Rebate with Linksys Router with VoIP

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: May 29, 2005 Posts: 3

Hi all,

I'm new to VoIP and located in Toronto, Canada. I been looking at Primus and Vonage. I'm planning to sign up with Vonage, they'll will ship my a phone adaptor (I assume is Linksys PAP). However, I want to get a wireless router for my house. I went to Staples, and saw Linksys wireless G router with 2 Phone jack. Will I get any discount from Vonage on my monthly subscription? With Primus, I get $4 off each month if I purchase the equipment.

Thanks!

Posts: 188 · Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 4:12 pm Post subject:

Nope, no discount off the monthly rate for purchased equipment with Vonage, just the rebate on the adapter if you purchase it at a retail outlet. If you're looking at Primus, you might want to read the fine print for "termination" fees. Some providers charge a termination fee in certain circumstances.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: May 29, 2005 Posts: 3

How much for the upfront cost to sign up with Vonage? ie. Activation fee and equipment delivery charge.

I can't find it on Vonage.ca. Anyone?

Posts: 188 · Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 9:14 pm Post subject:

If you buy the adapter at a retail outlet, there is no activation or set up fee. If you order the adapter on line, they charge a $40 activation fee, $20 delivery, and your first month's service fee up front.

I would buy the adapter. It is quicker (you can activate it right away)and cheaper when you factor in the rebate. When you register your purchased adapter, you'll only be responsible for the first month's service up front.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: May 29, 2005 Posts: 3

Thanks for the info. I didn't know Vonage charge that much for activation and delivery!

Which model is eligable for rebate with Vonage? I only seen Linksys WRT54GP2 at Staples.

Posts: 188 · Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 11:46 pm Post subject:

As far as I know, all Vonage adapters and routers are eligible. The prices that I quoted were for the Linksys PAP2 adapter not the WRT54GP2. Check the retail outlet of your choice for details on the rebate. In addition to Staples, you can get adapters at The Source (formerly Radio Shack), Best Buy, and Future Shop. If you have a router already, you only need the Linksys PAP2 unless you are looking to get a new router too. This will connect to your existing router. The Linksys WRT54GP2 is a router and Vonage phone adapter all in one if you don't have a router already. The rebate is payable after you have been a subscriber for three months. The rebate is paid within four months after that.

I just checked the Staples web site. They advertise a $65 rebate on the PAP2 and the WRT54GP2 until July 31st. This is a Vonage offer so it shouldn't matter which retail outlet you buy from. The PAP2 is $74.95 before rebate, the WRT54GP2 is $169.95 before rebate.

Posts: 110 · Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 1:13 am Post subject:

Primus does not charge an activation fee, nor a shipping fee. There is no termination fee aswell (ie, no contract). And you have the option of buying their (Primus) $99 adaptor to get a discount of $4/month of service.

With Vonage's fees and services, Primus still seems to be the better deal. The only reason I haven't chosen Primus is because you can't get any virtual (or primary) numbers in the US. Only for about 10 Canadian cities.

I've chosen Yak Voip because they sorta have the advantages of both Primus and Vonage. Yak only charges $18.99 (Vonage -$19.99) for 600 minutes (Vonage - 500 minutes). And its only $3.99 for virtual number (Vonage - $7.99). I'm also able to get primary and virtual numbers for the US aswell (Vonage - Primary has to be canadian). The only thing that isn't great is that after the 30 day trial period, yer locked into a year contract ($70 termination fee). I just finished my 30 days, and the service has been great, I'm staying. No Activation fee, and No Shipping fee. Oh and after the year contract, the phone adaptor is yours to keep.

Posts: 336 · Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 9:28 pm Post subject:

I am currently with both Vonage and Primus. Primus is cheaper, but I have had on-going disconnect problems as well as voice quality problems. My Vonage is going through the same Internet connection and never once was disconnected or had warbling sounds when I am speaking.

To me, Vonage is worth the extra money. Eventually I may get rid of Primus all together. I will stay with them for 6 months to see if they get their problems worked out.

Posts: 183 · Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 11:27 pm Post subject:

TopazAl wrote:

Thanks for the info. I didn't know Vonage charge that much for activation and delivery!

Which model is eligable for rebate with Vonage? I only seen Linksys WRT54GP2 at Staples.

I recommend buying a standard wireless router and the inexpensive PAP2 phone adapter. With an ordinary Linksys non-Vonage router YOU can control the router firmware, either Linksys-provided or third party. (Many of us are using firmware from Sveasoft or others that allows you to tune your router to provide optimized VoIP performance.) With the Vonage-branded router only Vonage can upgrade the firmware. You'll pay a lot of extra money for that router, and if you decide in the future that Vonage isn't for you, then your router becomes a very expensive ordinary router that can never get upgraded firmware.

There are usually rebate offers from Linksys and mass merchandisers for the WRT54G and GS routers, and you can probably get a full rebate on what you'll pay for the PAP2. I'm in the USA so I can't state with any certainty that the same is true for Canada, so 'your mileage may vary'.

Sorry to add another wrinkle to your decision, but the more you know the better the decision you can make,

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: May 17, 2005 Posts: 1

I have had Vonage for 6 months now and love it. I tried Primus recently and three days after I got it, it went back. The main reason : transferred calls and call forwarded calls are NOT included in the unlimited plan. You have to pay the long distance toll for calls that are transferred or forwarded to long distance numbers. I never saw this on their website, but it was written on the USer Agreement that I received with my equipment.

I emailed Primus and explained that Vonage does not think like you guys (with your wallets) and said that unless they changed this, I would be cancelling right away and going back to Vonage.

The bottom line here is that companies are not seeing the true potential of VOIP. They are not paying anything extra for a forwarded call than one that is made direct. So why not give that perk to their customers?!? It would make customers very happy (as I am with Vonage).

Just my 2 cents