 | | What is the point? I don't get it, why would anyone pay $40 a month for VoIP service? | |
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 |  ftthzIf love can kill hate can also save
join:2005-10-17 | Re: What is the point? not sure ... but my land line is cheaper | |
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| | | | Re: What is the point? Not sure either here. My voip is only 39.95 a year. Couldn't be more pleased with my product. People will pay anything, just to avoid doing a little research on other alternatives. | |
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| | |  wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY | Re: What is the point? said by dr3yec:Not sure either here. My voip is only 39.95 a year. Couldn't be more pleased with my product. People will pay anything, just to avoid doing a little research on other alternatives. Unless I am missing something, they charge $40 per month and you are paying $39.95 per month. Without whipping out my calculator I cant be sure, but I would hazard a guess that its the same price? I dont think the $0.05 savings you mention is much to talk about.
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с новым годом | |
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| | | | | | Re: What is the point? said by wifi4milez:said by dr3yec:Not sure either here. My voip is only 39.95 a year. Couldn't be more pleased with my product. People will pay anything, just to avoid doing a little research on other alternatives. Unless I am missing something, they charge $40 per month and you are paying $39.95 per month. Without whipping out my calculator I cant be sure, but I would hazard a guess that its the same price? I dont think the $0.05 savings you mention is much to talk about. He did say "$39.95 per year", though that almost seems like a typo for any decent, full featured service. VoIP is cheap, but the good ones are rarely THAT cheap.
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Intel Quad Core QX6700 @3500Mhz/Asus P5N32-E SLI/4x 1024Mb Corsair/Seagate 750.10/PNY 7800GTs SLI/Silverstone 850W/Custom water cooler | |
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| | | | | | | Re: What is the point? 39.95 is correct. And my service has been superb with my voip. My wife lives on the thing. It is unlimited mins as well. | |
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| | | | | | | | Re: What is the point? 39.95 for a year* | |
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| | | | | | | wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY | Re: What is the point? said by dr3yec:39.95 for a year* I stand corrected! That is a good deal, how is the service?
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с новым годом | |
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| | | | | | | | | | Re: What is the point? It has been many months since I have had any down time. It is in beta but I couldnt tell. For 8 months I been happy with this product. I am getting ready to get a second year for 19.95 for a year. So tells you I am more than satisfied with the product. Even if it doesnt last. Hey I have saved tons of money. | |
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| | | | | | | | |  en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: What is the point? I used Skypeout, at $16/year, and it worked very well.
Downside: You don't get a phone number - only skype users can call you.
Upside: Unlimited Canada/US calling.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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| | | |  DrD
@embarqhsd.net | That's $39.95/year, not $39.95/month | |
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| | |  nixie21Premium
join:2004-08-19
Harrington Park, NJ | said by dr3yec:Not sure either here. My voip is only 39.95 a year. Couldn't be more pleased with my product. People will pay anything, just to avoid doing a little research on other alternatives. what voip service do you have? | |
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| | | | | | Re: What is the point? Magicjack | |
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| | | | | You think $39.95 / year is cheap? I pay zero per year for incoming and outgoing calls throughout the US and Canada.
And the voice quality is excellent and the service has been very reliable for the past 6 months that I have used it.
How is it infinitely cheap? Simple, I got an account with grandcentral.com and a free number where my relatives live.
Then I got account with Gizmoproject.
Both the grandcentral and gizmoproject accounts are free.
Then I set up grandcentral to forward calls made to my number to gizmoproject, and set up gizmoproject to forward calls directly to my ata.
So when someone calls the grandcentral number, my ata receives the call and there is no charge for anyone.
When I want to call out, I go the grandcentral address book at their website in my account, and click on the 'call' button next to the number I want to call.
Grandcentral tells gizmoproject to call my phone, and, when I pick up, grandcentral connects to the number I am calling.
No charge. | |
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| | | |  NY TelPremium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY
kudos:3
 ·AT&T CallVantage
| Re: What is the point? said by Dithers :
You think $39.95 / year is cheap? I pay zero per year for incoming and outgoing calls throughout the US and Canada.
