Please help me understand ..

Posts: 69 · Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:24 pm Post subject: Please help me understand ..

Hey,

So, I do not understand something, so I hope someone is able to help me understand. Vonage offers over 20 very useful features. I realize some are not used as much, however, for the price, you get some awesome features included. Comcast only offers 12 features, as does most of the other cable providers.

How come Vonage is not growing and cable companies, such as Comcast, who offers less features AND after the promotional period costs over $40/mo., are growing with more phone subscribers?

Over $40/mo. through Comcast seems pointless to me. Would be cheaper to go back to Qwest.

Posts: 20 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: May 31, 2006 Posts: 20

Here are a few reasons I can think of:
--People see the bundle deal from their cable provider as an easy way to go. One stop shopping, one bill, one source of tech support.
--Vonage has earned itself a reputation for lousy tech support.
--Vonage has little advertising reach anymore due to poor financial health.
Vonage appeals to somewhat tech-savvy people looking for a good deal, but other options are cheaper, in some cases way cheaper, like Skype.

Maybe my path is typical:
Verizon copper to Vonage $14.99, 'cuz it was cheaper.
Vonage to Comcast bundle, 'cuz it was cheaper (for a year).
Comcast to Skype, 'cuz the bundle ended, so Comcast is silly expensive.

In my experience, Skype call quality is pretty good. Not only is the
cost low, but except for Skype-in, which I don't use, the cost is
pay-as-you-go.

I admit this is somewhat apples to oranges, as I don't really have
a "home phone" anymore. Some people like to have a fixed-line
phone in addition to their mobile phone. (Everyone has a mobile
phone, right?) Me, I don't care, I use a pay-as-you-go mobile and
I cut my outgoing call cost with Skype. If I ever want a fixed line
phone again, I'll pay for Skype-in.

I also admit the business customer has a completely different
point of view. Namely call quality really matters.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Sep 03, 2008 Posts: 1

I totally agree with the last comments and I'll add my 2 cents. There are actually gripes.

Joined Vonage about 4 or 5 years ago, don't remember, the service was great. Not a geek but tech savvy. I was able to call a lot of international location and Nigeria that I called most was a cinch. Not any longer. Skype service to Nigeria is good, you can always get through.
Vonage has ONLY 3 adapters on their website. That leaves the average consumer no choice of equipment. I remember up to 3 years ago they had so many equipment license agreement wiht Linksys, Dlink, Mototola and a couple of others. I liked linksys especially the WRTPG bundled with wireless router. It was zapped during a thunderstorm and now I have to go to after market to get one. Some people are selling it for over $200! WHY lack of equipment? I don't know maybe Vonage is telling people they don't want to be around any longer.
What is with that lousy music ot thevonage advertisement? The ads are ugly and the music is horrible, they need to find something appealing.
Paying additinal $10 for fax line is too much.
Paying setup fee of $10 for virtual line is too much, it should be free.
Vonage should make softphone pay as you go rather than monthly $4.95
Didn't Vonage hired a turn-around expert? WHat has he been doing in the last three months. All I see are the lousy commercial and music and websites splattered with banner ads...
Hey new CEO, if you ever get this, license out more equipment!