| Author |
Vonage or competitor
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| Sidknee 2006-02-13, 5:45 pm |
| I am looking at reducing my calls and at the same time trying to get a 2nd
line that would have inclusive calls. NTL is currently costing me
14.50/month.
I was looking at Vonage but are there any others out there? Also I would
also like to use FWD which is SIP based? Any guidance?
Sid
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| Brian A 2006-02-13, 5:45 pm |
| On Mon, 13 Feb 2006 19:58:52 GMT, "Sidknee"
<yza82REMOVE@SPAMTRAPukgateway.net> wrote:
>I am looking at reducing my calls and at the same time trying to get a 2nd
>line that would have inclusive calls. NTL is currently costing me
>14.50/month.
>
>I was looking at Vonage but are there any others out there? Also I would
>also like to use FWD which is SIP based? Any guidance?
>
>Sid
>
Yes - Vonage is a rip off. I can't understand why anyone, with any
technical competence, would want to use it.
For a very good incoming call service (1571, 1471 etc.) and reliabilty
I'd choose voipfone.co.uk Their voicemail responds with a different
message depending on whether you are unavailable or currently on
another call. They have call waiting and caller display too.
However, if you want a good tariff and reliabilty I'd choose
voip.co.uk - £2/month for free evening and weekend UK calls(up to 1
hour) and 2p per 1 hour UK call at peak times (geographic). Their
voicemail service, when it works, is, currently, only very basic,
but, I am given to understand, a new one is being developed. They
have caller display and call waiting works well too. Currently no 1471
equivalent.
If the new voicemail proves to be good then voip.co.uk will be
unbeatable in my opinion.
Remove 'no_spam_' from email address.
| |
| M.Dexter@blueyonder.co.uk 2006-02-13, 5:45 pm |
| On Mon, 13 Feb 2006 20:52:14 GMT, Brian A
<no_spam_bca1000@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Yes - Vonage is a rip off. I can't understand why anyone, with any
>technical competence, would want to use it.
Vonage are not a rip off at all in fact Vonage provide a very good
service for a modest cost ,how the hell can they be a rip off when for
an outlay of 33 PENCE at day inclusive of ALL geographical calls
within the UK and the all of Ireland router included .
>For a very good incoming call service (1571, 1471 etc.) and reliabilty
>I'd choose voipfone.co.uk
But you do not get inclusive calls which is where the likes of Vonage
and Freetalk shine through and don't forget with any providers like
Sipgate Voipfone etc you also have the added cost of buying an ATA
Which don't come cheap to start with unless you want to leave a
computer running 24/7 .
Did you conveniently forget to mention the added cost of an ATA in
your hurry call to Vonage rip off merchants which they ARNT Brian .
| |
| Sidknee 2006-02-13, 5:45 pm |
|
<M.Dexter@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote Vonage provide a very good
> service for a modest cost ,how the hell can they be a rip off when for
> an outlay of 33 PENCE at day inclusive of ALL geographical calls
> within the UK and the all of Ireland router included .
I checked the website and note that the PAP2 comes freee! Can the PAP2
be used for other SIP based services like FWD/Pulver communicator/Sipgate
etc. If it is locked what is involved in unlocking or is it not wrth the
hassle.
Sid
| |
| Keith Lawrence 2006-02-13, 8:45 pm |
|
<M.Dexter@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote ...
[vbcol=seagreen]
> Vonage are not a rip off at all in fact Vonage provide a very good
> service for a modest cost ,how the hell can they be a rip off when...
> ....and don't forget with any providers like Sipgate Voipfone etc
> you also have the added cost of buying an ATA Which don't come
> cheap...
Tell me - is this the voice of a vested interest? If so then perhaps you
should state that fact!
To get what I am using now (two independent SIP phone lines) would cost me
£18.99 PER MONTH, to "save" the £90 or so for my Sipura ATA + bits +
adapters. In other words after only six months I have more than paid for
this "free" ATA. Plus of course I would have a useless bit of locked down
hardware physically tying me into the Vonage service, preventing me from
trying alternative services.
Of course Vonage are not interested in the likes of me, there is no facility
at all for customers to use their own equipment, it's the tied in service or
nothing.
Do you also recommend that people rent video and DVD players?
Keith L
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| M.Dexter@blueyonder.co.uk 2006-02-13, 8:45 pm |
| On Mon, 13 Feb 2006 23:46:32 -0000, "Keith Lawrence"
<false@nospam.com> wrote:
>Tell me - is this the voice of a vested interest? If so then perhaps you
>should state that fact!