When I want to call out, I go the grandcentral address book at their website in my account, and click on the 'call' button next to the number I want to call.
Grandcentral tells gizmoproject to call my phone, and, when I pick up, grandcentral connects to the number I am calling.
No charge.
This will work until Grand Central begins charging to connect these types of calls. It is stated in the Beta TOS that eventually, they will charge a "fee" for outgoing connections.
For now, enjoy the calls. I also have a similar setup minus the spinning propeller on my head.  | |
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| | | | | | | Re: What is the point? Someone is making money here....GC may never need to charge if they stay below the radar
said by NY Tel:This will work until Grand Central begins charging to connect these types of calls. It is stated in the Beta TOS that eventually, they will charge a "fee" for outgoing connections. For now, enjoy the calls. I also have a similar setup minus the spinning propeller on my head. | |
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| | | | | | NY TelPremium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY
kudos:3 Reviews:
·AT&T CallVantage
| Re: What is the point? said by xsiddalx:Someone is making money here....GC may never need to charge if they stay below the radar said by NY Tel:This will work until Grand Central begins charging to connect these types of calls. It is stated in the Beta TOS that eventually, they will charge a "fee" for outgoing connections. For now, enjoy the calls. I also have a similar setup minus the spinning propeller on my head. Yes, I know they do make money with all of the termination charges/fees/etc. etc. but I can't imagine someone won't want to "double dip" and get re-reimbursed from the carriers AND the end users. It is the way of the old "Bell System"... | |
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| | | | | | | | | Re: What is the point? said by NY Tel:said by xsiddalx:Someone is making money here....GC may never need to charge if they stay below the radar said by NY Tel:This will work until Grand Central begins charging to connect these types of calls. It is stated in the Beta TOS that eventually, they will charge a "fee" for outgoing connections. For now, enjoy the calls. I also have a similar setup minus the spinning propeller on my head. Yes, I know they do make money with all of the termination charges/fees/etc. etc. but I can't imagine someone won't want to "double dip" and get re-reimbursed from the carriers AND the end users. It is the way of the old "Bell System"... The problem is none of the carriers want to charge their customers for pure bandwidth/connectivity. They all want to double dip. The system is not restricted to Bell. The newspapers do it (failing model?), cable does it (failing model?), grocery stores do it (failing model?). Those are three easy pickings, there are certainly more.
I certainly think what GC is doing makes perfect sense and they SHOULD do it. It is just a matter of time before old arbitrage game ends and a new one begins Regulatory encourages some of this, but then again, so do contracts engaged by short sighted dominant players. How else would Cogent have a plan?
The BOCs are idiots (IMO), but their size and clout generally get them out of trouble every time (again IMO). | |
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|  RockyBBPremium
join:2005-01-31
Steamboat Springs, CO | said by Camelot One:I don't get it, why would anyone pay $40 a month for VoIP service? Check any marketing text book: look under "market power." Those that have it either use it or waste it.
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"Teleblend has an agreement with the Assignee to solicit and support former SunRocket customers." | |
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| | | My CallVantage is only 24.95 with all the taxes with unlimited calls
Lew N4HRA | |
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| | | | Re: What is the point? said by lew_jean:My CallVantage is only 24.95 with all the taxes with unlimited calls Lew N4HRA That was my point. Not only are there cheaper (and better) VoIP carriers, AT&T's own CallVantage VoIP service is cheaper!
But I guess they are just pricing off of the cable companies, their branded VoIP service seems to run the same price.
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Intel Quad Core QX6700 @3500Mhz/Asus P5N32-E SLI/4x 1024Mb Corsair/Seagate 750.10/PNY 7800GTs SLI/Silverstone 850W/Custom water cooler | |
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| | |  CoronaIt's cool, I'm takin it backPremium
join:2000-03-14
Dallas, TX
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| Re: What is the point? said by Camelot One:said by lew_jean:My CallVantage is only 24.95 with all the taxes with unlimited calls Lew N4HRA ...AT&T's own CallVantage VoIP service is cheaper! Read between the lines on that one... | |
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| en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Cable operators are charging $40/month for theirs... AT&T is assuming that it can charge just as much.
