Why Should I Keep Waiting?

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 29, 2005 Posts: 4

My LNP request has been sitting in limbo since Christmas Eve 2004. I've had multiple "tentative" dates and even a "rejection" that was based on what I now think was an outright lie (Vonage claimed my old carrier rejected the deal b/c personal info wasn't the same, my old carrier's number port dept. verified all of the same info, so someone's full of you-know-what). I don't know whether to blame Vonage or the incompetent XO Communications, who is unfortunately the middleman on my request.

And more than anything, I've been simply appalled at the lack of timely updates or communication from Vonage.

So, I ask: why should I hang around? I wanted to keep my cell number, which Vonage promised could happen. Now, I hardly care. My wife is ready to go to Packet 8 b/c of their E911, which Vonage doesn't have.

I feel like I was suckered into this... and if I can't come up with a good reason in a week, I'm gone.

Posts: 492 · Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 7:23 pm Post subject:

Well, ya know, do what you like, it's up to you.

Vonage is not trying to lie to you, or to deliberately hold up your number transfer. Right now, the number that you are waiting for belongs to someone else. They own it, they want to keep it, there is a shortage of telephone numbers. By law they have to sell it to Vonage, the law doesn't specify how long they take to do it. So, they are doing their best to give Vonage as difficult a time as possible. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do. Cancel your service. Go to someone else. You will have to start all over again waiting while these phone companies play games with each other. The other company wants you to give up and cancel. That way they get to keep the number. Am I getting through to you?

Some years ago, the current switched wire telephone system was king. They had a monopoly on telephone communications. The FCC broke up the monopoly into a dozen or so different companies. Then came along the cell phone and it needed it's own number. It had to purchase it from the local phone company in order for it to be unique. The trend continued until we now have more cell phones than PSTN phones. The battle began. New area codes were created in order to increase the phone number pool. Along comes Voip wanting yet more. They are all sold out! Get it!

Have you ever wondered why Vonage uses 11 digits in it's dialing sequence? How about how Verizon became the largest phone company in the country? Voip and wireless work on a digital basis. They can be reprogrammed. The PSTN can not. They don't want to go out of business and every phone number they lose is another nail in their coffin.

I hope that I've made things clear. I had a ball writing this, whether anyone reads it or not, I don't care.

Mike