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New Packet8 RatecentersDo a shift-reload (make sure you refresh your cache) on » www.packet8.net/about/ar ··· odes.aspPacket8 numbers are now available in NY, AZ, CO, LA, OH & MA. |
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sgarrandInsert Witty Phrase Here Premium Member join:2000-04-13 West Brookfield, MA |
sgarrand
Premium Member
2003-Aug-12 9:41 pm
When are we going to see more ratecenters in MA? For instance a Western MA one. I appreciate you mentioning this. The map looks better. Scott |
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Gain Some Lose Some
Anon
2003-Aug-12 10:05 pm
Packet8 may have added rate centers in NY, AZ, CO, LA, OH & MA, but the other states lost rate centers. At least according to P8's website. And did you notice that rate centers are listed twice?
My home state of MO used list suburban rate centers for Blue Springs, Excelsior Springs and Lee's Summit. Now they are gone with the addition of the new states. |
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Gain Some Lose Some |
Gain Some Lose Some to schnauze
Anon
2003-Aug-12 10:40 pm
to schnauze
According to P8's website they now only list 724 rate centers, down from the earlier 1,500 when they changed to Level 3 a few month ago. Are they conceding to Vonage? P8's edge over Vonage was more rate centers and price. Now it looks like they will have to compete on price alone, since Vonage now has more rate centers and features. |
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to schnauze
Did anyone lose their number as the result of the ratecenter changes?
I was just wondering if they didn't trim the number of ratecenters down to those that had active customers. |
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dplantz join:2000-08-02 Bradenton, FL |
to schnauze
Finaly they offer Boston numbers. I would give them a second try if they would fix the caller id problem. I need to have caller id info that is correct for my needs. I am sticking with Vonage for now. I tryed packet8 before and I had latency problems. |
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The BeerI Love It When A Plan Comes Together Premium Member join:2001-07-24 Lincoln, NE |
to bsexton
Well I can't say I lost my number however my rate center is gone...
Nebraska is still blue, however no longer in the drop down, I REALLY hope this is a glitch!
However you can still get service in Cheyenne, WY! |
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rec9140Provoice just DO it join:2003-07-29 Mulberry, FL |
to Gain Some Lose Some
said by Gain Some Lose Some: According to P8's website they now only list 724 rate centers, down from the earlier 1,500 when they changed to Level 3 a few month ago.
Well I thought this might be good news for me, who as a potential P8 customer was looking over the areas they offered and did not offer. So I see OH listed, GREAT maybe they added the areas I need. STRIKE 1! Did not add areas I need in OH, closest is at least 70 miles depending on the exchanges that covers. STRIKE 2! REMOVED areas in PA that I could have compromised with till they added the areas I need. BALL 1 - At least they didn't kill all the FL ones I am looking at. Who were they using before Level 3? Comments from P8 customers who had numbers in areas that are no longer listed? Did/will you loose the number? Time frame? P8 had the better choice of exchanges and covered areas in PA I could have used temporarily to work. But they killed that, and didn't add any in OH I can use at all. Features I don't need outside of ICLID were not the selling point, coverage of exchanges WAS. Vonage - OUT Locks hardware and doesn't support 7960's ICH - NO coverage VoicePulse - NO coverage This is really annoying, especially when your planning a VOIP setup and then have the potential provider trash it all. URRRRRRRGHHH. |
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to Gain Some Lose Some
They appear to have dropped several ratecenters in Michigan as well. |
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bfranks join:2002-06-22 Arlington, VA |
to schnauze
They dropped the State College rate center I am in, however it doesn't look like they changed my number or asked me to give it up yet.
I haven't activated my account, because the DTA isn't here yet (supposed to be here today) but hopefully when I activate it, it will still give me the 814 number I requested.
- Brent |
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chex5 join:2000-05-24 NorthEnd BOS |
to dplantz
YEEEEES!!!! Finally! Cambridge, Mass, even! Same town I had with Vonage. Oh this is so kick ass for me. Now people can stop thinking I moved to Hartford, CT with my 860 area code number. Hahahaha *sends email to P8 support to get number changed* Sorry for all of you that lost rate centers... One thing you guys might want to consider is setting up a 1800 number that would point to your Packet8 #. I know this minimizes the price advantage of Packet8, but not that much, and whenever someone calls you who you know is using the 1800, just politely ask to call them back. So whats the deal with all the different numbers now? Who were they using as a CLEC before?? - Chex said by dplantz: Finaly they offer Boston numbers. I would give them a second try if they would fix the caller id problem. I need to have caller id info that is correct for my needs. I am sticking with Vonage for now. I tryed packet8 before and I had latency problems.