They probably _could_ get a lot more customers over to Uverse if they made it ... say $30/month for unlimited.
Oh.. wait they already have Call Vantage which is only $25/month for unlimited.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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|  banditws6Shrinking Time and DistancePremium
join:2001-08-18
Frisco, TX
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| said by Camelot One:I don't get it, why would anyone pay $40 a month for VoIP service? I don't get it either. I mean, I got rid of my POTS landline and went cellular only because that landline was costing me $40/mo. for something I rarely use. If it came down to choosing POTS or VoIP, if both were priced the same, I would either just stick with POTS or use neither. And in AT&T's case, $40 is the bundled rate.
What is AT&T's major malfunction?
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"I'll follow the law until it's just stupid." -Ted Nugent | |
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| | | Maybe this is why AT&T jacked caller ID up to $9 a month for landlines.
The Message Center $8.95 per month
AT&T Unified Messaging(SM) $11.95 per month
Busy Call Forwarding $5.00 per month
Call Forwarding $5.00 per month
Delayed Call Forwarding $5.00 per month
Select Call Forwarding $5.00 per month
Call Return $5.00 per month
Repeat Dialing $5.00 per month
Speed Calling 8 $5.00 per month
Anonymous Call Rejection (ACR) $4.00 per month
Call Screen $5.00 per month
Call Waiting $5.00 per month
Call Waiting ID $5.00 per month
Priority Ringing $5.00 per month
Privacy Manager® $7.00 per month
Caller ID $9.00 per month
Three Way Calling $5.00 per month
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"Time does not actually exist beyond an artificial measure we create in our minds to separate events we experience into blocks that are easier to reference instead of as a whole single event that just happens and continues happening" - evolvedant | |
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| | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: What is the point? Honestly... this is the AT&T way. If they jack up the price of their features, it makes packages look more appealing. Caller ID is $9.99 a month because it's the most popular feature next to voice mail.
SBC was never this bad.. they must have brought someone on board from the old, tired, dead AT&T corporation that brought this vast knowledge with them.
But, when you jack up the price of ala carts, and then you put them in a bundle, it makes that "You save X when you buy this bundle"... um, no kidding?
I would expect Cable to sell a voip product over a switched one because of the nature of their service. But, for a PHONE company to want to go VOIP over their copper switched service is beyond me. Still, I have to say, to them, phone is phone. Since they control the line, as comcast and cable claims, I see no difference. For some at&t consumers, they will get a better sounding call and less static as well. Still, the price? eh.. can live with out it. | |
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| | | | | Re: What is the point? unless they plan to get rid of the copper | |
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| | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: What is the point? said by got copper :
unless they plan to get rid of the copper :: scratches head ::
...but if they get rid of copper, then how will they send ANYTHING to the home... PLEASE don't make me laugh and say "via fiber" because we are talking about at&t here.. and I've had a good enough laugh in another thread already today. :P | |
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| | | | | said by fiberguy 
I would expect Cable to sell a voip product over a switched one because of the nature of their service. But, for a PHONE company to want to go VOIP over their copper switched service is beyond me. Still, I have to say, to them, phone is phone. Since they control the line, as comcast and cable claims, I see no difference. For some at&t consumers, they will get a better sounding call and less static as well. Still, the price? eh.. can live with out it.
[/BQUOTE :Because telco switches are being upgraded to session switches and the like. You can take a 200x200ft dms switch with over 200 DTC's and 100 DTCI's, not including a few SPM's tossed in, replace it with 3 bays the size of a double wide frig and accomplish the same task plus everything is broken down into IP, which ends up being cheaper for hardware and upkeep. Plus, you can have soft switches all over, at other POP sites and switches where everything goes by fiber requiring less eqp over all. IP doesn't care what medium it travels on, as long as it gets there. The days of the DMS 100, 250 and 300 are history. Make room for the Nortel session switches and equivalent.  | |
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| | | | | Sounds like the grocer that has a 40% off this weeks price sale.
Those 3 dollars pizzas are only 2.50 but at this weeks prices your save MORE.
It gets em/us every time.