Nope I have just closed my Vonage account but only because I was not
using it enough to justify the cost never the less I always intend
giving Vonage a good name has never once did they fail me likewise
with Voipfone and Freetalk . Unlike Sipgate who let me down no less
than three times in the first month and a few times in the following
three or four months until I got rid .
>Of course Vonage are not interested in the likes of me, there is no facility
>at all for customers to use their own equipment, it's the tied in service or
>nothing.
Vonage supply the equipment at no cost when you leave you send it back
or you can buy your own Linksys 3 port router from Staples this does
also have two phone ports which are tied to Vonage but if you leave
you are still left with a good working router has I am now .
>Do you also recommend that people rent video and DVD players?
No why should I , I only recommend three voip providers Vonage
Freetalk and Voipfone voipfone are good no mistaking that but you do
have to go buying a ATA anything from £ 60 to 80 or more plus you have
to pay for all calls plus £ 2.00 a month for a geo number if you want
one.
For less than £7.00 a month you get all UK geo number calls free with
Freetalk and you pay 19.99 for the ATA which is tied to Freetalk.
The cheapest is of course " voipcheap" but again unless you leave a
computer running 24/7 you need an ATA but I would not like to rely on
them has a sole provider and I certainly would not go buying an ATA
just to use with Voipcheap although they are good considering you can
dial many places in the world for free .
| |
| Niko Patera 2006-02-14, 2:45 am |
| I only recommend three voip providers Vonage Freetalk and Voipfone
voipfone are good .....
I am surprised you did not mention Hermes Broadband; they offer same
service BUT with a WiFi option and unlimited calls to 30 countries!!!
These guys must be loosing serious money; I don't know what their catch
is. I googled "Hermes Communications" and I come across their
communication satellite technology! cool stuff!
| |
| Niko Patera 2006-02-14, 2:45 am |
| Take a look of Hermes Boradband; mobile internet phone and unlimited
calls to 20+ countries.
| |
| Telephoneman 2006-02-14, 2:45 am |
|
"Niko Patera" <the_net_dream@yahoo.com>
SNIP>
> I am surprised you did not mention Hermes Broadband; they offer same
> service BUT with a WiFi option and unlimited calls to 30 countries!!!
> These guys must be loosing serious money; I don't know what their catch
> is. I googled "Hermes Communications" and I come across their
> communication satellite technology! cool stuff!
Perhaps you didn't notice that this is a UK group.
WOW! unlimited calls to fixed lines for only £25 a month! Wi-fi, gosh! and
only £175 for a phone that Voiptalk will sell you for £117.49. Amazingly,
some people prefer not to do business with Companies that we think are
"loosing serious money" (sic) on the grounds that it's a pain when they go
bust.
| |
| Sidknee 2006-02-14, 7:45 am |
|
"Sidknee" <yza82REMOVE@SPAMTRAPukgateway.net> wrote
Can the PAP2
> be used for other SIP based services like FWD/Pulver communicator/Sipgate
> etc. If it is locked what is involved in unlocking or is it not wrth the
> hassle.
>
Can the PAP2 offered free by Vonage be unlocked for simulataneours use with
FWD or other Sip operators?
Sid
| |
| kabads@gmail.com 2006-02-14, 7:45 am |
| Can an ordinary Voip ATA be used with voip.co.uk? I've checked their
website out and it's a little confusing (only for me, I'm sure).
They make reference to two "Freedom" accounts - one that includes
hardware and the other a "Optional Freedom pack MTA" - what does this
refer to?
Adam
| |
| adam c 2006-02-14, 7:45 am |
| kabads@gmail.com wrote:
> Can an ordinary Voip ATA be used with voip.co.uk? I've checked their
> website out and it's a little confusing (only for me, I'm sure).
>
> They make reference to two "Freedom" accounts - one that includes
> hardware and the other a "Optional Freedom pack MTA" - what does this
> refer to?
>
> Adam
>
Damn Google groups - it didn't include the original post. I was
referring to the provider voip.co.uk at:
http://www.voip.co.uk/res_products.html
TIA
Adam
| |
| Brian A 2006-02-14, 5:45 pm |
| On 14 Feb 2006 03:42:20 -0800, kabads@gmail.com wrote:
>Can an ordinary Voip ATA be used with voip.co.uk? I've checked their
>website out and it's a little confusing (only for me, I'm sure).
