page: 1 · 2  |
 Granddaddy
Gramps
join:2003-09-24
Leesburg, FL | Crap I left packet 8 2 1/2 years ago for Sunrocket as P8 was total crap. I was happy with SR but since I've been left holding the bag, I have moved on the voicestick which offers some real deals to SR escapees. Check it out at www.voicestick.com . | |
|  | inbead
join:2003-06-30
Torrance, CA | Re: Crap I have used VoiceStick before and would like to consider them. But how are they handling porting of numbers?? Is your number getting ported? | |
| | | Granddaddy
Gramps
join:2003-09-24
Leesburg, FL | Re: Crap They port in 5-6 business days from time of order. | |
| | mozillafans
Premium
join:2003-12-07
82020 | thanks.... i was looking for alternatives... | |
| biobob
join:2003-09-04
Bayside, NY
| Was anyone going to honor those contracts? Seriously, was anyone going to honor those contracts? Not likely, because you know it makes sense to take on 200k peoples service needs without any monthly charge to make the costs up. That's probably what caused issues with any buyout, there was no consistent income stream. | |
| | | | matrix3D
join:2006-09-27
Deep River, CT | I almost switched from Vonage to Sunrocket a couple of months ago. I was also going to get the $199 annual plan... I would be really pissed off right about now if I had. | |
| | 
cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
 ·Verizon FIOS
| said by biobob  :Seriously, was anyone going to honor those contracts? Not likely, because you know it makes sense to take on 200k peoples service needs without any monthly charge to make the costs up. That's probably what caused issues with any buyout, there was no consistent income stream. ViaTalk is giving up to 3 months free to customers that had a prepaid VoIP provider. Sure it's not 2 years that some people might have had prepaid, but it's better then nothing.
--
Go Colts | |
| | gclumpkin
join:2003-11-21
Chesterfield, VA
| I posted this reply on another topic, but I thought it relevant to this discussion as well:
I joined SunRocket on May 3rd and had to find out about their demise via a news article. Needless to say, after pre-paying for a year of service, to see what they offered as compensation was a disappointment.
But, today, I happened upon Net2Phone's web site and they are offering to pick up SunRocket customers and honor up to 12 months of a SunRocket contract.
I joined, reprogrammed my SunRocket Gizmo with Net2Phone's instructions and firmware and made my first call. All within an hour of starting.
I'll see how Net2Phone does for me during the rest of my nine months left.
Greg | |
| 
actor90
Phillies 2008 World Champions
Premium
join:2003-07-21
L.E.H.T., NJ
 ·Comcast
 ·ViaTalk
| Typical Packet 8 behavior It doesn't surprise me that Packet8 will try to sleaze it's way into getting the Sunrocket customer base. When I had to make a decision on which VOIP service I was going to go with, I read up on all the companies. I passed over Packet8 because it was over priced and under serviced. They cut off customers faster then any other VOIP provider for the invisible cap of minutes used. ViaTalk is better, less expensive, and is offering much better deals.
--
My Blog on blogspot.com | |
| | 
voice over ip
@comcast.net
| Re: Typical Packet 8 behavior said by actor90 :It doesn't surprise me that Packet8 will try to sleaze it's way into getting the Sunrocket customer base. When I had to make a decision on which VOIP service I was going to go with, I read up on all the companies. I passed over Packet8 because it was over priced and under serviced. They cut off customers faster then any other VOIP provider for the invisible cap of minutes used. ViaTalk is better, less expensive, and is offering much better deals. Overpriced? Or priced where they need to be to be a company that can actually survive? I don't know about you, but I like a phone company that's been, and going to be..in business for awhile and not shut off with no notice.
It's amazing that following SR's demise that some haven't learned that a company charging basically nothing for it's service and giving away the world to consumers isn't going to be around for very long. | |
| | | 
ColorBASIC
8-bit Fun
Premium
join:2006-12-29
Corona, CA | Re: Typical Packet 8 behavior Overpriced. | |
| | | | bmn
? ? ?
