Anyone Have or Had Vonage?

[eowensby]

We are considering switching our phone service to vonage. Didn't know if anyone here had it and what you thought about it...tell me the good and bad. Thanks!! Elizabeth

 

[tiggger1]

we like it.Its cheap and you get caller id, voice mail, 3way, and a bunch of other things. The only thing is that you have to have decent internet because if you live in the sticks with iffy service then your phone can be staticy. also if you lose power u lose phone since its contected to your computer. but we have cell phones so its no big deal

 

[thelittlemermaid]

I LOVE Vonage!!! I have the smaller calling plan, I think it's $14 something, then when tax is added it's around $16 something. I'm not on the phone that much or talk long distance once in a blue moon, so this works best for me.

DH wanted to get phone service through Time Warner since we have Road Runner, but I said no way! There is no reason to pay them $39.95 for something we can get through Vonage for $16. I'm trying to trim our bills, not add more to them.

Like tiggger1 mentioned, if you loose power or your internet goes out, then Vonage goes out also. But we also have a cell phone incase this happens. We have had Vonage for a year and only once did our internet go out. It wasn't Vonages fault, but Road Runners.

 

[Tiggeroo]

i have it and love it. The price is right. But we have had several cable outages. But I have a cell phone and even when the cable is out your incoming calls are stored on your phone log online so you can check them later.

 

[mcr5298]

Yes, it is inexpensive, which is a plus. But I have had several complaints on the call quality, outgoing and incoming. We have Comcast as our internet provider, and I honestly think that they are trying to mess Vonage up so people will switch to them when they start offering phone servies. We did switch our cable modems recently, and that has helped a little. I honestly have not been impressed by Vonage yet. But hopefully you will like it if you choose it.

 

[eowensby]

thank you all for your replies. i just hate spending $62 a month on our phone service, when vonage seems to have the same stuff we want for less than $30 a month. We will probably switch very soon. I wasn't even thinking that if the power went out the phone wouldn't work, but I guess that's what cell phones are for! Thanks again!! Elizabeth

 

[pearlieq]

Yes, it is inexpensive, which is a plus. But I have had several complaints on the call quality, outgoing and incoming. We have Comcast as our internet provider, and I honestly think that they are trying to mess Vonage up so people will switch to them when they start offering phone servies. We did switch our cable modems recently, and that has helped a little. I honestly have not been impressed by Vonage yet. But hopefully you will like it if you choose it.

When we first set it up, we had the same issues. We're also pretty suspicious of Comcast and their part in maintaing quality of service.

DH has made some fixes (couldn't tell you what--he's the engineer!) and that has helped a lot. We've gone the last 3 or so weeks without any complaints. If it stays this way, I'm happy.

 

[LindaR]

You need to do more research. There was a story several months ago about Vonage users not having 911 capabilities. Something about calling 911 and the operator cannot tell where you are calling from (your home address). The folks in these stories had to learn the hard way (and I believe someone died). You assume that if you are incapable of speaking.....that dialing 911 will get you help....not with Vonage. The operator cannot call you back, cannot send police/ambulance to your home.....because your info does not show up.

 

[DisneyGeek2000]

I wasn't even thinking that if the power went out the phone wouldn't work, but I guess that's what cell phones are for!

I believe that Vonage now has a feature that detects if you are not connected to them, and will automatically forward to another phone of your choice, like your cell. My neighbor has vonage and confirmed that this works.