Business Plan versus Regular Plan

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 07, 2005 Posts: 2

What extra features do you get if you buy the unlimited business plan versus buying the unlimited personal plan plus a fax line?

Posts: 126 · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 12:56 am Post subject:

I posed the same question to Vonage and was told this:

That a business line is obviously just for business'. So I asked the rep "how would you know if im conducting business, or if i just talk a lot on the phone?" He told me that they watch numbers incoming and outgoing and that if they see a lot of activity on your account, that they will automatically switch you to the business account and make you pay that premium.

Its ludacris to think that first off. Can they do that legally? I guess we will see. My girlfriend talks on the phone like shes 14 years old. So if it is that they switch my account over, I will file the necessary complaints, and see what happens. This is another reason (in my opinion) that they need regulation. If in fact they do this (yet to be seen) I think that it would be breaking some kind of law/telcom rule (when regulated).

So I have the same exact question. We have friends and family ALL over the country and in Australia, Mexico, etc, so how is it they are going to make that determination? I really don't think they can, but I guess we will see what happens.

Posts: 2252 · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 1:12 am Post subject:

SaltAquatics wrote:

I posed the same question to Vonage and was told this:

That a business line is obviously just for business'. So I asked the rep "how would you know if im conducting business, or if i just talk a lot on the phone?" He told me that they watch numbers incoming and outgoing and that if they see a lot of activity on your account, that they will automatically switch you to the business account and make you pay that premium.

Its ludacris to think that first off. Can they do that legally? I guess we will see. My girlfriend talks on the phone like shes 14 years old. So if it is that they switch my account over, I will file the necessary complaints, and see what happens. This is another reason (in my opinion) that they need regulation. If in fact they do this (yet to be seen) I think that it would be breaking some kind of law/telcom rule (when regulated).

So I have the same exact question. We have friends and family ALL over the country and in Australia, Mexico, etc, so how is it they are going to make that determination? I really don't think they can, but I guess we will see what happens.

I know a little bit about this. Algorithms are used to determine if the traffic is that of a 14 year old or that of a business. It all is very simple.

Now, I do not believe you will find a single post in this forum from a resi customer complaining about being switched to a business plan.

You will find a few from some business customers who admittedly got caught on a resi plan.

As for the legalities, it is all covered in the TOS.

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 03, 2005 Posts: 10

Algorithms? Like, listening for key words or something? Please clarify, I'm a little curious. Thank you! =)

Posts: 2252 · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:06 am Post subject:

crazipper wrote:

Algorithms? Like, listening for key words or something? Please clarify, I'm a little curious. Thank you! =)

Business = Heavy traffic + 9:00am through 5:00pm + Monday through Friday + short duration calls + large list of multiple numbers called.

Talkative girlfriend = Heavy traffic + all hours of the day/night + everyday of the week + long duration calls + short list of called numbers.

If I were to build the algo, that would be it. Exactly how Vonage defines it, I do not know.

Posts: 126 · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 4:08 am Post subject:

Although I do agree with you Dan, I still think its a bit sketchy. I realize you stated that, thats how you would do it... I think I would too, but to be 100% sure is just not possible.

Posts: 2252 · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 4:21 am Post subject:

SaltAquatics wrote:

Although I do agree with you Dan, I still think its a bit sketchy. I realize you stated that, thats how you would do it... I think I would too, but to be 100% sure is just not possible.

I have a little knowledge on how these things are done - but again - it really is not an issue.

The only person that I know of that was wrongly flagged was using the service as a baby monitor.

Posts: 126 · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 4:35 am Post subject:

dconnor wrote:

The only person that I know of that was wrongly flagged was using the service as a baby monitor.

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 03, 2005 Posts: 10

Ah thanks for the clarification. Guess I shouldn't be so darned paranoid all the time Smile

Posts: 21 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jan 10, 2005 Posts: 21

Hmm... so I wonder if my American Idol autodialer will flag me as a business customer. Lots of short calls on Monday and Tuesday, although they are at night.