Premium,ExMod 2003-06
join:2001-03-15
hiatus
·Packet8
| said by actor90 :I passed over Packet8 because it was over priced and under serviced. I was about to say, until I saw you went with Viatalk, that I hope you steer clear of Vonage, Callvantage and Verizon's service... More expensive than Packet and way less features.
As for Viatalk, they have the same broken business model that Sunrocket had on their "unlimited" plan... Hopefully you went with a plan that isn't prepaid.
--
Prove it...
Save the Internet Time (NTP) service, use the pool. | |
| | | 
RMKyote
join:2000-12-21
Beverly Hills, CA | Re: Typical Packet 8 behavior I went to ViaTalk from Vonage for the features and it was the Biggest Mistake! I have ever made.
Look around in the VT forum here on DSLR. Look (read) before you leap. | |
| 
signmeuptoo
Rest in Peace Marybell
Premium
join:2001-11-22
Tardis in TN
clubs: 
 ·AT&T Southeast
·EarthLink
·Earthlink Cable Mo..
·Packet8
| Prices are too high anyways, for my needs None of the services I have seen look that great to me, compared to my regular Bellsouth Unlimited Long Distance and International Philippines plan. If anyone knows where I can get rates less that, oh, 17 cents a minute, let me know.
I feel very bad for you sunrocket folks, weren't they pretty good while they lasted?
Well, when it comes to long distance and cell service, and internet, these seem to be like the days of the wild west, every man for himself...
--
You know your life has gotten "DICEY" when it turns into an episode of LOST, like my ex wife, who I swear is one of "The Others"... !!!Save Lives: Join Team Discovery AND Team Helix, it is easy and painless to do!!! | |
| | coaster
join:2007-07-13
New Port Richey, FL
1 edit | Re: Prices are too high anyways, for my needs Packet8 has less features than SunRocket did. As much as Packet8 charges, they should at least have call blocking. | |
| | | | | | | | 
phattieg
join:2001-04-29
Winter Park, FL
 ·Verizon Wireless B..
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| Re: Prices are too high anyways, for my needs said by signmeuptoo :How is it the telcos can be profitable and run good operations but the VOIP outfits have so many difficulties? Perhaps a larger base monthly fee and lower rates for International would be a better formula for them? Wait. Did I just see a question about how the telcos are still profitable, and also the term "good operation" used together? Sorry, but considering that ALL telephone numbers are LEASED from the BELLS/AT&T, they have money "out the ass" for numbers they don't even claim to own. What I mean is AT&T doesn't own every telephone exchange in the USA, but the majority of the phone numbers out there ARE indeed originating from a central office that at least BELONGS to AT&T, or other Bell incumbent. So when a VoIP provider "purchases" a block of numbers, they buy them from who? A land line provider, and if it's not AT&T, it eventually gets to them. The telco's today charge between $12 and $20 a month for THEIR service, then you have fee's, taxes, and everything else, bringing it to $40 a month, or more. The FACT that VoIP is cheaper is simply because taxes are less, if even at all. Take out taxes, and BS fee's, and both the telco, and the VoIP provider, cost the same. The only thing that is different for a telco is the fact that international calls cost more because of the way the call is delivered. But with that delivery, you get practially zero latency (if it's fiber, or wire trunk). I just wish everyone would get there hand out the pot so the telco's can at least kick it up a notch with competition.
--
SIPPhone/Gizmo # 17476200648 / PIMPNET Chatline / Ran by Asterisk & Slackware 10.1. | |
| | | |
signmeuptoo
Rest in Peace Marybell
Premium
join:2001-11-22
Tardis in TN
clubs: | Re: Prices are too high anyways, for my needs Actually, I get a better rate from AT&T than any VOIP provider to the Philippines. I appreciate your points though. | |
| | | | | shashinka
join:2000-09-16
West Boylston, MA
| Re: Prices are too high anyways, for my needs That is rare, good for you. Not many of us call the phillipines and thats why there are no rates. Skype saves you 15cents a minute though... Looks like you are paying way too much. You could drop to a VOIP line and then use a skype handset for calls to Japan. Save yourself lots.