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B04 Premium Member join:2000-10-28 |
B04
Premium Member
2003-Aug-13 10:42 am
Okay, I'm ignorant on this and I have to ask -- what area code(s) are in the "NWYRCYZN01" / "NWYRCYZN01.NY" rate center? From some Googling it looks like 646 and maybe 212 too? It would have been a little nicer for Packet8 to list the associated area codes for us normal people... I haven't found the place on Packet8's site where one can request a specific number or area code (I went through several of the sign-up steps in vain). Thanks in advance guys. -- B |
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to schnauze
Awesome! MA and NY!
See you later Verizon for a lot of people! |
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The BeerI Love It When A Plan Comes Together Premium Member join:2001-07-24 Lincoln, NE |
to rec9140
I have not received any letter telling me I will have to give up my number, I do have 5 DTA's I have been waiting on numbers for. I sure hope this is a glitch! |
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to schnauze
When you mean rate centers, you mean area codes, right?
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LA Rock join:2003-04-07 Los Angeles, CA |
to B04
NWYRCYZN01 is New York City (Manhattan), area codes 212, 646 and 917. Not sure which area code P8 is issuing numbers from. |
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B04 Premium Member join:2000-10-28 |
B04
Premium Member
2003-Aug-13 1:55 pm
Thanks, LA Rock. I think I'd rather have 718 or 212. Nobody wants 646...
-- B |
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to floshcannon
No. Area codes and rate centers (exchanges) are different. Normally an area code has multiple rate centers. Your location shows Ashland MO which is in area code 573, Ashland is one rate center, but Columbia, Jefferson City, Lake Ozark, Mexico etc. are all rate centers within the 573 area code. |
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IGGY9No Guru Just Here To Help Premium Member join:2001-03-30 Chatham, IL
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to schnauze
Well this company just lost a sale. I was getting ready to go with them since they had a rate center listed in Springfield. But now since the closest center is listed as Peoria or Bloomington it's going to be a no go for Packet8. These companies really make it to hard for users to get started up. Until they get more like a phone company - easy to setup and use - this industry isn't going to grow - that's a shame. Since most all our calls are local we need a local rate center. We can't have local friends and family dialing long distance to call us - that's just stupid. The current VOIP services seem to only benefit heavy long distance users - of which we're not. Friggin state capital of this state and no VOIP provider services the area locally. The cable company has been saying for 3 years now they going to provide phone service. This type of stuff gets so old. If companies want to be in business of providing a service they should be able to provide it to all. These VOIP companies claim to be nation wide when in fact they only serve certain areas of the nation - like a cell phone company or cable company. They also seem to only benefit big city and long distance users. |
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rec9140Provoice just DO it join:2003-07-29 Mulberry, FL |
rec9140
Member
2003-Aug-14 12:08 am
said by IGGY9: Well this company just lost a sale. I was getting ready to go with them since they had a rate center listed in Springfield. . . . These companies really make it to hard for users to get started up. . . Since most all our calls are local we need a local rate center. We can't have local friends and family dialing long distance to call us - that's just stupid. The current VOIP services seem to only benefit heavy long distance users - of which we're not.
Lost me too! I had been working on my plan for between 8-10 lines depending on what I worked around coverage, till they ADDED more not lost nearly 50% of their coverage. They pretty much trashed it for me. URRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH The whole point of this was to take and get LOCAL #'s for relatives to call with LOCAL numbers, NOT LONG DISTANCE along with "local presence" for other needs. Oh well, will have to wait till ICH or VoicePulse decide to get it together. (NO, I want nothing to do with vonages locked hardware.) Any one know which CLEC dumped all over the parade? ? Any one? Bueller? ? Bueller? I would really like to vent on them too. Maybe its time to get a few shares of EGHT while its still cheap so I can have an even more legitimate gripe. Since it only seems that "stockholders" can complain to get changes regardless of the customer needs. Would really love to seem some numbers on cancellations because of this. So if your a P8 customer and lost #'s because of this lets have a head count and the number of #'s lost as well, if you had multiples. Also a count on sales lost would be good too. |
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The BeerI Love It When A Plan Comes Together Premium Member join:2001-07-24 Lincoln, NE |
to schnauze
I lost mine, it's in another thread.
