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Vonage I received a message from this user asking for a response on this question. I certainly
I received a message from this user asking for a response on this question. I certainly have little expertise in the are of retail activation, but I will add what I know and maybe others could flesh it out.
Why does Vonage maintain a list of valid MAC addresses for retail devices?
Vonage is able to limit the devices in use on its network by only allowing devices that are shipped to the consumer pre-configured to work with Vonage. This is important as the use of other, non-approved devices, would certainly increase technical support costs and would possibly put the system at risk for other users.
Is this the best technical solution from a user point of view? No! Vonage could have adopted a model similar to that used with GSM mobile phones where the configuration and customer information is maintained on a smart card that can moved from device to device. However, Vonage primarily used consumer equipment that was available rather than specifying a standard and allowing manufacturers build equipment that meets that standard. See DirecTV for an example of the other business model. The smart card solution would also have allowed users two easily swap out devices when travelling or in case of failure.
Why would a MAC address not appear in the database?
The most likely explanation is human error. A MAC address, or more likely a range of addresses that was shipped for retail sale was not correctly added into the database.
Other possibilities (and I am not referring specifically to this case) include previously registered devices that are specifically black listed possibly because of tampering or unauthorized factory resets, devices that have been reported stolen or devices being sold through non-authorized outlets.
One other possibility is an error in transcoding the MAC address from the user to Vonage.
How should I deal with this situation?
Vonage's advice is to exchange the device. If the MAC address is listed on the outside of the box I would certainly make an effort to verify the address is capable of activation before leaving the store. I would make an attempt to find a MAC address that was significantly different from one that was indicated not to work.
Why can't Vonage just add the address in?
The person who would be requested to add the address would have no knowledge of why the device wasn't listed and could not be reasonably allowed to validate the device. It is likely that a human error problem affecting multiple devices would be caught sooner than later, but the still leaves device exchange as the most expedient solution.
Read The Full Thread: Vonage will not accept IP8100 from Sam''s Club
• I am completely baffled by this, and need advice.
Purchased a VTech IP8100-3
• http://vonage.com/help.php?article=901
did you do this part?
1. Open
• I am not yet a Vonage customer. From what I can tell I'm supposed to visit www.vonage.com/activate
• ok, it's hard to tell from reading those instructions, but since it's not worth
• Thanks for the info...
I'm not impressed with Vonage so far. I don't understand
• Sorry to dredge up a 6-week old thread, but this is the problem I am having now.
I
• I have not faced this problem since I chose to keep all my components separate rather
• The second phone that Sam's Club sent to me worked fine. Interestingly enough,
• is the ip8100-3 still available? i bought the ip8100-2 plus an extra handset.
scerruti posted "I received a message from this user asking for a response on this question. I certainly" on 09/01/2005 |
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