess a person can make an informed decision by reading the foruma nd visiting both web sites...just 3 quick responses:
1. There web site does not have "Comming soon .." anymore .. and I mentioned the same in my previous post that this thread was started long ago and things have changed.
2. Ease of use and what would I suggest people over 50 to use ??...You have a live example of AOL.. will you ever use it or suggest anyone else to use AOL just because its ease of use ? and common guys all the configurations are on just ONE page - which is accesible from the browser and you just have to fill in 6-7 fields in that. anyone who can manage there broadband connection and the router connected to it can change those settings..you don't have to change them everyday.
3. I don't use net2phone for the same reason as Vonage - (I have less control on codecs etc)..BUT just wanted to mention that net2phone is NOT a poorly funded company. AT&T has 30% share in net2phone..and this is exactly my point that people are posting WRONG information here to get Vonage referral money. | |
| | |
See 8 replies to this post | |
Cyber2lz
join:2001-11-15
Odessa, FL
| Agreed AnonJuan,
I don't care about Marketecture!!! I am interested in THE service. The pandering and solicitation on this board are to the point that I am surprised the Mod hasn't warned already.
I believe that I am technically savvy enough to overcome most of the problems with the setup and configuration. If that's not the case, then this technology is not ready for the masses, ..........yet. My ONLY concern is the quality of the service and WHAT happens if, and when, I have a problem that is not on my side of the fence! I am going to try both vendors. Since the CPE is the same, the only differentiation is the SERVICE. Agreed?!?!?!
My motivation is completely different than the rest of the board's. I WANT to cut my ties to the Telecom Beast that consumes but does not service. Hell, they're probably using VoIP after they have the call captured in their network anyway!!!
--
If you're not livin' on the edge, you're takin' up too much space ! | |
| 
GeekJedi
RF is Good For You
Premium
join:2001-06-21
Mukwonago, WI
clubs:
 ·CenturyLink
 ·VOIPo
·Vonage
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| Although I do kind of take issue with someone making a site look "official" (and not mentioning that they have nothing to do officially with Vonage, just that they are collecting a $40 per pop) it really is none of my business.
dconnor has added other POV's on this board other than Vonage, and has even offered help for various things. His posts are helpful, and valuable to the board. I can separate the wheat from the chaff, and know when to turn on the BS filter.
Having said that, Vonage is a great service. I would recommend it, and have done so for friends. I haven't tried other services, but for what I want, it's perfect.
Yep, getting referral credit here and there is nice, but I certainly am not looking to get free service for life. I would much rather pay real cash for the service than get it for free and see them go away. Again, personal preference.
Bottom line, there are a lot of Vonage users hawking referrals...why not? They have all brought other things to the table, and if they get a referral, so be it.
--
The goal of the broadcast engineer is to get all the meters on the transmitter to go as far to the right as possible!! | |
| Cyber2lz
join:2001-11-15
Odessa, FL
| Hey guys,
I don't know if this is important, but I just did a comparison between the rates of both companies, V & I.
You might be surprised at my findings!!!!!
V doesn't come off so good.
Just some unbiased research of their posted rates!
--
If you're not livin' on the edge, you're takin' up too much space ! | |
| |
VonageWannaBE
@verizon.net
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere Well, Cyber2lz - thats what I am saying all along. Vonage's rates are not at all good for those who donot want unlimited calling. And for those, who really need unlimited calling, I guess MCI's unlimited calling plan is much better as those who really need to talk 3000-4000 minutes a month, realy heavily on phone and they need something which is more reliable than a VOIP device. With the first free month, no need of seperate local line for emergencies, and with all the miles you get with MCi, makes it more attractive. | |
| | |
LameDuck
@Dial1.Detr
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere >And for those, who really need unlimited calling,
>I guess MCI's unlimited calling plan is much better
>as those who really need to talk 3000-4000 minutes
>a month, realy heavily on phone and they need
>something which is more reliable than a VOIP device.
>With the first free month, no need of seperate local
>line for emergencies, and with all the miles you get
>with MCi, makes it more attractive.
VonageWannaBE: I am trying to figure out why, no matter what someone says, you seem to want to use it as a springboard to diss Vonage. Now you apparently would rather see someone use MCI than Vonage if they want flat rate service. You forget (or ignore) the fact that, at least in my state, MCI's "Neighborhood Complete" costs about $10 a month MORE than Vonage (I understand that in some states, it is $20 more). PLUS you have to pay MCI the same taxes and service fees that you would pay the regular landline phone company. Plus, if part of your motivation is that you're fed up with the local phone company, remember that in some cases MCI resells their service and in any case they use the phone company's lines to connect to your home (of course the latter comment would also apply to Vonage if your broadband connection is DSL).
Plus, well, it's MCI Worldcom. And while some people may like MCI, there are a lot of folks who've had problems with them. If I really wanted that type of service, I'd go with Z-Tel, which has a similar offering at a similar price, and isn't going through bankruptcy.
