OOMA, PhoneGnome, MagicJack, Vonage...do they work?

[1knight164]

I'm trying to find a way to save on my phone bill and all of these make the same (or similar) promises. Does anyone have personal experience with any of these services? Any recommendations? There's so much info on these and I just don't know what to believe.

 

[jdl]

Originally Posted by 1knight164
http:///forum/post/2737081
I'm trying to find a way to save on my phone bill and all of these make the same (or similar) promises. Does anyone have personal experience with any of these services? Any recommendations? There's so much info on these and I just don't know what to believe.
do you have a cellphone?

 

[1knight164]

Yes. Unfortunately, we don't get good reception at my house because we live close to hills that seem to interfere with every carrier signals.

 

[jdl]

Originally Posted by 1knight164
http:///forum/post/2737098
Yes. Unfortunately, we don't get good reception at my house because we live close to hills that seem to interfere with every carrier signals.

that sucks. I was going to say just use a cell phone and dont have a land line. i do this and it works very well and i dont have to spend $30 a month for a phone i never use anyway.
But in your case, i would go with which ever company has the best offer. Do you have cable internet at home? dsl? If so, you might be able to get some combo deals by adding phone service.
as long as you have a good internet connection, these phones work great.

 

[geridoc]

These are voip phone services. We had AT&T Callmerica for a few years, and it was cheap, and totally perfect. We only changes because FIOS bundled phone with the TV and internet service.

 

[veni vidi vici]

I havent had a hard line phone in about 3 years.I had SunRocket and now its Teleblend.I have never had a problem with the service.IMO its work just as good as a regular phone,and its much cheaper.

 

[dragonzim]

I use my local ISP's VOIP phone system and it works great. In the 3 years that I've been in my house I've never lost service once.

 

[girlina4x4]

I saw the fine print on a Vonage add, it says "does not include 911 emergency service". I'm assuming that means you have to dial some other number in case of emergencies

 

[1knight164]

Thanks everyone. Girlina4x4, i've heard the same thing. The companies have their own operators who would then contact 911 for you with your address. Doesn't sound very reliable. Am I safe to assume that the rest of these VOIP companies have the same system? Cellphones also don't tell the operator your immediate location either. Unless you give the operator your address, they have to find you via triangulation whereas landline gives the operator the location of the phone you're calling from. I was hoping to hear opinions from anyone using these services. Thanks anyway! Anyone???

 

[scorpiojkd]

When I signed up with Vonage the 911 system worked. It just wasn't automatic when you signed up. You had to first register your physical address so the 911 operators would know where you are calling from.

 

[geridoc]

Originally Posted by 1knight164
http:///forum/post/2737917
Thanks everyone. Girlina4x4, i've heard the same thing. The companies have their own operators who would then contact 911 for you with your address. Doesn't sound very reliable. Am I safe to assume that the rest of these VOIP companies have the same system? Cellphones also don't tell the operator your immediate location either. Unless you give the operator your address, they have to find you via triangulation whereas landline gives the operator the location of the phone you're calling from. I was hoping to hear opinions from anyone using these services. Thanks anyway! Anyone???
No, the larger voip services do have enhanced 911, which means that they transmit to the 911 operator your exact location. Typically, if the phone becomes disconnected from the service, even briefly, due to your internet connection going down, the next time you make a call an automated operator comes on and asks whether the phone is still at its former location, or has it been moved. This keeps the enhanced 911 service up to date.

 

[michael1972]

i have magicjack and i like it.
it has its ups and downs ie i cant get a local code so if my nabor wanted to call me it would be long distance. It gives you a choice to pick from but mine was not on it and the fact that my computer has to be on first b4 I call.
There was a thing when I set it up I had to put my address In there for 911 but have not tried it out.
For $19.00 a year heck I had to try it and I like it all my home phones run off on one magicjack jmo

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by Girlina4x4
http:///forum/post/2737884
I saw the fine print on a Vonage add, it says "does not include 911 emergency service". I'm assuming that means you have to dial some other number in case of emergencies

I have some family that uses VoIP. They use vondage. But what they did is activate it state side then plug it in overseas so they have a local to us telephone line. It is easy and cheap international calling. When used to sell vondage, the 911 problem they had was dialing 911 and them not knowing where to send the call since the # isn't associated with an address really. So what they did was create a second database where the number goes in then gets routed after you've signed up for the service. with the actual location of the phone...

 

[1knight164]

So it seems the VoIP companies have fixed the 911 problem. Sort of, but it's there. And, as Michael1972 says, $19.99 a year...wow. Worth a shot.
Another issue, if you lose power you also lose phone service, right? But with regular land-line you don't. I guess it's a chance worth taking hoping that cell towers are still operating.
I just saw a TV ad, late night of course, for OOMA. OOMA says you buy their equipment for something like $299 and phone calls are free forever??? True?
Oh, and the overseas setup sounds like a plan, stdreb27. I tend to find myself overseas quite a bit. I've been using cellphone but at a cost.

 

[cowfishrule]

i have vonage, and have no problems with it, unless comcast plays around, then i just happen to lose service.

 

[digitydash]

I have vonage it works very good but u need dsl or cable to run them.29.95 unlimited calls to any where in US and canada.

 

[scorpiojkd]

Also regarding the 911 system... If you have regular phone jacks in the house that are connected but no longer being used by a regular landline service 911 should still work from that line. Locally its called Express Dial.

 

[1knight164]

Originally Posted by scorpiojkd
http:///forum/post/2740463
Also regarding the 911 system... If you have regular phone jacks in the house that are connected but no longer being used by a regular landline service 911 should still work from that line. Locally its called Express Dial.
Didn't know that. So you can cancel landline service but still get 911. Just plug in the phone and dial? Thanks!

 

[scorpiojkd]

i would check first with your local phone service provider....
but it does work that way here

 

[paintballer768]

My local news did a story on MagicJack a while back. Didnt work, and then when they approached the company, they ran away and wouldnt return calls.