Tracfone or Ooma to replace home phone

[letsgoreds]

So...DH and I have been slashing monthly bills/fees because it was just getting out of control. I changed my cell to Tmobiles $30/month unlimited data, texting and 100 minutes (working great), we dropped cable and have an antennae in the attic + our HD TiVo. We also switched DSL carriers, so now $20/month (at a lower speed, so we'll see). Next is dropping our home phone.

So...I have a 6yo and a 2yo at home, so like the idea of having a back-up phone available if someone is sitting for the boys (although they will most likely have their own cell phone with them), have issue with one of our phones (DH is iphone AT&T through work). We've narrowed it down to

1. $90 deal from HSN for a tracphone + 1200 minutes that are good for one year (and add additional 1200 minutes annually for around $85/year)
2. $150 Ooma system that also incurrs a couple of dollars a month in taxes.

I am not a phone talker and can stretch my 100 minutes with calling plan using skype/etc. So, we may drop a separate phone altogether in a couple of months...making the tracphone a slightly better deal, not not a deal breaker.

Any advice/input/other ideas? Thanks!

 

[sweetsusannah]

No experience with Tracfone but we do have Ooma for our home phone and it has worked great for us. Also, if you watch Woot you can often find a deal on a refurb unit cheaper.

 

[Mrs D]

I've used Voipo for several years and have been very happy with them. I have experienced very few problems and when I have had an issue, customer support (all based in the US) resolved it quickly plus had great follow up!

I started out with the $15 a month just to try it out then went and annual and eventually took the 2 year deal because it's so good!

 

[sherry7]

With 2 young children in the house, I would keep the landline because of emergencies. When you call 911 from a landline, your street address automatically pops up on the 911 dispatchers screen. (In almost all areas anyway.) Cell phones can typically only be pin pointed to a few hundred yards. I have no clue about Ooma.

My job involves working with 911 addressing, so I have seen many instances where this has proved a lifesaver, especially with young kids, babysitters who might not remember the street address, emergencies when the caller is unable to speak, etc.

 

[powellrj]

we are using magic jack now for our home phone. The quality isn't always the best, but thats not always a bad thing when you want to get off the phone quickly!

I got it on special last year for like $29 for the unit and I pay $20 a year for service.

 

[Mrs D]

Just wanted to chime in on Magic Jack. powelljr, I understand it works for you and I say if it ain't broke....
However, my Mom tried out Magic Jack last year. Her phone wasn't ringing then a message would show up. Or I'd leave her a message and it would show up days later. She tried working with customer support to get the issues sorted out but it's exclusively chat support (no phone - not even an option) and there was a definite language barrier.
Within less than a week she know she wanted out. Although they have a money back guarantee and I spent plenty of time on chat sessions trying to get it squared away for her in the end she was out the money. Lesson learned.
Just google Magic Jack reviews or check out the more than 3000 complaints on the BBB in the past 12 months.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Of the two, Ooma - as long as they provide E911, which is what sherry7 is describing. With two young kids, you want that security; you don't have to worry whether a sitter can remember your address on an emergency.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Might consider OBI box, like $40 for the unit, and no monthly fees.

 

[Joyful3Heart]

I know I'm chiming in late to this thread but wanted to let you know we switched to ooma in February and have been pretty happy with it. I chose it over the cell phone idea because it is hard wired to your house phone and also because they use E-911 to report your address to any emergency responders (as long as you keep it updated with the website). We had had comcast phone service since 2007 so we didn't have a problem with that.

The only plus to the cell phone idea is that the ooma box doesn't work if the power goes out or the cable goes out (neither did comcast--the battery maybe lasted 2 hours). I solve the power problem by keeping it plugged in to my UPS box for my computer. I have never had to call customer service so I can't speak to that.

As far as quality of service, I'd give it a solid 'B'. Occasionally there is a delay in back and forth conversation but that is usually resolved by hanging it up and redialing. Once in a while, too, the phone rings but whoever is calling gets the voice mail and we just hear a dial tone when we pick up (this almost exclusively happens when my mil is calling, maybe that is a built in protection mechanism )

Our taxes are less than $4.00 a month, so for unlimited USA calling we are saving about 42.00 per month vs comcast for the same service (I would only give comcast VOIP a 'B' as well)

We use ours as a main phone though, not just a backup, so that's something to think about, too. It might not be worth the investment only as a "back up". Tracfone might not be either..I had a tracfone for about a year and let me just say, when it works, it works well, when it doesn't, too bad for you...their customer service dept is horrific..
Good luck in your decision