CableVoip has a business model based, in part, on regulatory constructs. Most Cable was circuit switched two years ago.
ATT is responding to the game. Kill the circuit switch to take advantage of the new construct.
ATT wins, price the same or slightly less as the competitor for IP based voice services in an unregulated environment (it isn't considered telephone service).
The PHONE company hasn't been pure copper based voice switched any more than the Cable company has been pure coax based video switched....they have both, as you know, they've pushed fiber deeper into the network.
Frankly, once either of them have the ability to provide internet access at any reasonable speed, both can avoid the dedicated circuit switch for origination (maybe termination) purposes. Fiber or not..wireless via any tech provides the same ability, no? It's all a matter for the accountants, engineers and MBAs to fight out.
Then again...I'd argue it's all political...it is all price regulated or not. Both the telcos and cable companies have their crosses to bear at the expense (or benefit) of their monopolies. The only thing I'll give to the latter is that they were at least able to build a business on the idea that over the air tv couldn't occur with a "community access antenna". Both business models suck, but both are winning in America. We sell out cheap | |
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|  Old_GrouchDon't just sit there silly DO somethingPremium
join:2004-05-26
Greenwood, IN
kudos:1 | said by Camelot One:I don't get it, why would anyone pay $40 a month for VoIP service? Seems that they'd offer it for free. If you take U-Verse voice, telly and internet aren't you completely out of the local (state) telecom tariff?
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At Team Discovery we know how to get more outta that danged 'puter of yours! | |
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| | | | Re: What is the point? Not sure how Indy works, but given that the cable companies are basically giving away voice through discounts, you'd think the telco's would give away video.
I don't think the telco's can give away video...but I do think the cable companies can give away voice. Video value comes at a cost, from the provider (studios, networks). Voice value comes at a cost, free, from the provider, the person you are talking too. Cellular companies have sort of capitalized on that by charging both parties, generally.
Think about how you can profit based on the cost.
I'm guessing the least cost route if the telephone customer that doesn't pay to receive calls if it doesn't cost the provider to terminate the call. Video is certainly driven in a large part by the video providers. How do the access providers drive the video distribution down in the same way that itunes did to the more boring part of the music industry?
said by Old_Grouch:said by Camelot One:I don't get it, why would anyone pay $40 a month for VoIP service? Seems that they'd offer it for free. If you take U-Verse voice, telly and internet aren't you completely out of the local (state) telecom tariff? | |
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 kyler13Is your fiber grounded?
join:2006-12-12
Arnold, MD | CallVantage going bye-bye? quote:
The service, which will ultimately supplant AT&T's CallVantage service, is being launched first in Detroit.
So no more CallVantage, but U-verse Voice is only being offered bundled with U-verse. Am I missing something here or will folks not in AT&T's region no longer be able to subscribe to their VoIP service? | |
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| en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: CallVantage going bye-bye? Do I see a problem with this 'new' VoIP service... YES!
Call Vantage VoIP = $25/month
Uverse VoIP = $40/month 
Triple play:
Uverse VoIP + U300 + Internet 1.5/1Mbps = $134/month + $5 /month to upgrade to 3/1Mbps = $139/month + fees
Total: $139/month + fees
Currently, I have:
POTS Unlimited $39.99/month + $4.95 Canada + tax/fees = $57/month
DirecTV plus package = $61 after fees (3 sets)
DSL Extreme Pro = $ 26.88 after fee/taxes
Total = 144.88
No _real_ savings here 
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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| | wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY | Re: CallVantage going bye-bye? said by en102:Do I see a problem with this 'new' VoIP service... YES! Call Vantage VoIP = $25/month Uverse VoIP = $40/month Triple play: Uverse VoIP + U300 + Internet 1.5/1Mbps = $134/month + $5 /month to upgrade to 3/1Mbps = $139/month + fees Total: $139/month + feesCurrently, I have: POTS Unlimited $39.99/month + $4.95 Canada + tax/fees = $57/month DirecTV plus package = $61 after fees (3 sets) DSL Extreme Pro = $ 26.88 after fee/taxes Total = 144.88No _real_ savings here In my opinion, bundles only make sense if there is an obvious savings or a huge difference in performance/capabilities. $5 a month in savings isnt going to make me switch providers and sign a contract, thats for sure! I would need to see upwards of $30 per month (at least) savings before I considered going through the hassle of making a change to multiple services.
