Can't reach another Vonage customer

Posts: 14 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 18, 2005 Posts: 14

I'm having no luck calling another Vonage customer whose Internet may be currently out. Although I normally reach him on Vonage using his regular phone number, that number is still waiting to be ported over. I get a Vonage recording that the number is invalid when I try to call.

Is there any way of bypassing the Vonage system on his end and connecting to his Sprint line (same number)? Or is it impossible to connect with another Vonage customer who is waiting for porting except via the Vonage system?

Thanks for any help.

Posts: 282

I just ported my number to Vonage and during the time I was waiting for my number to transfer, all Vonage to Vonage customer calls would come in on my temporary virtual number - even if dialed to my un-ported MCI number. I was on with Customer Service, and he was able to call me on my still un-ported MCI line by first entering some code so it wouldn't terminate on the Vonage adapter that he wanted to test.

I'm sorry I don't know if this can be done by customers or not, but you are correct that the Vonage to Vonage calls - even made to the still un-ported number - will go to the temp virtual number.

A way around this would be to call his un-ported number from your cell phone or any non-Vonage phone - it should terminate on his un-ported telco line (assuming the transfer hasn't completed).

Posts: 14 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 18, 2005 Posts: 14

Internet at the number I was trying to call is now back, so I was finally able to get through. But not being able to reach somebody who has a valid, working telephone number is definitely a potential problem.

As I interpret primary FCC regulations covering telephone service, universal system inability to connect to an available working regional line under normal operating conditions would be a clear violation. I'm assuming that applies to VOIPs as well as POTS providers. It appears there would HAVE to be some way of bypassing an auto flipover to the Vonage virtual number. It should be automatic, in fact, unless calls are set to flip to Voicemail.

Posts: 11 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 28, 2005 Posts: 11

This is a well known issue when people are transfering their phone numbers. Vonage numbers will not be able to reach them until they plug the phone adapter into their Internet connection.

Currently, the only solution is to wait until your friend install the phone adapter, call them in their cell phone.

Cell Phone to the number been ported will work as well.

Posts: 1179 · Member of the Week Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 1179

Larc,

if your friend's internet was down, why is that Vonage's fault? It's his ISP that has dropped the ball. Please go after the people who is at fault and stop getting angry at Vonage. Vonage is not like POTS where they have complete control of everything. Vonage only has control over their own phone numbers and connecting them when the internet is functioning properly. They have no control over the infrastructure of the internet.

Vonage to Vonage calls are well documented in terms of how it is delivered. So calling your friend's yet unported number from your Vonage phone will not work as previously stated by other posts.

Posts: 14 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 18, 2005 Posts: 14

I'm either not explaining the problem properly or somebody isn't reading thoroughly.

When Vonage is waiting for a new customer's number to be ported, that customer's regular land-line telephone is still operational. But when I dial the land-line number from my Vonage connection, I can access only the Vonage line. Although I dial an unported land-line number, the Vonage system rerouts the call to the Vonage line. If everybody in the world except Vonage customers can access an operational land-line connection, it's inexcusable that a Vonage customer can't as well.

Why does Vonage tie connections "in house" to the Vonage system exclusively before number porting is completed? I should have to use the virtual number to reach a Vonage customer whose number hasn't been ported yet, and the land-line number should connect only with the land-line phone as long as that service is still operational.