Feature: Some 800 numbers are eternally busy!

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 30, 2005 Posts: 4

Hello,

I just found an interesting Vonage "feature". I've been wondering why the 800 number to my local hospital (as well as some other 800 numbers) always gets a fast busy signal on Vonage but not on non-VOIP phone systems. According to Vonage support local 800 numbers cannot be accessed over their system. How very convenient! Their solution is to ask the business/hospital/whaterver for a non-800 number and use it instead. And if they only have an 800 number, well, then you're just SOL! This combined with all the other problems I've had with VOIP, or at least Vonage's implementation of it, has convinced me to go back to SBC or whichever "reliable" carrier can give me the best deal. They may not have all the features for the low price of Vonage, but at least their service is reliable and always of good quality.

Ray

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: May 17, 2005 Posts: 3

my 800 numbers work perfectly so far. I just started with vonage 4-5-05

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 30, 2005 Posts: 4

shesails wrote:

my 800 numbers work perfectly so far. I just started with vonage 4-5-05

Yes, but note that I said "local 800 numbers". Apparently you can get 800 numbers with different coverage areas, i.e., US, state, region, city, etc. The ones I'm having trouble with are apparently limited to in-state (California in this case). I've had no trouble with nationwide 800 numbers.

Posts: 89 · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 3:58 pm Post subject:

Since Vonage is in new Jersey that is where all your calls are from. Most regional 800 numbers have a mile radius that they will accept calls from. Even if you live in Texas and are calling a Texas 800# the call is coming from NJ so it will not connect.

I solved this problem myself by using a VOIP provider that is close to where I live( not to metion the service is MUCH better), but I also understand that is not an option for everyone. Sorry to say it is just one of the unforseen problems of VOIP.

Good Luck

Posts: 14 · Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 3:42 am Post subject:

Not trying to be argumentative here, but just about anybody is going to have a non-800 number you can call them on. Even companies with national 800 numbers need to be able to accept calls from outside the US, for example. Some of them don't like to give their non-800 number to you because they don't get your CID* info to use and abuse if you block (etc.) the call. Personally, I haven't found it to be much of an inconvenience.

Tip: if you want to vote with Vonage on American Idol west coast, find out your contestant's number on the website, then vote during the east coast timeslot (unfortunately before you see the show, but most people [everybody?] have favorites by now anyway).

* = actually its ANI for 800 numbers, and if it were ANI2 it would work properly, but that's for another thread...