The CLEC was Level3 here in Omaha (BTW Thats the same Omaha Level3 used to have it's corporate offices in) |
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rec9140Provoice just DO it join:2003-07-29 Mulberry, FL |
to schnauze
Just on a hunch to see what might have caused this drastic drop in available exchanges/rate centers for P8.
Begin Standard Conspiracy Theory Begin Disgruntled Potential Customer Rant
I check vonages new 724 area code offerings versus P8's previous offerings . BINGO! Hold your cards we have a conspiracy.
OK, so its only one example, but it holds.
A very large portion of the 724 and 412 exchanges that are on my list are NOW suddenly offered on vonage, with a few exceptions that P8 did not have previously.
Most likely its all just coincidence that v got these now and P8 lost them, at about the same time.
I have the funny feeling that who ever this mystery "network partner" is/was, is NO PARTNER, to P8 at least, and struck a deal ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$) with vonage. Wherein vonage said you can not work with P8, and maybe ICH, VoicePulse or any other VOIP provider.
Any one else notice similar for their lost P8 areas?
End Standard Conspiracy Theory End Disgruntled Potential Customer Rant
Off to take my medication now. . . . . . . |
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chex5 join:2000-05-24 NorthEnd BOS
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chex5
Member
2003-Aug-14 1:10 am
Hi:
I'm sorry but I gotta rant here and disagree with you guys. You are expecting TOO MUCH from these companies are fas as I am concerned. This industry has barely been around for 2 years, and they are dealing with explosive growth, razor-thin margins, regulatory uncertainy, and a CLEC business that is hanging on with a thread (although recently seems to be coming back) . You need to cut them a BREAK and let things mature a little bit. More companies with better features will come into the fray. The existing companies will get better at providing stable service.
Comparing what you get from your local TelCo, vs. what you get with these startup IP companies is like apples to oranges. The whole IDEA of rate centers, 7-digit calling, and 'local calling areas' is something that is part of the old Local TelCo domain, and in the new VoIP IP Voice world, is a silly concept. You are expecting these companies to bend over backwards to accomodate callers and customers of the Baby Bells, when I think they should be focused on providing good customer service, good uptime (3 9's? 5 9's? ) and not be so worried about which 'rate center' is the best one to be in in Illinois or Maine. Those sort of things are only going to be getting less and less important as the IP calling space continues to mature. In fact, I would argue that by having a rate center available in EVERY SINGLE location across the USA, only plays into the Baby Bells hands, because it caters to the old way of doing business that the BabyBells are so comfortable with. Instead, we should be moving to the unlimited North America model, or at the very least the default 'regional' calling areas that VP and Vonage give by default, giving unlimited calling in one or more whole area codes; instead of breaking things down on a town-by-town basis as the Bells do.
Stay focused on the big picture here. Get out of the old, and get with the new digital world.
Thanks
/rant mode off
- Chex
[text was edited by author 2003-08-14 01:14:12] |
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IGGY9No Guru Just Here To Help Premium Member join:2001-03-30 Chatham, IL
1 recommendation |
IGGY9
Premium Member
2003-Aug-14 1:38 am
Silly concept eh? If they wish to compete with those telcos they had better give me everything I get with a telco plus way better service. It's not the technology that is making the users flock to these services. It's the idea of having a choice and lower cost. So yes I expect that if they want to do business with me they better give me what I want as a customer. If they can't provide that then maybe there business plan is flawed and they should give in. The companies are the ones doing all the hyping about how great this or that is. Well hype is good - but put your money were your hype is. If it's a hassle for me to sign up or the setup process is to much of a hassle - you're not going to get my business. And trust me if a techy like me feels hassled your average end user won't go near this stuff. I don't think it's asking much that I want local service using VOIP at a reasonable rate. It's not asking much that since our family and friends are within area - not scattered all over the world - that we don't want them to have to call long distance to reach us. These people aren't as technically hip and aren't going to go for VOIP - heck they won't even go for broadband - but pay outrageous prices for dialup. If they VOIP don't wish to give customers what the telcos do - then maybe there business model is flawed. Funny how Vonage sure seems to have telco rates and services - except for servicing all local areas. Why would Vonage provided these services or for that matter any provider - if in fact there wasn't a demand. If the new providers can't expand fast enough or live up to there hype - if they can't make the transition from telco to VOIP for the customer easy - then they need to stop playing in the sandbox. It's that simple. If your going to talk the talk then walk the walk - meaning if your going to hype what a great alternative you are to telcos - then you'd better have something to bring to the table. For the record the margins don't mean anything to me. They have chosen to get into the business. If they can't provide nation wide service - local and long distance - they shouldn't claim they do. The chose to get into the business - if the margins are to slim for them - then adapt or find the exit. This thread shows perfectly that there loosing customers do to there recent business decision - if you ask me that is pretty stupid way of doing business. You're not going to improve your margins by loosing customers. I'm sure someone will say there cost will go down and they chose to keep the rate centers with the most users etc etc. Ok that might smart in the end for the profits. But really bad PR can kill a company in the long run. |
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chex5 join:2000-05-24 NorthEnd BOS |
chex5
Member
2003-Aug-14 2:16 am
Well:
I gotta say it sounds like you are still a prime customer for the Local Bell. If you are looking for local-local service, the VoIP companies are not for you. The Bells still provide a better service for that kind of product.