Philippines $ 0.198 $ 0.228
Philippines - Mobile $ 0.249 $ 0.286
Philippines-Cebu $ 0.198 $ 0.228
Philippines-Manila $ 0.198 $ 0.228 | |
| | | | | |
signmeuptoo
Rest in Peace Marybell
Premium
join:2001-11-22
Tardis in TN
clubs:
·AT&T Southeast
·EarthLink
·Earthlink Cable Mo..
·Packet8
| Re: Prices are too high anyways, for my needs IIRC, I pay 17 (or 19, I forget), cents a minute with my Bellsouth contract. I pay a monthly fee but my first hour and a half is paid for in that fee, so basically I come out ahead unless I make no calls, which never happens, heh, I am in love...
Now that it is AT&T I don't know if I would still get the same deal... Quality of service, however, is worse than VOIP, if you can believe it, but I have discovered another service I may start using some, JAJAH. You initiate your call from your web browser, and it makes your call and connect you through your regular dialup phone, wierd, but the rate is low.
--
You know your life has gotten "DICEY" when it turns into an episode of LOST, like my ex wife, who I swear is one of "The Others"... !!!Save Lives: Join Team Discovery AND Team Helix, it is easy and painless to do!!! | |
| | crevtho
join:2007-07-19
| Check out Onesuite.com
They got prepaid phone card and VOIP service in one account. You can choose whatever suits you (though for some countries their VOIP rates are lower compare to their prepaid phone card rates) and the rates are great, the rate for calling Philippines is just 12.5 cents per minute.
BTW, they don't offer any plans, its pay as you go and you need $10 initial amount to open an account.
HTH | |
| | |
signmeuptoo
Rest in Peace Marybell
Premium
join:2001-11-22
Tardis in TN
clubs: | Re: Prices are too high anyways, for my needs But what about hardware costs? | |
| SRRefugee
join:2007-07-18
| Forget Packet8 #1. If SunRocket says its good, It's can't be.
#2. I signed up with Nuvio, my number porting process is already started, I used an online tool sign up, and had a temporary number and service in 15 minutes. They sent me to a tutorial on how to unlock my device.
#3. If Packet8 is taking responsibility for SunRocket customers they should respect their current contracts. | |
| cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD | Why won't another VoIP provider take over these customers? I would think there is real value to 200,000+ customers with adapters using the same platform. What makes this deal so unattractive to all other providers? | |
| | bngdup
join:2007-02-20
Old Bridge, NJ
·Cablevision
| Re: Why won't another VoIP provider take over these customers? This is because whoever would take over the transition would not only have to pay the liquidation company for the customer base, but then would have to move in their own tech department to facilitate the switch, assuming the SR gizmos are even compatible with the other voip service.(There is more to a voip service than just supporting SIP). Plus I am sure the SR tech and development team did not leave behind all the instructions to change things up and passwords and such. Basically it would be a huge mess. Best thing for (Packet 8) to do would be to direct customers through existing sales and aquisition channels thus not having to deal with any of that crap. Sucks for the consumer but thats what happens when it really hits the fan. | |
| | | | 
PloKoon
Bumper Sticker Doctrine
join:2002-01-06
Cherry Hill, NJ
| Relieved Finally. Now my mind's made up. No more land line for me... I don't have to worry about switching to anything. My home phone dies with Sunrocket...
--
Real change happens when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing. | |
| Techie714
join:2005-08-02
Anaheim, CA
·ViaTalk
| Dont Care 1. I already signed the line with Via Talk for there 199.99 deal.
2. Sun Rocket charged me 208.23 on July 10th 2007. I called me credit card company (Citi) & explained the situation. They reversed the charges & gave me a credit.
