 
Camelot One
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Austin, TX
clubs: | What is the point? I don't get it, why would anyone pay $40 a month for VoIP service? | |
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ftthz
If 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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dr3yec
join:2002-12-19
00000 | 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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wifi4milez
In Need Of Garbage Pail Kids 1st Series
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| 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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Camelot One
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Austin, TX
clubs:
 ·VoicePulse
| 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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dr3yec
join:2002-12-19
00000 | 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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dr3yec
join:2002-12-19
00000 | Re: What is the point? 39.95 for a year* | |
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wifi4milez
In Need Of Garbage Pail Kids 1st Series
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| 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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dr3yec
join:2002-12-19
00000
 ·CableOne
·Comcast
| 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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en102
Canadian, 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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nixie21
Premium
join:2004-08-19
Harrington Park, NJ
·ViaTalk
| 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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dr3yec
join:2002-12-19
00000 | Re: What is the point? Magicjack | |
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Dithers
| 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 Tel
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY
·VOIPo
 ·Verizon FIOS
| 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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| | | | | xsiddalx
join:2005-03-11
Chicago, IL
 ·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T DSL Service
| 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 Tel
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY
·VOIPo
·Verizon FIOS
| 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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| | | | | | | xsiddalx
join:2005-03-11
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T DSL Service
| 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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RockyBB
Premium
join:2005-01-31
Castle Rock, 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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| lew_jean
join:2005-05-13
Marietta, GA | My CallVantage is only 24.95 with all the taxes with unlimited calls
Lew N4HRA | |
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Camelot One
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Austin, TX
clubs:
·VoicePulse
| 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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Corona
It's cool, I'm takin it back
Premium
join:2000-03-14
San Antonio, TX
| 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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banditws6
Shrinking Time and Distance
join:2001-08-18
Naples, FL
·Comcast
| 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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BodyBumper
join:2004-06-21
Beverly Hills, CA
| 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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| | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| 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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got copper
@vianet.ca | Re: What is the point? unless they plan to get rid of the copper | |
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| | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| 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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switchtech
@sprintlink.net
| 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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| | | xsiddalx
join:2005-03-11
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T DSL Service
| 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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| | xsiddalx
join:2005-03-11
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T DSL Service
| 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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kyler13
Is your fiber grounded?
join:2006-12-12
Arnold, MD
·ViaTalk
·Verizon FIOS
| 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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wifi4milez
In Need Of Garbage Pail Kids 1st Series
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| 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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dadkins
Land of Confusion
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA | Minutes? 1000 minutes? On VoIP? WTF? | |
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| Fisamo
Premium
join:2004-02-20
Apex, NC | Re: Minutes? And overage at the bargain price of 7 cents/min... | |
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| | hottboiinnc
Kyle
join:2003-10-15
Toledo, OH | 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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mrbill98277
@comcast.net | 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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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
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
·Verizon FIOS
| 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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pokesph
It Is Almost Fast
join:2001-06-25
Sacramento, CA
clubs:
·Comcast
| 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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| xsiddalx
join:2005-03-11
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T DSL Service
| 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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morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs: | Re: well, AT&T at least understands that people are idiots i don't understand your post. | |
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Anjorusso
@nychhc.org | 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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dr3yec
join:2002-12-19
00000
edit:
January 22nd, @12:45PM
| 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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slimpickinz
join:2003-11-29
Conyers, GA | 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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| | | xsiddalx
join:2005-03-11
Chicago, IL
edit:
January 23rd, @11:12PM
| Re: Good Job MagicJack fixed | |
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| | | xsiddalx
join:2005-03-11
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T DSL Service
| 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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iLive4Apple
Hybrid power
Premium
join:2006-07-13
Hoover, AL |
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AT&T Unveils New VoIP Service
well, AT&T at least understands that people are idiots