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с новым годом | |
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| | | en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: CallVantage going bye-bye? I agree... the bad part is that you are forced to bundle to get this VoIP.. ie. it doesn't come without IPTV.
What I currently have IS unbundled, and only $5 more... assuming that there are no taxes/fees on Uverse service.
The $144/month is AFTER all taxes/fees. Uverse $134 + $5 Pro upgrade is BEFORE any taxes/fees.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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 dadkinsCan you do Blu?Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
kudos:18 | Minutes? 1000 minutes? On VoIP? WTF? | |
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| FisamoPremium
join:2004-02-20
Apex, NC | Re: Minutes? And overage at the bargain price of 7 cents/min... | |
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| | | | Re: Minutes? My question is the 1,000 minutes are any time minutes. Does it come with Free night and Weekends too? | |
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| | Detroit only It's available in Detroit only and the bundle is apparently $69 for Internet, TV and VOIP. Not a bad price, actually for all three..especially if I compare with Comcast's prices I have available locally (in WA State). | |
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| |  KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Re: Detroit only Isn't the "Express" tier slower Internet tho?
The prices are too high, again. | |
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bgraham
join:2001-03-15
Smithtown, NY Reviews:
·Verizon VoiceWing
·Verizon FiOS
·VOIPo
| Will Verizon VOIP follow suit? I gather VZ presently outsources their Voicewing VOIP. If VZ follows suit and starts their own VOIP for a similar price they also will make tons of money.
These prices even from a major telco are just not worth it. It is not as if VOIP is a major band width hog either. | |
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 DudeWhat Happens When I Do ThisPremium
join:2000-11-20
Chicago, IL | Yeah OVERPRICED is an understatement
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(sig was too long) | |
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|  pokesphIt Is Almost FastPremium
join:2001-06-25
Sacramento, CA
kudos:1 | Re: Yeah said by Dude:OVERPRICED is an understatement I second that.. maybe they should be aiming for a 19.95 unlimited price point...
I see no reason to drop my $5.50 /mo POTS line nor my $15.00 /mo Vonage VOIP plan. | |
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 morboComplete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000 |  well, AT&T at least understands that people are idiots
it is amazing there are people out there that would think of paying this price for voip. AT&T has mastered the art of snagging idiot consumers... | |
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| | | Re: well, AT&T at least understands that people are idiots said by morbo:it is amazing there are people out there that would think of paying this price for voip. AT&T has mastered the art of snagging idiot consumers... Depending on how they market it, and most likely will do it well given history....they will make a killing and get out of all regulatory pricing.
Tell my grandma she don't need to pay T 3 bucks a month for LD that she doesn't use...oh wait, she doesn't spend 40 bucks a month on services....this makes sense for those of us that believe competition is good and that there is no recession (not that that matters, see the former).
Don't like the price, cancel. It's the only thing a company responds to. | |
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| | morboComplete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000 | Re: well, AT&T at least understands that people are idiots i don't understand your post. | |
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| | forget AT&T and MagicJack phonegnome is the best! it does not need your pc to be on and wasting $20 per month in electricity to save $10 in voip calls!! phonegnome works on ATA's and is only $15 per month for unlimited US/CA calls! | |
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1 edit | Re: forget AT&T and MagicJack My pc is on 24/7 regardless of magicjack pluged in or not. So know biggie there. I will stay with magicjack. Reason, for the last 8 months they have worked great. But I do like other options as you have given. And that sir. I am greatfull. | |
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| | | | Good Job MagicJack I agree.... theJack is working great here too...a few minor hiccups along the way, but we are happy. | |
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1 edit | Re: Good Job MagicJack fixed | |
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| | | | | said by slimpickinz:I agree.... theJack is working great here too...a few minor hiccups along the way, but we are happy. MajicJack is playing a political game of arbitrage.