3. My VOIP line is still working with SR, I guess "Some" people still have service.
4. Packet 8 is NOT a bad company in fact they were my second choice. | |
| 
The Beer
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
Premium
join:2001-07-24
Omaha, NE
clubs: | Not Acceptable www.keepmynumber.org I was a little angry with the way they were handling this, now it's time to organize.
www.keepmynumber.org
Coming REAL soon. | |
| | pagaldilz
join:2005-06-24
| Re: Not Acceptable www.keepmynumber.org Viatalk is busy as hell, i paid for rush service and got nothing from them. I also ordered Lingo two days ago, same time as viatalk, i am up and running with lingo already, it was just simply plug and play. It seems normal except i am waiting for my phone number to be ported now. Lets hope Lingo is as efficient in porting the number as they were sending out there gizmo to get me up and running. | |
| | | Couch Potato
What?
Premium
join:2004-08-29
Evansville, IN
·Insight Communicat..
| Re: Not Acceptable www.keepmynumber.org I used Lingo a long time ago, "gizmo" was huge, bigger than my router, and every time I wanted to make a call, there's was no dial tone, had to power cycle it, I dropped them and ever since they keep spamming my in box with offers to come back.
I recently signed up for Via Talk, after not having a land line for a few years, and my experience was not hearing anything from them, and all of a sudden my gizmo was here, hooked it up to my router and it worked, has ever since (ordered in May I think). | |
| B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
1 edit | Packet8 A Raw Deal? Besides their recent spamming in the DSLR forums and this new deal to spam AND TELEMARKET to Sunrocket customers, Packet8 also has some "interesting" terms of service, including the fact that you get ZERO REFUND on a 1 year contract if you choose to cancel any time after 30 days.
This is all new to me, as I previously held them in high regard.
-- B
--
In a realm outside causality and function | |
| mozillafans
Premium
join:2003-12-07
82020 | p8 i used p8 before I liked them......but sr came along and wa cheap... | |
| jjguarino
join:2002-03-15
Everett, MA
| Vonage I go! Vonage has better deal that Packet 8, two free months including free over night shipping. Vonage also seems to offer more features at the same price. Thinking of VIA:Talk, 6 free months sounds nice but I'm not trusting to give a company 199 up front again. My one year was up on 6/28, figure I'm loosing 10 free months as vonage giving me two free. | |
| |
AMJD
@optonline.net | Re: Vonage I go! share your sunrocket invoice
we photoshop names and account #/info so we all can get the deal | |
| jsnap
join:2007-07-17
| Packet 8 stunk When I tried Packet 8, 2 years ago, which runs over Level 3's netowrk, they were terrible! Packets dropped repeatedly, echos on every call, voice quality was awful for incoming and outbound calls, no customer service, promised features were never delivered, shall I continue?
I've checked out deals all over the net... some from people here recommending this or that one.
I had Lingo before, and still have their box. Now, I can't get thru to them at all to see if they will give me any credit for it, or what. They were not too bad; however, SR was cheaper and had more services for free, plus I had gotten a very sweet deal with the 3 months free, free activation, free Gizmo box and no shipping fees, which is why I switched.
Lingo offered to take me back about month after I left, after they called to find out why I had switched and had offered me the same annual fee as SR, but they didn't have the same features I was now liking so much and wanted to charge me to reactivate! So, I stayed with SR.
I'm seriously considering going back to Lingo or trying ViaTalk. But, I don't know about ViaTalk. Every 1/2 day, ViaTalk changes their offerings. On Sunday 7/15, it was get the box for Free, no shipping charge and it was a 2 yr contract at $179. On Monday, they dropped the 2 yrs for the price of 1 yr, jacked up the price to $199 p/yr, dropped free shipping and free connection, added a 2nd line free, and was giving upto 6 months credit, depending on how long was left on the contract, after sending in the invoices from SR. I don't need a 2nd line, even if it is free. All was the same as of today, Wednesday 7/18. But, as of this afternoon:
Frequently asked questions about switching from Sunrocket to ViaTalk!
Q. What is the current promotion you are running?
A. When you sign up for phone service for $199 a year you will receive up to 3 months of your unused SunRocket contract time for free. For example:
- If you had a 12 month contract with SunRocket and only used 10 months of service you will receive 2 months free.
- If you had a 12 month contract with SunRocket and only used 4 months of service you will receive 3 months free since the promotion is good for up to 3 months of service.
