What do I need to do to use a WiFi phone?

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 20, 2005 Posts: 2

Maybe it's not popular, but a lot of services don't advertise the fact that you can use WiFi phones with their service. I have a few questions and I wonder if you guys can help me.

1. I want to know what specs am I looking for in a WiFi phone. Vonage specifically. But if you guys have any info about using WiFi phones on other services, please let me know.

2. While reading through some of the threads here, I noticed someone mentioned that a BYOD option is available to those who purchase a business account. Is this true? Or would I have to still use the seperate line on the business account to get the settings for the WiFi phone that I'd purchase.

Trust me, I've called Vonage Customer service about some questions, and I can't seem to get any straight answers. I figured I'd ask people who use the service to help me out.

Thanks in Advance.

Posts: 203 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 203

smokeyb111 wrote:

Maybe it's not popular, but a lot of services don't advertise the fact that you can use WiFi phones with their service. I have a few questions and I wonder if you guys can help me.

1. I want to know what specs am I looking for in a WiFi phone. Vonage specifically. But if you guys have any info about using WiFi phones on other services, please let me know.

Actually WiFi is getting VERY popular. You will be looking for a service that allows BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) because that is what you are doing. To use a WiFi phone with Vonage you need to sign up for soft phone account for an extra fee per month (limited minuets and those ridiculous fees/taxes). Any provider that allows BYOD will not charge for this feature however.

smokeyb111 wrote:

2. While reading through some of the threads here, I noticed someone mentioned that a BYOD option is available to those who purchase a business account. Is this true? Or would I have to still use the seperate line on the business account to get the settings for the WiFi phone that I'd purchase.

Not 100% on this one, things may have changed over the last year since I looked at their business accounts. But to my recollection (and a quick look at the website) BYOD is not an option for business plans either. Even if it is the residential plan + soft phone is a cheaper option then the business plan.

smokeyb111 wrote:

Trust me, I've called Vonage Customer service about some questions, and I can't seem to get any straight answers. I figured I'd ask people who use the service to help me out.

Thanks in Advance.

Good luck with CS.

Posts: 327 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Dec 13, 2005 Posts: 327

I agree with Brian on this one - using a residential account with a soft phone add on is probably the best option. You could then use a WiFi only phone or a WiFi/GSM phone (but without hand over since there are no cooperating GSM Cellular carriers).

Posts: 80 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Oct 24, 2007 Posts: 80

Maybe I am reading this post wrong, but if you are asking about a wi-fi phone such as Vonage's IP-8100, then you do not need to download a softphone plan to your computer. The wi-fi would operate on the 14.99 [500 minute outgoing plan with unlimited incoming minutes], or 24.99 [unlimited outgoing and incoming] plan. This price includes all the features.

Unfortunately, this is the only wi-fi phone that vonage offers at this time.

Posts: 327 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Dec 13, 2005 Posts: 327

The 8100 is NOT a WiFi phone. It is a regular cordless phone with an ATA built into the base. That is the same as using a simple ATA and plugging in a traditional cordless phone - with the exceptions that there is just one box and one power module (instead of one for the phone and one for the ATA) and the whole thing is locked to Vonage and difficult to use for anything else (instead of the ATA locked to Vonage plus just a POTS cordless phone).

A WiFi phone is the equivalent of an ATA that you carry around. Its base can be "any" WiFi access point (home or away), compared to the cordless phone that is always matched to the same base.

With respect to the soft phone - you do not need to download the soft phone software to use a WiFi phone, you only need to sign up for the account. This is because Vonage gives you the SIP credentials for a soft phone account while they do not do that for a primary account ($25, $15, or any other). You can take the informaiton for the soft phone account, put it into the WiFi phone (or dual mode phone) and go from there - no PC needed.

Posts: 80 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Oct 24, 2007 Posts: 80

I am so sorry about my last post. I definately DID NOT mean the IP-8100. I was thinking along a different train of thought. That model is a base with a cordless handset. What I meant to say was the vonage "wi-fi" phone. Sorry if I caused anyone any confusion.

Posts: 12 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Sep 19, 2007 Posts: 12

There is an alternative to the wifi phone. It is your ordinary cell phone which does not need a wifi connection to use your Vonage account. You can take advantage of the Call Transfer, 3-way calling and Call Return features of Vonage. If you install a switch such as the DialMate CM1003 (see www.woodtel.com) to your Vonage ATA, you can call your Vonage number, the CM1003 answers, you enter the pre-programmed PIN, dial the number you want to call, the CM1003 hookflashes and gets another dialtone, dials the destination number and then hangs up. Your call gets connected to the destination number through the Vonage server. Your Vonage line is now ready for the next user (multiple users can make calls almost simultaneously without the Vonage line getting busy). If your cell phone carrier is T-Mobile (favorite five) you will have unlimited free air time. Same thing for Sprint/Nextel (free incoming calls) by using the Call Back Feature of the CM1003. With a USA/Canadian phone number (landline or mobile) anywhere in the world, multiple users can make free calls using one Vonage account.

Posts: 241 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Mar 17, 2006 Posts: 241

There are a few reasons why Vonage is likely to consider that method to be a violation of their TOS. Probably OK for occasional use but don't make it the primary way you use the service.

Posts: 203 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 203

With a soft phone account you do not need to sign up for the Vonage WiFi account/device.

If you ask me neither is worthwhile.

Posts: 101 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Jun 05, 2005 Posts: 101

Are there any Windows Mobile applications that can run as a BYOD if they have WiFi ability?

I know that things like Skype and some others can run on WM6 devices but does Vonages softphone do it?