The niche for the VoIP companies at the moment is with the flat-rate local service, and a flat rate nationwide long distance. The scale they are dealing with is from a national presence, in a very large country. They have a scale of access to a national network, not a couple of guys working in a small building behind the 7-11 down the street from you. That local 'presence' that you as the customer desire, it not going to happen right now.
- Chex |
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to IGGY9
said by IGGY9: Silly concept eh? If they wish to compete with those telcos they had better give me everything I get with a telco plus way better service. It's not the technology that is making the users flock to these services. It's the idea of having a choice and lower cost. So yes I expect that if they want to do business with me they better give me what I want as a customer.
I personally think you're expecting too much. I am willing to pay less than PacBell's rate because I'm getting a lower quality service by VoIP. If you're looking for higher quality, you may want to contact your ILEC for service. |
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ejrobinson Premium Member join:2003-05-16 Miami Beach, FL
1 recommendation |
to chex5
I think there are 6 categories of people who are now adopting voip:
1. Those looking for the cheapest phone service within the usa, including a minimal feature set at least (voice mail, forwarding).
2. Those looking for the various new features not available through pstn, or available at too high a cost.
3. People who hate their ilec and wish to "stick it to them". Voip allows them to do so.
4. People who use voip outside the usa as a means of getting the equivalent to american phone service where they are, and at a significantly lower price.
5. Those who travel and use voip to avoid the horrendous phone costs from hotels.
6. People who who wish very low rates to international destinations.
There are people who fit into more than one of the above categories.
That said, I think significant growth for voip will be based on 2 factors:
1. The availability of broadband modems that will include a built-in router and voip. This will make voip truly plug 'n play.
2. The very interesting features that are being made available for voip.
To put it more succinctly, voip growth will be predicated on ease of use and features.
-er [text was edited by author 2003-08-14 09:47:51] |
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bfranks join:2002-06-22 Arlington, VA |
to schnauze
Definitly, I agree with you chex.
Some users expect way to much. If they launched in every single Market as some users have suggested, our costs to get this service would be exorbitant. If you don't like what these companies are offering dont switch, simple as that. Come back in two years though and check it out again, the same principle applies in two years though.
Additionally, I can see about the customer wanting everything, but to truly understand this stuff you have to be in the business sector. Sure, I want a Mercedes at a Ford Focus price, but it's just not going to happen. The model applies here and every other sector of business as well.
There will always be customers that state to win my business you have to do this, you have to do that, I would kindly say to them, sorry, we're not going to do that. Good day.
Sorry for the rant, but it just boggles my mind how some people expect everything for peanuts. If they did what some suggest, I'm sure vonage and P8 would love to service everyone at a loss. We'll see how much longer we'd have VoIP service.
Best regards, Brent |
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to ejrobinson
Good post. I would have to add that along with ease of use comes reliability. VOIP will not grow very fast if it gets a reputation for poor reliability. |
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ejrobinson Premium Member join:2003-05-16 Miami Beach, FL |
Thank you for the compliment.
Yes, reliability is most important. From my experience using vonage and packet8 I find that most problems arise due to a hiccup between between the broadband modem and the isp. This requires rebooting of the ata or the dta in order to get a clear connexion to the sip server.
-er |
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