Looking to get rid of local phone service

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 08, 2004 Posts: 3

Greetings all!

I am looking into Vonage because for a while now I've wanted to get rid of my local "landline". My wife and I both have cell phones with free long distance and ample minutes and we have had broadband access for a while as well.

We've only had a couple of reasons for not going cellular only and that is cell reliability (some calls never ring) and international calling is expensive from cell. Vonage would seem to be the perfect alternative for us because it would solve both of these issues.

In fact, we would be able to keep our landline number and save money on calls to my wife's sister in Germany. My question is.....Since Vonage to Vonage calls are free, couldn't we get her sister to have a number here and allow us to call her for free in Germany? It seems that this would work in theory? or would it?

Thanks in advance!

MillerTimeAtl

Posts: 38 · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2004 4:40 pm Post subject:

According to the "Virtual Number FAQs" on the Vonage site, they are not currently offering numbers outside of the US and Canada. Is this true, or do they need to update their site?

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 08, 2004 Posts: 3

I was thinking that it might be possible. Nonetheless, I think it will certainly work for us if the quality is good. We honestly don't use our "home" phones much with the exception of calling to Germany.

Thanks again!

MillerTimeAtl

Posts: 8

I've been off my landline phone over a year now with Vonage and still love their service despite an expected occasional hickups in Customer services, and long distance calls to Asia.

Just to remind everyone, Vonage is a Voice Over Internet Protocol. The actual IP protocol that VOIP services including Vonage is UDP. It is a connectionless and unreliable protocol. The good side of it is the best way to transmit Real Time data including Voice data.

Knowing this fact, VOIP can be a reliable solution if it is over a private network. VONAGE uses the public Internet to route your call like any other ISP out there including International call. Expect some possible issue if your ISP or the Internet in general is having some problem.

Here's how to avoid problem if you decide to use Vonage as your primary Land Line phone.

1. Use a good Firewall and Switch (not hub) such as Cisco PIX 501 to connect to your cable modem or ADSL modem and provide security to your home network and VOIP data.
Or place your Mot or Cisco ATA in front of your router to provide QOS but I just don't trust the Mot security.
2. Get at least 600 VAC UPS to provide 20 - 30 minutes of backup power for your Cable Modem and your Analog Telephone Adapter and cordless phone.
3. Obtain new number or port your number from your landline carrier if you have a great amount of patience. Check the USPS ZIP code and mailing address method. This is important to provide the most accurate address of your location for 911 calls to your local Emergency number service. (Vonage support 911 calls)

Personally, I never had any delays, cust, drop off to calls anywhere within the Continental U.S. , Canada and Great Britain, France and Nedherland.

You can buy here sister anoher VONAGE box to use in Germany as long as she have a broadband Internet connection. The phone number for her box could be any number from your local area code or any area code in the U.S.

Her call to your vonage number will be an unlimited free calls because it never terminates on any POTS line. It will be strictly an Internet call. She will also have this local area code for anyone wishing to call her sister and it will only cost them a local call charge if any.

MillerTimeAtl wrote:

Greetings all!

I am looking into Vonage because for a while now I've wanted to get rid of my local "landline". My wife and I both have cell phones with free long distance and ample minutes and we have had broadband access for a while as well.

We've only had a couple of reasons for not going cellular only and that is cell reliability (some calls never ring) and international calling is expensive from cell. Vonage would seem to be the perfect alternative for us because it would solve both of these issues.

In fact, we would be able to keep our landline number and save money on calls to my wife's sister in Germany. My question is.....Since Vonage to Vonage calls are free, couldn't we get her sister to have a number here and allow us to call her for free in Germany? It seems that this would work in theory? or would it?

Thanks in advance!

MillerTimeAtl

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 08, 2004 Posts: 3

Very informative post, skydivenshort. I forgot about the broadband aspect in Germany. I do not think that my wife's sister currently has broadband access. Although, having the ability to have a number in the states would make it worth investigating.

Thanks again!

MillerTimeAtl

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 14, 2004 Posts: 1

Vonage is great and it works well.

But if all you need is a cheaper way to call Germany, then you should just buy a phone card and use your cell to make call, assuming you have unlimited local minutes.