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AT&T's Wireless Home Phone Goes Prepaid
For Those Who Just Need a Clunky Old Home Phone
Last summer AT&T released a wireless-based home phone replacement service named "AT&T Wireless Home Phone," which utilizes a device that will let them use a traditional home phone on the AT&T wireless network for $130, or free with a two-year contract. Service costs $20 a month for unlimited domestic calls, or $10 a month if you want it to pull from your existing AT&T service. Now the company says they're offering prepaid pricing for the service starting on March 22 (aka tomorrow). The prepaid option offers users the hub for $99, with additional charges of $20 per month for unlimited calling and $15 per month for 1,000 minutes of international long-distance.
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anondownload
@comcast.net

anondownload

Anon

does this use a sim card?

does this service use a sim card?

if so could the SIM be put in any phone?

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: does this use a sim card?

Looks like it does use SIM cards, yeah:

»www.wireless.att.com/sup ··· G_13.pdf

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY

Transmaster

Member

Re: does this use a sim card?

Click for full size
Desk top GSM Phone
So you can purchase this phone for $39.90 oh boy

»www.chinavasion.com/chin ··· op_Phone
comicalmoody
join:2011-01-27
Gate City, VA

comicalmoody

Member

Re: does this use a sim card?

Yes, the device has a SIM card that ONLY works with this box. It won't work with another device nor can you swap in any other AT&T SIM and expect it to work in the device. I happen to have this service and honestly it works pretty well. AT&T has good service in my house so the device and my home phone's work well with it. It's not bad either with taxes it runs me $23.21 a month and that's for Unlimited Calling so not bad at all. I wanted a home phone and with taxes somehow my "$20 a month" land line equaled out to $35 a month. I haven't found VOIP to be very reliable and Vonage is still more expensive than this service anyways.

Voice quality has been good and it's been very reliable pretty much just as reliable as a regular home phone. One time I did have an odd issue though of not getting incoming calls one late night and I had to restart the device and that fixed that issue. It's only happened once but just like a cell phone it might be adviseable to restart the unit every once in a while just to make sure everything is working properly. I have no issues recommending this box though if you are looking for a cheap land line replacement. It's cheaper than many VOIP services these days now and more reliable. One thing to just make sure is obviously since it uses the AT&T Wireless Mobile Network that you have good AT&T coverage in your house. If you have poor AT&T coverage this device won't work well or at all in your house.
medbuyer
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN

medbuyer

Member

Re: does this use a sim card?

said by comicalmoody:

It's not bad either with taxes it runs me $23.21 a month and that's for Unlimited Calling so not bad at all. I wanted a home phone and with taxes somehow my "$20 a month" land line equaled out to $35 a month. I haven't found VOIP to be very reliable and Vonage is still more expensive than this service anyways.

can you give me a breakdown of the taxes and all that would show your total bill for a month?

I've been considering moving into this kind of service but can't just yet because of my security monitoring contract which is 2 months away from being renewed....
tired_runner
Premium Member
join:2000-08-25
CT
·Frontier FiberOp..

tired_runner to comicalmoody

Premium Member

to comicalmoody
said by comicalmoody:

It's not bad either with taxes it runs me $23.21 a month and that's for Unlimited Calling so not bad at all. I wanted a home phone and with taxes somehow my "$20 a month" land line equaled out to $35 a month. I haven't found VOIP to be very reliable and Vonage is still more expensive than this service anyways.

I've used Phone Power VoIP from home without issue. It costs $19.66 after taxes and I get unlimited domestic and long distance, and their international rates are fairly competitive to the Caribbean. Just like wireless Internet, if your wired Internet sucks, so will your VoIP.
medbuyer
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN

medbuyer

Member

backfeed into house wiring?

I wonder if this can be backfed to my house phone wiring through my leviton panel...

anyone?

Lark3po
Premium Member
join:2003-08-05
Madison, AL

Lark3po

Premium Member

Re: backfeed into house wiring?

said by medbuyer:

I wonder if this can be backfed to my house phone wiring through my leviton panel...

anyone?

Probably but you would have to disconnect your current phone service provider at the demarc.

Another way to skin it if you had a family plan would be to:
1. Add a line to the family plan account.
2. Get a cellphone with Bluetooth.
3. Use either the Dock N Talk or Xlink BT to bridge both phone services.
medbuyer
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN

medbuyer

Member

Re: backfeed into house wiring?

said by Lark3po:

said by medbuyer:

I wonder if this can be backfed to my house phone wiring through my leviton panel...

anyone?