You must sign up thru the website too. I tried to get thru with the online chat client and was waiting for over 10 hours! I went to lunch for 2 hours and when I got back, there was still no reply. Around 4 pm I had to go outside to answer a cell phone call, not much service inside my house, and that was when someone finally got online to chat with me; but I wasn't there to get it, so they disappeared and signed out. Major bummer. 
Am just going to wait until later tonight and see if I can get thru to a live person. | |
| | tivoboy
join:2004-05-10
Menlo Park, CA | Re: Packet 8 stunk what about this net2phone deal, it seems to be pretty good. 39$ upfront, no fees for a year!
»www.net2phone.com/sunrocket/
is there a catch I am missing? | |
| bhorow
join:2004-05-17
Forest Hills, NY
| Packet 8 is a public company Loosing Money Why Packet 8 would do this makes no sense. I think Packet 8...can't honor existing contracts since it was price so ridiculously low..They would loose money if they took it over.
No one wants Sun Rocket's customer base, because its so widely distributed across the United States. Only a small player would want it. Packet 8 is publicly traded and therefore more responsible than smaller players. I don't know how many VOIP subs they have...Packet 8 can't absorb contracts without reaping a benefit.
People are going to find there own VOIP company anyway. But Packet 8 will see some benefit but its a marginal business a lot of the the other players mentioned are probably to small to handle 200,000 subs. | |
| IanR
join:2001-03-22
Madison, NJ
3 edits | I will just take a guess That P8 might well have agreed to some kind of success fee arrangement with the SR Liquidator (I repeat this is a guess) for each account which moves across. There's nothing wrong with this, it makes economic sense to all parties. And offers SR customers an opportunity they can go along with, or not.
At the end of the day the unlucky SR customers are free to go wherever they want.
I've used P8 for 3 years and have no complaints.
Bear in mind that P8 has moved away from spending ALL their their marketing dollars aiming at individual users and has targeted also offering a range of small business services. They moved from being the least expensive provider at the same time. They are a public company (EGHT) and told the "street", in their last quarters report, that they had their first cash flow positive month. We await their most recent Quarterly results in a few weeks. This kind of mature business approach might be right in the VOIP business. Or you could move to a VOIP provider with no clear pathway to cash flow positive and ultimately final profitability, because they low ball their fees, just as SR did.
I even own a small number of EGHT's shares.
As I say SR customers who want to continue to have a VOIP service have a choice. | |
| DaveR
join:2007-07-17
| Slap us again They slap us in the face, and then they slap us again with this "preferred provider" crap.
If anything, P8 is off my list now because they're basically doing nothing at all for SunRocket customers. No expedited porting, no partial honoring of contracts, just waiving of installation and shipping. Wow. I could get that from a dozen other companies with lots more features and better reviews.
Thanks for the slap in the face, SunRocket. Again. | |
| | 
Sly
Premium
join:2004-02-20
Johnson City, TN
clubs: | Re: Slap us again Actually they are doing expedited porting. That's part of the negotiation. | |
|
JOETISTHAMAN
@wideopenwest.com
1 edit | ordered from joiphone.com already online I ordered the monthly service yesterday at 4pm and by 11am today I had my new linksys adapter they sent and installed with my new temporary number. I just faxed the number portabilty authorization form and thay are already woring on the port. | |
| | Doeymeister
join:2007-07-18
Atlanta, GA
| Re: ordered from joiphone.com already online Good to hear that Joiphone appears to be honoring their pledge to ship adapters overnight. I signed up with them yesterday based primarily on their pledge to expedite portability and get you up and running quickly. The price was better than most others as well. Viatalk was my second choice, but it really irritated me that they kept changing (downgrading) their offer to where it wasn't any better than anyone else. | |
| | | mozillafans
Premium
join:2003-12-07
82020 | Re: I chose Voicestick "Next 2 Nothing" is it free to call 800 numbers..... with voicestick next to nothing plan | |
| | | 
dsl_boy
join:2000-11-21 | Re: I chose Voicestick "Next 2 Nothing" I don't know. | |
| | | |
dsl_boy
join:2000-11-21 | Re: I chose Voicestick "Next 2 Nothing" OK, I contacted customer support -- 800 number are NOT free on the Voicestick network -- you are charged 2 cents/minute. | |
| | |
sunspots
@mindspring.com
| Who is Teleblend The sunrocket email also mentioned these guys: »www.myteleblend.net.
