OT - Vonage Question...

[Mom2Ben02]

Ok, I am getting really really tired of paying megabucks to SBC every month. I don't want to change phone numbers - I own a business, and that would be a mess!! If I go with Vonage, I know it takes 20 days for my number to transfer, but is it still OPERATIONAL during that time? Through SBC? I read and reread, and don't get it!

Does anyone else have another company they like better?

THANKS!
Karen

 

[CarolMN]

Your telephone sevice should continue to operate normally until it is transferred to your new provider. The 20 days is what I like to call the "bureaucracy" time. It takes time to write and enter the order as well as to program/set up the new service. There may be a short (minutes, not days) service outage when the switchover actually occurs. This was my experience in arranging/implementing many, many transfers between telephone companies. I worked more than 30 years in the telecom industry - in various departments of engineering and operations for a Baby Bell.

I am not familar with Vonage as I am not from your area. You should ask them your question - specifically, how long will the "outage" (if any) actually be. You might also want to ask them if they will have a rep on site during the actual transfer. Their answers will give you a good idea of what to expect for service from them in the future.

FWIW, we got several customers back after they left for lower rates - apparently they decided the lower rates weren't worth it if good service and reliability weren't part of the package . Be sure you check everything out carefully before you make a change.

Good luck and best wishes -

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by CarolMN


I am not familar with Vonage as I am not from your area. You should ask them your question - specifically, how long will the "outage" (if any) actually be. You might also want to ask them if they will have a rep on site during the actual transfer. Their answers will give you a good idea of what to expect for service from them in the future.


Good luck and best wishes -

Vonage is for all areas. It's broadband phone service. www.vonage.com

I'm thinking of signing up myself, as it's cheaper than IDT, which is what we have right now.

From what I understad OP, your service will be through SBC until the day that Vonage transfers your number. That's how it was when I had Verizon and switched to IDT.

 

[ibleedblue]

When you sign up with Vonage, you'll be issued a temporary number that you can use until the main number is switched. You can then immediately begin calling with Vonage to save $$ while your incoming calls will still be on your old POTS line until the switchover. It may take longer to switch than 20 days. Some people have waited over 2 months, but the wait is due to your current provider, not Vonage. I've been with Vonage for a little over a week now and it's been great!!

Be aware that there are some issues with Vonage, or any VoIP service, if you have a device that has to dial out periodically (satellite receivers, alarms, credit card machines, fax, etc.). My understanding is that you can add the fax service for $10 a month and use the fax port on the MTA for any dial out issues. Personally I've not had that problem. I have an alarm system and a dish network satellite receiver. The alarm system works fine on the phone port but the dish network receiver has a spotty dialing record. You can check out the Vonage forums for more info.

Greg