Probably but you would have to disconnect your current phone service provider at the demarc.

yeah, I can do that easily....

that still doesn't answer my question though if it will work....

I've read that the verizon version of this home phone service can be backfed...I guess, I won't really know until I sign up for it.

Lark3po
Premium Member
join:2003-08-05
Madison, AL

Lark3po

Premium Member

Re: backfeed into house wiring?

It would work would work for me as all my phones are cordless with only one of them (the base station) needing to actually connect to a phone line.

If you have several phone all connected to the wall then it would probably brown-out (or worse yet, release the magic smoke) trying to ring much more than a few phones.
medbuyer
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN

medbuyer

Member

Re: backfeed into house wiring?

said by Lark3po:

It would work would work for me as all my phones are cordless with only one of them (the base station) needing to actually connect to a phone line.

If you have several phone all connected to the wall then it would probably brown-out (or worse yet, release the magic smoke) trying to ring much more than a few phones.

my incoming lines go through my Leviton panel...

»www.smarthome.com/86613/ ··· e/p.aspx

telco wires get punched into the middle board, just below the security RJ31 port...

from there, phone signals gets distributed throughout the house through that middle board.

I do have 2 phones that are connected, 1 in the kitchen and 1 in the master bedroom. you think that will smoke it?

Lark3po
Premium Member
join:2003-08-05
Madison, AL

Lark3po

Premium Member

Re: backfeed into house wiring?

I *think* you would be fine.
medbuyer
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN

medbuyer

Member

Re: backfeed into house wiring?

said by Lark3po:

I *think* you would be fine.

I may try it out soon...if not, I can always live with a phone directly connected to the gsm unit...no biggie...

WhyADuck
Premium Member
join:2003-03-05

WhyADuck to Lark3po

Premium Member

to Lark3po
said by Lark3po:

Another way to skin it if you had a family plan would be to:
1. Add a line to the family plan account.
2. Get a cellphone with Bluetooth.
3. Use either the Dock N Talk or Xlink BT to bridge both phone services.

Add to #3: Or OBi202 with OBiBT.

dathing
join:2002-01-09
Sykesville, MD

dathing to medbuyer

Member

to medbuyer
said by medbuyer:

I wonder if this can be backfed to my house phone wiring through my leviton panel...

anyone?

Yes, I've done it and it works. However, it's not officially supported. ...probably because most people wouldn't have the technical understanding of the wiring requirements. Tech support would be a nightmare. It's easier to just tell people to plug your wireless phone base station into the unit.

You need to disconnect your house wiring from the landline service demarc. If you have the technical understanding of basic telephone wiring principles, then you'll have no problem.

I've been using the service for a few months and have been very happy. Be aware that it doesn't work with modems or fax machines. The service description clearly documents this fact (because it's essentially a cell phone) but I've still seen unhappy reviews because people didn't read the information first. As a phone service, I've been very satisfied.

Lark3po
Premium Member
join:2003-08-05
Madison, AL

Lark3po

Premium Member

No thanks...

I'll stick with my current setup using an OBi110 and GV account. Costs me $0 per month.
medbuyer
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN

medbuyer

Member

Re: No thanks...

said by Lark3po:

I'll stick with my current setup using an OBi110 and GV account. Costs me $0 per month.

been looking at this setup too but the wifey wants a "landline" or a phone tied to the house...

only caveat with this is that if your internet goes down, so does your phone setup.

but then again, I do have Comcast Biz at home...

Lark3po
Premium Member
join:2003-08-05
Madison, AL

Lark3po

Premium Member

Re: No thanks...

said by medbuyer:

said by Lark3po:

I'll stick with my current setup using an OBi110 and GV account. Costs me $0 per month.

been looking at this setup too but the wifey wants a "landline" or a phone tied to the house...

only caveat with this is that if your internet goes down, so does your phone setup.

but then again, I do have Comcast Biz at home...

