how to buy new F1000?

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 27, 2007 Posts: 1

My wifi UTStarcom F1000 phone broke yesterday, but I can't find a new one. When I call Vonage, they tell me that I have to buy one from a retailer or open a new phone line with them. I can't find a retailer that carries the F1000 for sale that won't require me to set up an account with them. And it's not clear that the F1000's I'm finding on ebay, etc. are actually Vonage compatible. I don't understand why Vonage won't sell me a new one. What's the point in having an account with them if I don't have a phone that I can use with it! Does anyone know WHY they won't sell me a new one or somewhere else I can buy a wifi phone that is compatible with Vonage that doesn't require a soft phone account?

Posts: 328 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Dec 13, 2005 Posts: 328

The only WiFi phones that work with Vonage primary accounts are Vonage branded. You MAY be able to get one of those on eBay (subject to all the cautions of buying Vonage devices on eBay and getting Vonage to aceppt them). Other than that, the only place to get one is from Vonage directly, since they never put these into retail stores.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Sep 19, 2007 Posts: 1

howiewifi wrote:

The only WiFi phones that work with Vonage primary accounts are Vonage branded. You MAY be able to get one of those on eBay (subject to all the cautions of buying Vonage devices on eBay and getting Vonage to aceppt them). Other than that, the only place to get one is from Vonage directly, since they never put these into retail stores.

I was told by customer service that it was simple a matter of adding the MAC address after logging into the website. Now I am finding out that buying US Starcom F1000 phone retail online gets 'not compatible with Vonage' notice. It was explained to me by at Vonage customer service that right now this was your best option considering that they are all sold out of this phone.

I do not mean any offence but that's kind of shady that you have to go and possibly spend between 100 to 200 dollars for a phone that 'maybe' will be compatible with Vonage, even when this is the one they recommend. There simply going to have to get on the ball and get new phones (since it seems to be in high demand). Or expand the variety of phones so you can get a phone and it does not have to be 'Vonage branded'.

Posts: 328 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Dec 13, 2005 Posts: 328

With the F1000 or with any other device - putting the MAC in on the Vonage web site works because the MAC is listed in Vonage's database and they have the unique passwords for each device that they got from the manufacturer. If you buy a device that is NOT Vonage branded, then the MAC will not be in the Vonage database and they will not be able to do anything with it on a primary account - only on a soft phone account. If Vonage allowed you to "Bring Your Own Device", that would be a different case.

Customer service may have misinterpreted what you asked but it is very clear that if a device is not branded Vonage (and locked to Vonage), then it is not "compatible" with a primary Vonage account. On the other hand, pretty much "any" SIP based deivce should be fine with a Vonage soft phone account.