Any good VoIP experiences?

[gerti]

I know there are quite a few folks here using VoIP, so who has had good experiences?

We used to have Sunrocket, which was great until they closed business over night.

Switched to Vonics, and we are fed up. I can understand the problems they were having taking on all the Sunrocket refugees and was willing to cut them some slack, but things do not seem to be improving. Call quality would be good if it were not for frequent 2 second drop outs. Customer service seems to be an understaffed operation in India, that when they can be reached at all, usually is of no help anyway.

A couple of months ago inbound service was down completely for several days, with an announcement that service is unavailable. Even afterward we often hear from people that they were unable to reach us. When trying to place a call there often is no dial tone, it comes back when trying some time (seconds, minutes, sometimes more) later. And from what I am reading many people have similar problems.

So anybody out there happy with VoIP, and what are you using?

Thanks!

[poolhound]

I use vonage and am pretty happy with it. Espcecially the price as I call Europe a lot and its all included in the base price. I ca nalso travel with it anywhere in the world.

Jon

[crokett]

Vonage, and been very happy with it. No problems so far.

[CrashResq]

We've been on vonage for over three years and have been very happy with it. Bear in mind that half of your service experince is going to be based on your internet access. The only phone issues we've had have been related to ISP issues, not vonage. A nice feature with Vonage though is that when you lose internet access, you can have your calls route to your cell phone... that way you don't miss any calls (but you will get all of your kids friends calls .... )

[lkazista]

Been a Vonage business customer for 4 years, the only issues we have ever had were based on bad internet. It worked better back with Cable modem at the old house, but the DSL is still OK. You just can't watch online videos, talk on the phone, and send a fax all at the same time.

Lee

[Lee4847]

We have been with Vontage for over a year and it is saving us a lot of money. The only problems is when the Cable connection was slow due to bad cable coming into the house. We hadn't noticed the internet connection slowing up. The Vontage techs assisted with speed tests and assisted us in getting the cable fix by giving us the info we needed when we called the cable. We are pleased with the service rendered.

[Alex Franke]

I switched to net2phone because they were honoring the rest of the sunrocket contracts up to a year. So my monthly phone bill since the sunrocket fiacso has only been taxes -- about $1.50. I'm very happy with them and they're always very responsive to questions.

BTW search VoIP here and you'll probably find a couple of realted discussions.

[poolhound]

I use vonage and am pretty happy with it. Espcecially the price as I call Europe a lot and its all included in the base price. I ca nalso travel with it anywhere in the world.

Jon

[maxparot]

I switched to Lingo when Sunrocket went under and have been very satisfied by the call quality. They did however change their service after I joined which costs me a few more bux each year. Not a significant jump but a few cents when calling cellphones. I'll probably try Vonage when my contract is over.

[sparkeyjames]

I have been a happy Vonage user now for 4 years. Vonage has NEVER been down. While my internet connection has gone on the blink about 7 or 8 times in that period. Having your calls routed to a cell is very handy when that happens. The only worry about Vonage at this point is if they can survive the many patent lawsuits against them and the loss of those lawsuits. The payments levied against Vonage by the court system on the loss of some of those lawsuits recently have been huge. Heres hoping Vonage can hang in there.

[kirkroy]

We've got viatalk. Once my year runs out I'm going with someone else (paid a year in advance). Sounds like folks have been satisfied with Vonage, which seems to be the biggest of the VOIP providers. I'll check them out.

I actually don't mind spotty phone service as I hate using the phone. However, I can't take any more complaints from my wife.

[charliex]

Vonage 2 1/2 years and still good. Any issues have all been ISP.

[parnelli]

Vonage about 3 years now for me. Every few months I'll notice it's "out", and I'll unplug the power from the unit and plug it back in- that has always resulted in it being back up and running.

1)As others have suggested, set it to forward to a cell phone when it's down.
2)Most I know have better luck with it behind the router as opposed to in front of the router.
3)A router with priority routing can help for some circumstances as well.

Sound isn't as perfect as the old land line, but by now most people have grown accustomed to the sound of a cell phone conversation- and it's at least as good as that or better.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I used Sunrocket and Vonage. I had much better results with Vonage. Vonage definately has the best infrastructure, etc. Sometimes you get what you pay for. Vonage is still light years cheaper than regular phone service or even the stuff the cable companies offer.

Did any of you guys notice a decrease in bandwith when VOIP was in stand by mode? I understand when using the phone that bandwidth would decrease but in standby mode how much impact does it have? It seems I could tell a difference, sometimes major even having pretty speedy cable modem. I am wondering if I would be able to tell any difference now that I am using Comcast business class and regularly sustaining huge down and up speeds.

[gerti]

Thanks everyone, sounds like Vonage is the ticket.