[miamiphillips]

VoIP (voice over internet protocal) has come of age. Learn how to save money and/or make money with a technology that is projected to grow more than 20 Billion dollars in the next four years.

Would you like to have a piece of that?

We will train, support and work with you to help you do what ever you want to do.

Visit http://www.findvoip.net for more information!

Look forward to talking to you

[FreeBird]

Does this service fully notify Paulding County's E-911 of your location?

I am speaking of more that simply routing the call to the proper PSAP.

Does this service use the Data Management System/Automatic Location Identification (DMS/ALI) system?

[FreeBird]

Be nice, OsFan.

[buttercup]

In theory it is a great idea.

I know several people who have it, and I cringe whenever they call. The quality is horrible, and it cuts out all the time. My BIL has Vonnage, and it seems to be the worst.

NO THANKS. 2 tin cans and some string sound better than this!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We use Vonage and it is just fine. The only beef I have w/it is when my internet is down so is my phone. But, we have cell phone's thou. Also, it is hard to find a alarm company that will work with this too.

[FreeBird]

Buttercup, do you have small children? Have you thought of the implications of their having to dial 911 if you were incapacitated? They would be expected to give the dispatcher address, etc. before emergency personnel could be sent to your aid.

I have 4 & 6 year olds and for that reason, I will not use this type of service.

When I work from home, I use my company phone via IP and the quality if fine.

[The Sound Guy]

When I work from home, I use my company phone via IP and the quality if fine.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I do the same and most of the time the quality is fine, but every now and then you get an uncompensated delay on the connection and WOW does the echo come thru.

Freebird - do you use a softfone (in the pc with computer headset) or a free standing phone?

SG

[buttercup]

Buttercup, do you have small children?  Have you thought of the implications of their having to dial 911 if you were incapacitated?  They would be expected to give the dispatcher address, etc. before emergency personnel could be sent to your aid.

I have 4 & 6 year olds and for that reason, I will not use this type of service.

When I work from home, I use my company phone via IP and the quality if fine.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No I didn't even think to realize that. Very good point and another reason to change.

[Reubens]

We also have vonage. It seems to work fine. We pay just $15.00 a month and we get all of the add ons that you normally have to pay for with Bell South. We also have free long distance to all of the U.S. and Canada. For just a little bit more you can get the instant 911 on it to.

[buttercup]

We also have vonage.  It seems to work fine.  We pay just $15.00 a month and we get all of the add ons that you normally have to pay for with Bell South.  We also have free long distance to all of the U.S. and Canada.  For just a little bit more you can get the instant 911 on it to.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok I didn't know that maby we allready have that on it. Cause we pay $30 a month for it and that is with everything. Free long distance , all the star thingy's and ect...I will hafta check into that. Thanks.......

[miamiphillips]

Interesting replies.

May I address a couple?

First, I agree the service is not yet perfect. Shall we compare it to cell phones which have been around how long?

However, many of the challenges all of us think of with VoIP are from the recent past. The technology to change the analog signal (your phone) to digital (internet) and back again is fairly recent and being improved very quickly.

For instance, E911 service has just in the last year become available and not in all areas. (As an aside, one of the very first things I taught my children was to memorize their phone # and address. What happens if they get lost? E911 will not be a help!)

For the most part phone quality on a VoIP line with a good provider (not a software using the computer sound card!) is actually better than analog. Are there dropped calls? Yes, it happens but seldom.

From my point of view I am looking at the future. This is a business that the chairman of the FCC says will change communication forever. He is not alone in his statement.

I have missed several 'waves' in my life. I could have bought Microsoft cheap. I could have bought a house 2 rows back from the beach on Hilton Head Island for $185k that just sold for 3 million.

I'll accept some challenges up front to be able to participate in something as powerful as VoIP is projected to be.

It is not for everyone. Yet.

MP
service@findvoip.net

[kelbird]

We looked into Vonage about 2 months ago and after several phone calls to several different customer service people, they ultimately told my husband that we couldn't have VoiP because we already are set up with DSL. This doesn't sound right to me because I work from home and the hospital I work for set me up with a computer,DSL and we have VoiP...so what's up with Vonage saying that's not possible with our home PC??? any suggestions. Miamiphillips??

[miamiphillips]

You wrote

This is one of our challenges. VoIP is carried over a DSL line. This can be provided by a local exchange carrier like Bellsouth or cable like Comcast. If Bellsouth carries your DSL and you disconnect local phone service they disconnect your DSL!

Here are some options. Use a VoIP as a second line ($24.99) and make all long distance calls over it. Change your Bellsouth line to minimum service to cut down your Bellsouth bill.

Second - Check to see if you can get Comcast to your house. You do not have to take the cable tv service to get the cable, but they charge you a bit more. However, if you use comcast you can use VoIP local and long distance for $29.99 with your same number and disconnect your bellsouth line.

Hope that helps. You are welcome to call or email me if I can help.
404 597 6000.

[Cuteyellowbug]

We have had Vonage for a few years now. I totally love the service. It has saved us hundreds of dollars. I *love* the calling forwarding. When I go visit my parents in another state, I forward my calls to my cell, then to their number, so I never miss a call. I also have a virtual number. I save my retired parents lots of money by having a local phone number for them to call. My brother, inlaws and old friends use this to call me too. So they never have to pay long distance charges to call me.

[FreeBird]

For instance, E911 service has just in the last year become available and not in all areas. (As an aside, one of the very first things I taught my children was to memorize their phone # and address. What happens if they get lost? E911 will not be a help!)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I dissagree - E911 does a screen pop to the dispatcher telling them your address, Police/Fire/EMS zone automatically. So, "...if they get lost..." and they call an E911 system, help will know their location - the caller does not have to know.