They are cheap but the site looks fishy like two ex-sunrocket employees just threw it up. Anyone know anything about them?
From whois the domain was registered yesterday!
Registrant:
Network Operations
520 E Zarragossa Street
Pensacola, Florida 32502
United States
Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (»www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: MYTELEBLEND.NET
Created on: 17-Jul-07
Expires on: 18-Jul-09
Last Updated on: 17-Jul-07
Administrative Contact:
Operations, Network domreg@overgroup.com
520 E Zarragossa Street
Pensacola, Florida 32502
United States
(850) 470-5502
Technical Contact:
Operations, Network domreg@overgroup.com
520 E Zarragossa Street
Pensacola, Florida 32502
United States
(850) 470-5502
Domain servers in listed order:
NS51.DOMAINCONTROL.COM
NS52.DOMAINCONTROL.COM
Registry Status: clientRenewProhibited
Registry Status: clientTransferProhibited
Registry Status: clientUpdateProhibited
Registry Status: clientDeleteProhibited
| |
| | 
justin
Australian
join:1999-05-28
Brooklyn, NY | Re: Who is Teleblend I'd stay well away unless the site provides more substantial background on the company, otherwise they are probably just a referral fee capture funnel. | |
| | kinabrew
join:2002-02-01 | They have the exact same "Got Vonage? Click here" image on their front page that Sunrocket has on their front page. | |
| | bmn
? ? ?
Premium,ExMod 2003-06
join:2001-03-15
hiatus
·Packet8
| Looks like it might be a scam site... If you enter your phone number on the first page, it doesn't matter what it is, it sends you to another page where it asks you for things like your name, address and, the kicker, credit card information.
So I entered bogus contact and credit card information and was immediately taken to a page that read:
"Your credit card will be charged today for the first month of service. Each month, on your signup day, you will be charged for an additional month of service. You can cancel at any time and we offer an unconditional 31-day money-back guarantee. You will receive an email with your username and password once your account has been activated."
It then asks you to submit, claims it is processing and says:
"Thank you for your business! Your new customer number is: 1278."
All this despite all of the information being completely false...
Definitely suspicious...
--
Prove it...
Save the Internet Time (NTP) service, use the pool. | |
| SR Customer
join:2007-07-18
Ashburn, VA
| Is Packet8 really preferred choice for SR customers? SunRocket is continuing to do further disservice to its customers ( who have already lost money on deposits) by pushing them to Packet 8, a company that declared itself as no more interested in pursuing the residential market and moving to business customers.
I signed for Lingo last night. I called them up today to check the number portability. They said my SR number will be ported in 4-5 business days! Cool! Is n't it? Apparently Lingo uses the same DID provider as SR. So, this is an internal porting. Sunrocket folks should recommend other reliable and sizable companies, like Lingo.com-- a subsidiary of Primus, a one Billion Dollar public company.
-a SR Customer | |
| | IanR
join:2001-03-22
Madison, NJ
| Re: Is Packet8 really preferred choice for SR customers? I don't think that SR is managing their own affairs any more. It looks like another entity (Sherwood Partners?) is managing the close down of their business. That entity appears to be the one agreeing to make SR customers the P8 "offer". I am amazed that they are able to even "port" the SR numbers.
Meantime P8 hasn't abandoned personal accounts, they've recently improved their video phone offering even. Just they realigned their finite marketing budget towards a better mix of business and personal accounts. This appears a logical step to their becoming "cash flow positive" and then overall profitable. The days of trying to raise the largest numbers of users regardless of cost appears over. | |
| | | |
|
|
The Packet8 SunRocket 'Deal'
