Lack of Available Area Codes

Posts: 249 · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 10:40 am Post subject: Lack of Available Area Codes

I referred two folk to Vonage last month. Neither had heard of Voip. Both looked at Vonage, then signed up with Packet8!! The reason, Packet8 offers area codes in their area. Vonage doesn't.

I know what they are saying. I have been waiting and waiting for my area code, (541) to come along. I cannot drop Ma Bell until my neighbor can call me without it being long distance. I wrote an e-mail to Vonage two weeks ago. Got a reply last evening saying, "they are constantly expanding the areas of availability in this area." A reply that is no reply.

Not from what I can see! Does anybody know why Vonage offers so few area codes? Do they "Buy" telephone numbers? If so, who set themselves up as the "phone number seller"guru? There must be more to this problem then shows.

I'm watching the two friends that I referred to Vonage and took up Packet8. If their service is good I'm afraid I'll have to go where I can get my correct area code.

Posts: 2 · Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 12:36 pm Post subject:

my understanding of how it works is that they buy up a block of numbers in certain area codes and then distribute them out. I am sure they have some way of determining the customer base in certain areas, and they try to hit all the major cities if nothing else. I live in a small state and there are i think 4 cities covered in my state.

They are expanding though, if you read through the site news they take on about 2 or 3 cities at least a month. Right now though it seems their focus is international, but they are expanding some here in the states still. You figure it is a company that started from nothing so it does take a little bit of time to expand. Think about a cell phone company that actually builds their network like sprint pcs. I remember when they barely covered the major cities, and now they cover the vast majority of the US

Posts: 249 · Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 1:08 pm Post subject: Buy Phone Numbers

Buy a block from who?? How did some guy end up owning the nations phone numbers? Second question, since Packet is a little fry next to Vonage, how come they offer so many more area codes?

I'm really curious about this. I did a long Google search on the subject and couldn't find much.

I'm sure I could bring in some new accounts if Vonage could come up with numbers.