True but if you use either of the two devices I listed in your previous post then you could use your home phone(s) to make a call via your "docked" cell phone. The Xlink BT allows up to 3 cellphones to be linked to it at the same time as well as passing through whatever normal phone service you might have.
medbuyer
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN

medbuyer

Member

Re: No thanks...

said by Lark3po:

True but if you use either of the two devices I listed in your previous post then you could use your home phone(s) to make a call via your "docked" cell phone. The Xlink BT allows up to 3 cellphones to be linked to it at the same time as well as passing through whatever normal phone service you might have.

I'd have to look at that option...my main goal is to reduce my "landline" cost to a minimum and not tie it to the internet...

I'm trying to avoid any kind of phone service that's tied to internet service for now....
tkdslr
join:2004-04-24
Pompano Beach, FL

tkdslr to Lark3po

Member

to Lark3po
I use a Siemens Gigaset One.. (same as Xlink BTTN), to connect both of my cell phones to Panasonic Dect 6.0 phones+alarm system.

Took some doing to make it reliable..

My Gigaset One needed a stronger 9v power supply, (1 amp just doesn't cut it when it's ringing the wired phones. One out five incomming calls would reset the gateway upon answering/picking up the line. I found that a 1.5amp switching PS made a big difference. Someday I'll get around to building a 9V battery backup, (which should negate the extra PS requirement).

Additionally, I usually need to reset the BT connections, (power cycle the cell phones) every couple of weeks or so. Bluetooth/Cell phone seams to go wonky after that.

Benefits, very low cost after paying for the upfront costs, (cell phone, gateway, cordless, etc).

You can Bluetooth it with a Tracfone for well under 10$/mo, (Make sure to purchase a triple minutes for life Tracfone).

Long distance just uses up normal minutes, and you get caller ID/waiting for free. One would pay 50-60$ a month to AT&T for a land line with similar features.
tired_runner
Premium Member
join:2000-08-25
CT

tired_runner to Lark3po

Premium Member

to Lark3po
Will Google Voice remain free? I've contemplated porting my VoIP number to them for some time. I use a separate Google Voice number with my cell phone for international travel and it works well.

Lark3po
Premium Member
join:2003-08-05
Madison, AL

Lark3po

Premium Member

Re: No thanks...

said by tired_runner:

Will Google Voice remain free? I've contemplated porting my VoIP number to them for some time. I use a separate Google Voice number with my cell phone for international travel and it works well.

I can't imagine it staying free forever as Google is a business and must turn a profit. With that being said, it's been free for the last few years. :P
tired_runner
Premium Member
join:2000-08-25
CT

tired_runner

Premium Member

Re: No thanks...

Not that I'm complaining where my number is tied right now. It only costs $20 for local and national LD including taxes. But nothing beats free.
medbuyer
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN

medbuyer to tired_runner

Member

to tired_runner
said by tired_runner:

Will Google Voice remain free? I've contemplated porting my VoIP number to them for some time. I use a separate Google Voice number with my cell phone for international travel and it works well.

I've had GV or even grandcentral before Google bought them and it has been free over those years....

There's no telling when are they gonna start charging though...you can always port it out again if they do....
tired_runner
Premium Member
join:2000-08-25
CT

tired_runner

Premium Member

Re: No thanks...

Yeah.. I'm gonna have to check it out. I use GV with my cell via data and it works well. And nothing beats a free number
BlakePaulson
join:2008-08-06
Alexandria, MN

BlakePaulson

Member

Straight talk

Straight talk has this service for $15 a month. $99 for the device.

It runs off of Verizon towers.

scott2020
join:2008-07-20
MO

scott2020

Member

Re: Straight talk

Do either of these services sound like a cell phone when you use them? I understand how they work, but I don't want to sound like I am talking on a cell phone with it. I'm using Charter for $19.99 for unlimited and it sounds better than POTS.
elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA

elray

Member

Re: Straight talk

said by scott2020:

Do either of these services sound like a cell phone when you use them? I understand how they work, but I don't want to sound like I am talking on a cell phone with it. I'm using Charter for $19.99 for unlimited and it sounds better than POTS.

These devices are cellular gateways, so they will sound like cellphone connections, even worse if you're on Bluetooth.

Your cable digital voice service should always sound better - if not, there is something wrong.
medbuyer
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN

medbuyer to BlakePaulson

Member

to BlakePaulson
said by BlakePaulson:

Straight talk has this service for $15 a month. $99 for the device.

It runs off of Verizon towers.

I wouldn't touch ST even with the low prices they're offering...

