Is there a way to have an 800 number ring differently?

Posts: 19 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Sep 07, 2008 Posts: 19

I just called Vonage tech support just now, asking about this a 2nd time. This time the call was routed within the U.S. so I got a native English speaking person. He didn't know offhand so he asked a manager who was sitting beside a specialist who was even more knowledgeable. They all seem to say it is still possible to have the 800 number forwarded to another outside number like a cell phone, and still have the Vonage primary number remain unforwarded. So they say that an 800 number WOULD appear in the drop-down menu for Call Forwarding & can be individually forwarded. The same thing for virtual numbers as well.

VonTechMgr, what you say seems to make sense & is discouraging. But I think I'm going to hang on to a shred of hope because of what the Vonage tech support have said to me 2 times. Are you speaking from firsthand experience & you've witnessed this with people who actually have 800 numbers?

As for the double minutes, I was interpreting that when receiving an 800 number, you'd get charged per minute for the 800 call. And if you have the 800 number forwarded, you'd additionally be taking up your regular minutes for making the forwarded call. However, if you got the $24.99/month unlimited Vonage plan, then your regular minutes are paid for anyway so it wouldn't be a "double" charge - just the charges for the 800 number.

It's frustrating in today's fast-paced high tech world how different people say different things. I guess the only sure way to find out is to go ahead & get that 800 number. I will do it soon & when I do I'll report back...

Posts: 19 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Sep 07, 2008 Posts: 19

I just thought about this. For my purpose (having an 800 number forwarded to another number but not have my primary number forwarded), I may as well just find an outside 800 toll-free company that is not Vonage. I'm looking at some rates and some are just as low & even lower than Vonage. The advantage of an outside company is that you can choose your own 800 number, you can't with Vonage. Vonage auto-generates it for you. Oh well, I guess this problem has been solved!

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 20, 2008 Posts: 4

Here is what I use and it makes things easier.

800 # for $2 a month

you choose the 800 # you want and forward it wherever you want. the caller ID can be set to show either the number calling you or the 800 number, so you know its coming from there.

Posts: 19 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Sep 07, 2008 Posts: 19

That seems to be a great feature (to be able to configure the Caller ID). If I configure the caller ID to show the 800 number instead of the number calling me, then I can set my phone's ringer to ring differently for that 800 number. Problem solved!

$2 a month seems to be too good to be true though. I'll have to research how many minutes that includes & what an average monthly bill would cost me...

Posts: 81 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Sep 26, 2008 Posts: 81

Agreed>A Vonage toll free number points to their primary Vonage line and is for inbound calls only.

Posts: 81 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Sep 26, 2008 Posts: 81

Agreed>A Vonage toll free number points to their primary Vonage line and is for inbound calls only.

Posts: 227 · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:57 pm Post subject:

Outlier04 wrote:

$2 a month seems to be too good to be true though. I'll have to research how many minutes that includes & what an average monthly bill would cost me...

Perhaps it isn't too good to be true, but check out the usage-sensitive rate. It appears to be $0.069/minute (rounding is not specified, so it is probably rounded up to the next full minute). This is more than twice the per-minute rate generally charged for 800 service. This service appears to be aimed at customers with very low usage.