With young children you have to first teach them where help may be available - 911. Once the are a little older, then address and phone number can be included.

Until your service can offer true DMS/ALI integration, it is a very poor choice for anyone that cares about the safety of their family.

[miamiphillips]

[quote=FreeBird,Mar 18 2005, 01:36 PM]
I dissagree - E911 does a screen pop to the dispatcher telling them your address, Police/Fire/EMS zone automatically. So, "...if they get lost..." and they call an E911 system, help will know their location - the caller does not have to know.

With young children you have to first teach them where help may be available - 911. Once the are a little older, then address and phone number can be included.

Until your service can offer true DMS/ALI integration, it is a very poor choice for anyone that cares about the safety of their family.


Thanks. I appreciate and respect your opinion. I just do not happen to agree with the word 'poor'.

MP

[buttercup]

We have had Vonage for a few years now.  I totally love the service.  It has saved us hundreds of dollars.  I *love* the calling forwarding.  When I go visit my parents in another state, I forward my calls to my cell, then to their number, so I never miss a call.  I also have a virtual number. I save my retired parents lots of money by having a local phone number for them to call.  My brother, inlaws and old friends use this to call me too.  So they never have to pay long distance charges to call me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, works great for us too.

[FreeBird]

I believe in VOIP systems - I sell them to government and commercial accounts, but I would not use them in my home for reasons stated. Maybe "poor" is a “poor” word to use. I just want people to know this pitfall that is not thought of - until after an emergency has occurred and help was delayed in arriving due to the fact that your location could not be determined easily.

[HiramGirl]

FreeBird: do you work for BellSouth?

I believe in VOIP systems - I sell them to government and commercial accounts, but I would not use them in my home for reasons stated.  Maybe "poor" is a “poor” word to use.  I just want people to know this pitfall that is not thought of - until after an emergency has occurred and help was delayed in arriving due to the fact that your location could not be determined easily.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[FreeBird]

I do not work for Bellsouth. I work for an Avaya BusinessPartner.

[miamiphillips]

You are correct Free Bird, but E911 is available in our area, and not everyone has small children.

And there does seem to be a lot of people who do use VoIP and who have little or no trouble while realizing substantial monthly savings.

If you are one and you see the potential please visit my website at http://www.findvoip.net and look at one way to add to your income.

I have to go out now, so will miss any other posts this afternoon, but I will be back...

Best

MP
service@findvoip.net

[FreeBird]

Right, my first post to buttercup qualified the small children portion of my argument.

Yes, E911 is available in Paulding, but your service does not take advange of this fact - the basis of my argument againt ANY VOIP service for home use that has small children.

[miamiphillips]

Right, my first post to buttercup qualified the small children portion of my argument.

Yes, E911 is available in Paulding, but your service does not take advange of this fact - the basis of my argument againt ANY VOIP service for home use that has small children.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually - yes my service does offer the E911 service in some parts of Paulding County. I say some because I would have to check each individual number. That is the difference in the price. For $29.99 you get your number ported over to your VoIP line and E911 and for $24.99 you do not.

[Reubens]

We looked into Vonage about 2 months ago and after several phone calls to several different customer service people, they ultimately told my husband that we couldn't have VoiP because we already are set up with DSL. This doesn't sound right to me because I work from home and the hospital I work for set me up with a computer,DSL and we have VoiP...so what's up with Vonage saying that's not possible with our home PC??? any suggestions. Miamiphillips??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We already had DSL also. But we were still able to get vonage. My husband set it up, so I'm not sure what exactly he did. But if you need more information just send me an email.

[FreeBird]

Freebird - do you use a softfone (in the pc with computer headset) or a free standing phone?

SG

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

SG, sorry I missed this - I normally use connect via my laptop. If the sound quality is poor, then I can have it ring another number - home, hotel room, whatever.

miamiphilips, it does not make sense that the service you are selling would only use E911 with DMS/ALI integration IF you paid additional money for it. Be sure that it is not simply porting it to the correct PSAP for a price. When I have a chance I will check out your service and give you my opinion on if it supports true E911 integration.

[kelbird]

We already had DSL also.  But we were still able to get vonage.  My husband set it up, so I'm not sure what exactly he did.  But if you need more information just send me an email.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the info...I knew something wasn't right. My husband is very computer saavy and whatever they told him must have really convinced him that it could not be done. We have our home DSL through Mindsping, maybe they were wanting us to change companies or something.

[Bubba Trump]

OsFan I love your pic of Camden Yards, I grew up in Baltimore City not far from the stadium. I went back 2 weeks ago and it sure has changed. My buddy and I want to catch a cheap flight on AirTran and watch them play a game and fly back.

[Arcaidy]

VOIP service still has its issues, but it’s come along way.
With a decent internet connection, you can have service that compares to or performs better than you home phone line.

911 access is still an issue with some providers, but has been implemented in others. Cbeyond offers 911 services to their customers if I am not mistaken. E911 will be implemented soon by all VOIP providers. Look for a law soon either on the state or federal side. A good number of businesses running VOIP already have functional 911 services.

You'll find that phones provide much better service in general compared to computer "soft phones". This is because the soft phone is competing for resources with other applications on your computer. A way to help with this problem is to buy a good headset that has its own DSP.

I setup home offices for employees in the company I work for using VOIP. We have had great success using it.

[FreeBird]

Miami, I checked your web-sites and never could confirm if your service was DMS/ALI integrated. My honest feeling is that the "Lightyear XSTREAM Plus Plan that includes E911 Emergency services or Directory Listing and Assistance" will only direct your 911 all to the proper PSAP. But, without full details, we will never know.