Enjoy it while it lasts (it might)
At the very least they are registered everywhere as a clec.
They are certainly Vonage + (2.0?) without the advertising. | |
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| | Landline or VOIP? Hmm.
The reliable, crystal clear, complete choice landline that I get for only $34.95 a month, or possibly unreliable VOIP service for $40. Which will I choose?
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I get 29 MPG in my Toyota Highlander Hybrid! | |
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| kyler13Is your fiber grounded?
join:2006-12-12
Arnold, MD | Re: Landline or VOIP? said by iLive4Fusion:Hmm. The reliable, crystal clear, complete choice landline that I get for only $34.95 a month, or possibly unreliable VOIP service for $40. Which will I choose? Is that $34.95 before taxes, etc? If not, then it must be purely dialtone service with no other features. | |
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| | | | Re: Landline or VOIP? Tax brings it up to $42.50 with the Complete choice package | |
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Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
1 edit | crazy, insane, deranged.... 2008 is going to break records and go down as the year big corporations went wild... (that is crazy, insane, deranged)!
At a time when there are plenty of low cost, even free alternatives to voip from major carriers.. the big companies plan on raising their rates. Don't know what kind of crazy that is, but it seems like a trend in 2008... hold on tight (not to any of the Deathstar's services mind, you, drop those like a hot stone). This is gonna be a bumpy ride folks.. | |
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 DogfatherPremium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA | Only marginally cheaper than POTS Why would someone buy this? | |
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| | | Re: Only marginally cheaper than POTS because someone will stop having POTS as an option | |
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Wow! I'm amazingly underwhelmed..... Yawn.
As usual, at&t seems more interested in protecting large profit margins then bringing people competitive services. | |
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| | | Re: Wow! I'm amazingly underwhelmed..... said by KrK:Yawn. As usual, at&t seems more interested in protecting large profit margins then bringing people competitive services. To be fair, what company doesn't?
Only new entrants in a business claim "bringing people competitive services". | |
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| | Swing Away. Seriously. All basher swing away! They deserve it I can't defend it at all. It makes no sense that it costs that much! That its bundled too! | |
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FisamoPremium
join:2004-02-20
Apex, NC | Uverse voice vs CallVantage Looking at the U-Verse Voice (UVV) platform, I see that they offer several features that CallVantage does not currently offer. Call transfer? Busy call forward? I'd like to have call transfer on my CallVantage line. I would not pay an extra $15/mo for it (or the other additional features), though. If I wanted Call Transfer that badly, I could use an existing service that already offers that feature, such as Vonage, VoicePulse, etc.
Even with CallVantage, ATT has shown that they believe many consumers to be lacking in the intelligence department... Their one-line "unlimited" plan is $25/mo plus local taxes. For another $25/mo, you can subscribe to a second line. Your alternative option for two lines is to pay $50/mo for ATTCV's two-line plan, where the primary line is unlimited, but the secondary line is limited to 500 min, with overage minutes costing 4cents each...  | |
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| | FisamoPremium
join:2004-02-20
Apex, NC | Re: Uverse voice vs CallVantage
Read details of two-line plan closely... |
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| | | |
| | | | | What does a second line mean in?
If a second number, maybe it makes sense...
Why isn't the bandwidth shared per account? There is no line...this is old pots thinking where additional wires are installed for a second line! UGH
said by Fisamo:That's my point, though. You can sign up for ONE line, then add a SECOND line, both with UNLIMITED minutes, for $50/mo (or $40/mo if you're an ATT wireless subscriber). OR, you can sign up for their two-line plan at $50/mo, and your second line is limited to 500 min/mo. I took this screen shot of their sales page today. | |
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| | | |  NetFixerFreedom is NOT freePremium
join:2004-06-24
Murfreesboro, TN
·Vonage
 ·Cingular Wireless
·Comcast
 ·AT&T Southeast
| Re: Uverse voice vs CallVantage said by xsiddalx:What does a second line mean in? If a second number, maybe it makes sense... Why isn't the bandwidth shared per account? There is no line...this is old pots thinking where additional wires are installed for a second line! UGH Actually, second line is the proper terminology if you expect both numbers/lines to be able to be used simultaneously. Two physical lines from the ATA to two different telephones are required for this to work. A second (or third, or fourth, or ...) telephone number can be assigned to a single telephone line, but you will not be able to use each number independently and simultaneously.
