:run: SBC is driving me up the wall with their long-distance rates and I'm getting to the point where dial-up isn't cutting it anymore..

... so I'm considering switching to cable internet and digital phone [VoIP] through Earthlink & TimeWarner Cable.

Since the basic technology is offered by many different companies across the nation, I wondered if anyone here has already made the switch to VoIP.

I'm conversent with the basic hardware, but if anyone has first-hand experience -- good or bad -- I'd like to hear about it.

Any unpleasant surprises, or was the switch pretty painless?
Companies to avoid?

Danke. :cheers:

 

Can't help you.........all I can say is I use them at work. :hs:

 

we tried switching to att voip several months ago... but the switchover was a pain in the ass. att wasnt able to redirect all calls to voip... so we would recieve 1/2 on the landline, and 1/2 on voip. went vack to verizon for a few months.

end of last year, we switched to Vonage. Setup was a breeze, they gave us a temporary number and forwarded all out calls to that line for 2-3 days until our number was fully switched.

i really dont notice a difference between voip and a pots line. the voip unit/router has QoS so heavy downloading wont affect voice quality.

 

of all people, you're still on 56K? no0b

 

I am not a god damned noob. :madr:
I'm a cheap bastard and possibly a Luddite.

There's a difference. hfawk:

 

Vonage user here for the past year, nothin but good to say about them. The abundance of features, unlimited long distance including canada and puerto rico, and amazing international rates for 24.95 a month will keep me a customer for life.

With Verizon I was payin like $2 a minute to call India. With Vonage, I pay just 12 cents. I also really like the fact I can take my small vonage box anywhere I go w/ a high speed internet connection and receive calls....especially if they are business calls.

 

my girlfriend tried switching-- she said it was a big hassle but then again the cable singal in her area sucks becuase of how far away she is.

 

We use VoIP at work and it's good for the most part. You never notice the difference the only bad thing is our phones will cut off and reboot from time to time

 

VoIP at work is pretty flawless. Vonage at home has some issues. Never with the call quality, just with trying to dial. Sometimes when you get the dial tone and you press numbers on the key pad, you still have a dial tone. It could also be my roommate running it through his complex router as well.

 

I've had Vonage for nearly 2 years now and I love it. Never had any problems. I do not recommending going with their VoIP/Wireless Router device though since I heard a few issues with them.