The thing that's really getting annoying is the "anybody but Vonage" attitude you seem to have, despite your strange choice of a nickname. I freely admit that others may not prioritize features in the same way I do, but who are you to in effect tell me that if I don't like iConnecthere's offering, I should skip Vonage and go to MCI? Can't you accept the fact that several people have decided that Vonage is the right choice for THEM, and just let it go?
I'm really, truly starting to wonder if some of these anti-Vonage posts we're seeing aren't coming from people who have some interest (financial or otherwise) in one of the other companies.
I will simply once more say that low rates aren't the only criteria that people use in evaluating service of this type. Many people (in the United States at least) just don't like meters. More than one small city downtown area has died because the city fathers (or mothers, as the case may be) have refused to remove the parking meters, even as the malls and shopping centers with free parking have prospered. If you're willing to have every call billed according to usage and pay by the minute, that's great - I'm not telling YOU that you shouldn't have that option. But don't try to artificially limit my options, either! | |
| clecrupt9
join:2002-01-22
GA
| As I see it ICH lowest cost is .01 a minute. Vonage unlimited is plan is 40 dollars a month. If you spend over two hours per day on the phone you come out ahead with Vonage. MCI wants 32 dollars (with no voice mail) 49 with voice mail, add at least 10 in taxes plus your DSL cant ride the line. Dont forget who MCI is related to- Worldcom. Surely the ATA can handle two and a half hours of use a day. Am I wrong here? | |
| Sparky12
join:2000-02-27
Nokomis, FL
| Lemme tell you a very stupid Vonage story. I had a problem with one of their calling features, the repeat dialing when someone's line is busy. So I wrote in, thought I was just reporting it. This was yesterday. Now I followed the protocol they asked for, included my name, account number and a quick summary of the problem in my subject line.
Someone called me today from Vonage at about 5PM. He acknowledged that we needed to test it. After actually taking the trouble to set up a line which WOULD show up as a busy signal, he asked me to call it and use the "press 5" option to test out how this was working for me, while he watched the logs on his end.
Look really tight at this, what I am saying here. He called me back 8 times. Gave me his number to reach him back, and I used it. Emailed me with his direct email address so I could report repeated problems on the line, should they show up.
We solved the problem. And he was really honest about what he knew and what he didn't know. My point here? Follow Vonage's requests on how to file a tech support email. They DO call you back, they DO read it. This guy Abiy actually called me back several times to make sure it was working, and emailed me to make sure that I know to file any problems to him directly.
Sorry, I know that I sound like a Vonage freak right now, but the fact is that if you email them with a problem, include your account info and a summary of the problem in the subject line, they get back to you in a way that makes you WISH your original phone company would.
I would never switch back to my local phone company. And support like this makes me want Vonage to stay in business big time, and they should give Abiy a raise.
For all of you who complain that Vonage does not answer you at all? Read what they've said in this forum please! A good subject line would be:
Account# 1230855, name: Moofus.. Problem: No call waiting
And they will get back to you at warp speed.
Hats off to these guys... best to Ingrid, Mona and Abiy! | |
| 
schnauze
join:2001-05-29
Sunnyvale, CA
| Another data point (actually two data points you can add to the analysis):
Packet8 offers 1000 anywhere-US PSTN minutes for $19.95/mo and unlimited Packet8-to-Packet8 calls (calls between Packet8 subscribers; these calls are pure IP so the company does not charge for them).
If all you want is to call point-to-point between two Packet8 users, you can sign up for the $5.95/mo. account and get unlimited Packet8-to-Packet8 calling (actually you need two of these accounts, so you should count 2*$5.95 = $11.90/month for unlimited calls anywhere in the world-- US or international (because the call is IP)).
There is also a $39.95 plan available that adds additional PSTN minutes.
»www.packet8.net for details. This is not based on the Cisco ATA boxes-- the endpoints are 8x8-manufactured terminal adapters (SIP-based). The company is in beta with Windows Messenger support. Minutes are not unlimited (a la Vonage) and so 8x8 is not paranoid about fraud/abuse of the account. One cool feature is that if you have multiple endpoints associated with the same account, all available endpoints ring when the user's DID is called. Once you are on that call, another call that comes in gets routed to the remaining available endpoints (or you can dial out on any available endpoint). Instant call center! Endpoints do not need to be geographically related (just associated with the same Packet8 account). | |
| | mikey2007
join:2002-05-07
Enfield, CT
clubs:
| Re: Vonage vs. iConnecthere Wow Packet8 looks like a really good service.
I am glad to see that there is more competition in the end user VoIP market. The Packet 8 site actually looks "OK" compared to the way iConnectHere looks.
The $19.95/mo for 1000 minutes is with a 1 year contract, without a 1 year contract it would be $24.95. However it doesn't say anything about customer satisfaction (at quick glance).
Should be interesting to hear from anyone who has/is using the service.
--
Get $40 for signing up for Vonage Digital Voice (Unlimited Long Distance) INSTANTLY | |
| | |
seandar
@optonline.net | I'm still trying to decide between vonnage and iConnectHere. I 'd like to know if iC has call forwarding and call waiting.
Earlier in this thread, someone said iC didn't use to have them. Do they now?
thanks | |
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