--
We can never have enough of nature.
We need to witness our own limits transgressed, and some life pasturing freely where we never wander.
Test your firewall. | |
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| | $39.95 I am in no way trying to defend AT&T's pricing, however I have not seen anyone yet mention this.
In my opinion AT&T is basically copying Comcast's pricing at $39.95. Comcast is having great success even at this seemingly high price.
There is a significant difference between all other VOIP providers and U-Verse Voice which will allow AT&T to charge this higher price. U-Verse Voice does not get routed over the public internet. The profile in the gateway has a special amount of bandwidth allocated just for voice, and it is not routed over the internet, instead it goes over AT&T's private network. AT&T also will be providing users a battery backup system for the gateway incase of power outages. I know many of you will say that you can just as easily purchase a UPS for your VOIP connection, but the average user does not have their VOIP connected to one whereas virtually all U-Verse Voice users will have battery backup. If done right the system can be just as reliable as standard telephone service, whereas standard VOIP reliability depends on your internet connection.
Please don't flame me for posting this as I am only making a point that I have not seen anyone else make yet. | |
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| DMS1
join:2005-04-06
Carrollton, TX | Re: $39.95 said by manhole:In my opinion AT&T is basically copying Comcast's pricing at $39.95. Comcast is having great success even at this seemingly high price. You are absolutely right - AT&T is pitching this as a seemless POTS replacement integrated into U-Verse in the same way that cable companies are doing with their phone service. In other words, it isn't a Callvantage replacement at all. | |
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| Reviews:
·Comcast
| No one here is realizing this:
Comcast, AT&T, and all of the other MSOs offering VoIP service are not trying to beat any of the smaller VoIP provider's prices. To be honest, they don't care about a $14.95/month VoIP plan that another small company is offering. The average consumer is not shopping VoIP carriers...most don't even know what VoIP is. They are looking for a cost-saving POTS replacement...and that's exactly how Comcast and others are positioning their respective VoIP services. It's a full feature home phone service...not a cost cutting, stand-alone, VoIP service. Tech savvy people, like most in these forums, are the ones that are likely to purchase all of the various "independent" VoIP plans for $39.95/year, $14.95/year, etc., and are the people that are more likely to use a cell phone as their primary line. The typical mother and/or father of 5, senior citizens, or someone that currently has a POTS service and is over the age of 30 are the target customers. Seriously, could you imagine a 70 year old husband and wife screwing around trying to connect Vonage at their home? At $39.95/month, Comcast's CDV and AT&T's U-verse services are priced very competitively, and will almost always be less expensive that someone with anything more than a bare bones POTS service. Granted, a lesser price would be nice, but these companies are also trying to make money. Speaking of which, AT&T makes a lot of money on home phone service, and had to introduce VoIP plans to compete with cable. Think about it, all of the customers going to CDV, or any VoIP carrier, are coming from a POTS service. Many, like Comcast, have released more cost-effective local VoIP plans for customers that don't necessarily need LD, and want to pay as little as possible for the piece of mind that a home phone service brings...power outages over 8 hours aside. Keep that in mind when discussing why pricing is released at certain levels, and how expensive it is. | |
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 DownTheShoreJust Say No To NewtsPremium
join:2003-12-02
Beautiful NJ
kudos:10 | Ha! My $31.92/mo (incl. taxes/fees) for Vonage is still looking good compared to that - no matter all the doom-and-gloom predictions about it.
When you tack on the regulatory fees and taxes, in NJ, figure on adding close to $7.00/mo to that $30 or $40 ATT VOIP cost.