The low price comes with a ton of headaches...

josephf
join:2009-04-26

josephf

Member

Re: Straight talk

What are the headaches?
medbuyer
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN

medbuyer

Member

Re: Straight talk

said by josephf:

What are the headaches?

porting, activation, minutes, refills etc...

Happy ST Fan
@verizon.net

Happy ST Fan

Anon

Re: Straight talk

Porting = 1 time
Activation = 1 time
Minutes = unlimited
Refills = automatic

No headaches here.
Know what ye speak of...
medbuyer
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN

medbuyer

Member

Re: Straight talk

said by Happy ST Fan :

Porting = 1 time
Activation = 1 time
Minutes = unlimited
Refills = automatic

No headaches here.
Know what ye speak of...

I guess you were a few of the "lucky, trouble free" ones...
comicalmoody
join:2011-01-27
Gate City, VA

comicalmoody to BlakePaulson

Member

to BlakePaulson
Before the AT&T service I tried the Straight Talk Box that runs off Verizon. It sounded terrible and I returned it the next day. This could be partially due to Verizon only picking up an "ok" signal on the box though and the AT&T unit picking up a "good" signal. AT&T does have better service in my house but Verizon seems to do ok here. I dunno some people may have fine issues with the Straight Talk Home Phone but I just thought it had horrible voice quality I had to take it back. No complaints about the audio quality here though with the AT&T Wireless Home Phone though.
biochemistry
Premium Member
join:2003-05-09
92361

biochemistry

Premium Member

Verizon

I've had this same service from Verizon for a year. Way to play catchup, SBC.
medbuyer
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN

medbuyer

Member

Re: Verizon

said by biochemistry:

I've had this same service from Verizon for a year. Way to play catchup, SBC.

did you backfeed yours to your house wiring?

norbert26
Premium Member
join:2010-08-10
Warwick, RI

norbert26 to biochemistry

Premium Member

to biochemistry
i seen a pic of the ST box and it looked the same as the Verizon home connect box i am using. I have had the service direct through verizon for a year the signal is good to very good here. I purchased a 5 station cordless and jusat connected the base to the home connect box there has been no problem. Also there are NO sound quality issues and my elderly 81 yr old SF uses it mostly.
OttoPylot
join:2000-11-21
San Jose, CA

OttoPylot

Member

POTS service combined with ISP

We have SonicFusion (Sonic.net) which combines our old AT&T landline with our Sonic DSL service. Sonic took over maintenance and servicing of our AT&T landline and rolled it into our Sonic DSL service so that we pay one monthly fee for both, and keep our AT&T landline features (free long distance, call waiting/forwarding, caller ID, etc). We pay around $58 per month (incl taxes) for our landline and 20Mbps DSL service. The call quality on the landline is indistinguishable from when AT&T maintained it and we still get full 9-1-1 functionality without the delay of going thru a VOIP service or having our cell phone 9-1-1 calls going thru the Highway Patrol first and the routed to or local 9-1-1 operator. Our landline phone is a 2.4GHz wireless unit so we have 2 additional satellite phones throughout the house as well.

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

IowaCowboy

Premium Member

Alarm systems

This does not work with alarm systems as it can distort the signal transmissions.

If you have an alarm system, you should go with a POTS line (best) or a facilities based VoIP provider like Comcast or Time Warner (good).

My alarm company says Comcast & Charter (dominant cable providers here) work OK for alarm signals but other services (like Vonage or Magic Jack) run into problems with failed transmissions (real bad when you find yourself in a home invasion situation). And yes, my alarm company is a local company with their own central station based in Ludlow, MA (not a big outfit like ADT).

Lark3po
Premium Member
join:2003-08-05
Madison, AL

Lark3po

Premium Member

Re: Alarm systems

Not sure I follow...

Cellular radios are often sold as communication alternatives/backups for homes/businesses so that the panel can alert the central-station even if the phone line is cut.
scooper
join:2000-07-11
Kansas City, KS

scooper

Member

It might work fine...

If you can get good wireless reception in your house. Won't work too well for me - I'll stick with my VOIP . MUCH cheaper than Time Warner's digital phone or Centurylink's POTS service .
15444104 (banned)
join:2012-06-11

15444104 (banned)

Member

911 QUESTIONS.

So when you dial 911 can emergency services pin point your home address like with POTS. I bet.....NOT.