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Life is simply one damned thing after another. | |
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|  knightmbEverybody Lies
join:2003-12-01
Franklin, TN | Re: Ha! said by DownTheShore:My $31.92/mo (incl. taxes/fees) for Vonage is still looking good compared to that - no matter all the doom-and-gloom predictions about it. When you tack on the regulatory fees and taxes, in NJ, figure on adding close to $7.00/mo to that $30 or $40 ATT VOIP cost. I was about to say the same thing, this is the bundled price and what does it offer that Vonage doesn't already (or any other VoIP carrier for that matter) My plain as possible POTS line from AT&T cost nearly as much as my fully featured Vonage line, I don't see how this is a "bundle" of savings, more like a bundle of higher bills. | |
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 jgkoltPremium
join:2004-02-21
Lakewood, OH | T-Mobile VOIP $10 Ill stick with my tmobile voip (hotspot@home) for $20 for all the lines thank you. and i can use the voip on any wifi signal. Much better in my opinion. I am surprised that a phone company is competing with its pots service.
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3 free for you/3 free for me: Free Stock Trades : PM Me | |
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Aleck79
join:2003-07-23
College Station, TX | regarding that picture "Uverse Voice is more reliable" I find it funny that they are comparing the "public internet" to their "Managed Network" because we all know managed mean filtered and inspected. | |
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| en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: regarding that picture "Uverse Voice is more reliable" I also find that a bit crazy.
$15/month MORE than their Call Vantage VoIP to do:
1. Put it on a tunnel on Uverse service (technically, it should be CHEAPER), as I HAVE to bundle it.
2. Uverse is already on AT&T's network, how much more of a dedicated line am I going to get ?
3. I could purchase a cheap UPS for battery backup.
4. POTS is the same price as Uverse VoIP, and I don't have to bundle, and I don't have to pay for electricity to run the phone service (Uverse RG).
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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| | cwh
join:2006-05-14
San Antonio, TX | Re: regarding that picture "Uverse Voice is more reliable" Well I think is more about what a feature is worth, not what a feature costs. They are going to be only the provider at this point that you can your wireless and wired voicemail in one mailbox and on your tv as well. This price also matches what the cable companies are charging for their voice services. | |
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 devil24Premium
join:2002-06-28
Houston, TX
4 edits | Somebody went crazy... I have to say, this doesn't make sense at all.
I've been a supporter of U-verse (it beats Comcrap any day of the week, price and stability wise), but this is just crazy.
Take the following as an example:
AT&T U-verse Voice 1000
For just $35 per month, provides 1000 minutes of calling each month within the U.S. and to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Marianas and only 7¢ per minute thereafter. (Bundle discount applies if you also purchase other AT&T U-verse services.) Enjoy the added convenience of a second line with the same great calling plan for only an additional $20 per month (1000 minutes shared between both lines).
WTF??? $55 for two lines sharing a "whopping" 1000 minutes!?!?!?... this isn't wireless!!! holy s**t!
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STUPIDITY runs rampant these days and it doesn't care about what gender/sexual preference/race/ethnicity/nationality/religion/social status/education level/whatever you are/have/follow | |
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| | higher costs, plus higher international ratesUverse Rates:
»www.att.com/Common/uversevoice/rates.html
UNITED KINGDOM $0.07 $0.25
AUSTRALIA $0.09 $0.24
BRAZIL $0.14 $0.31
INDIA $0.28 $0.29
ITALY $0.09 $0.28
CallVantage Rates:
»www.callvantage.att.com/rates
UNITED KINGDOM $0.04 $0.22
AUSTRALIA $0.04 $0.19
BRAZIL $0.08 $0.25
INDIA $0.15 $0.16
ITALY $0.05 $0.24
You get the idea. Higher monthly, plus a higher per minute cost for international calls.
Same company, different prices.
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»www.reverse.net | |
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| devil24Premium
join:2002-06-28
Houston, TX | Re: higher costs, plus higher international rates WOW!
I just noticed that too... something is completely out of whack with this new service. | |
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| | KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK Reviews:
·AT&T DSL Service
| Re: higher costs, plus higher international rates said by devil24:WOW! I just noticed that too... something is completely out of whack with this new service. The profit margins, it's called. CallVantage = great profits. New VOIP plan = INSANE CEO Bonus Funding Profit margins!
Maybe at&t is getting jealous of the profit margins the oil companies have right now and want to get into the same range.
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
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