Yes. Use any ATA.
>
>They make reference to two "Freedom" accounts - one that includes
>hardware and the other a "Optional Freedom pack MTA" - what does this
>refer to?
1. The 'Basic' is a PAYG pay per minute account. You have to purchase
£10 of credit.
2. Optional UK pack: Use your own ATA.
3. Optional Freedom pack MTA: Same as (2) but they provide the
hardware.
Hence, if you want to set up your own ATA you can or you can have one
provided.
I use (2) and I find that it costs me about the same as I used to
spend using 1899 via BT.
With reference to some of the foregoing posts... It has always been my
view that spending money on capital items is fine providing a saving
can be realised, as a result, within a reasonable time. Indeed, this
is something I aim to do whenever possible. Ongoing costs are
something I try to avoid.
Remove 'no_spam_' from email address.
| |
| M.Dexter@blueyonder.co.uk 2006-02-14, 5:45 pm |
| On Tue, 14 Feb 2006 13:52:02 GMT, Brian A
<no_spam_bca1000@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>With reference to some of the foregoing posts... It has always been my
>view that spending money on capital items is fine providing a saving
>can be realised, as a result, within a reasonable time.
But supposing someone who is easily put off had spent eighty pounds
on a Sipura 2000 and had signed up to Sipgate and got the service I
got from them and said stuff voip I will stick with BT, they would be
eighty quid down the drain .
| |
| Niko Patera 2006-02-14, 5:45 pm |
| why is it a pain? I'll use this service for outgoing calls.
| |
| adam c 2006-02-14, 5:45 pm |
| Brian A wrote:
> On 14 Feb 2006 03:42:20 -0800, kabads@gmail.com wrote:
>
> Yes. Use any ATA.
> 1. The 'Basic' is a PAYG pay per minute account. You have to purchase
> £10 of credit.
> 2. Optional UK pack: Use your own ATA.
> 3. Optional Freedom pack MTA: Same as (2) but they provide the
> hardware.
>
> Hence, if you want to set up your own ATA you can or you can have one
> provided.
>
> I use (2) and I find that it costs me about the same as I used to
> spend using 1899 via BT.
>
And does anyone know (before Voip.co.uk reply to my email) whether their
ATA is 'locked'?
TIA
Adam
| |
|
| adam c wrote:
> And does anyone know (before Voip.co.uk reply to my email) whether their
> ATA is 'locked'?
>
I've got one of their MTA's. I can access the web page configuration /
setup. Does that alone mean it's unlocked?
| |
| Ivor Jones 2006-02-14, 5:45 pm |
|
"PL" <neatripple@linetwo.DOT.CO.UK> wrote in message
news:11v42f0pp5u6h9a@corp.supernews.com
> adam c wrote:
>
>
> I've got one of their MTA's. I can access the web page
> configuration / setup. Does that alone mean it's
> unlocked?
Only if it will let you put in details of another provider and use it..!
Try it and see.
Ivor
| |
| Paul Cupis 2006-02-14, 5:45 pm |
| Telephoneman wrote:
> Amazingly,
> some people prefer not to do business with Companies that we think are
> "loosing serious money" (sic) on the grounds that it's a pain when they go
> bust.
And some people have no problem - see the number of people using the
Finarea SA offerings.
| |
| Nick Ward 2006-02-14, 5:45 pm |
| Paul Cupis wrote:
> Telephoneman wrote:
go[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> And some people have no problem - see the number of people using the
> Finarea SA offerings.
Nor indeed the 5 million odd who signed up with the Cable TV companies.
As the saying goes, "if you owe the bank =A31,000, you're in trouble,
but if you owe them =A310,000,000 then they are".
| |
| Thomas Kenyon 2006-02-14, 5:45 pm |
| Nick Ward wrote:
> Paul Cupis wrote:
>
>
>
> Nor indeed the 5 million odd who signed up with the Cable TV companies.
> As the saying goes, "if you owe the bank £1,000, you're in trouble,
> but if you owe them £10,000,000 then they are".
>
NTL's third quarter losses last year were 52.1 million, significantly
less than they have ever been before.
IIRC their debt is in the region of billions.
On a different note, has anyone read how the VoIP service works on the
Nokia 6131 and 6136? It's a lot more like BT Fusion than standard VoIP.
| |
| adam c 2006-02-19, 8:15 am |
| PL wrote:
> adam c wrote:
>
>
> I've got one of their MTA's. I can access the web page configuration /
> setup. Does that alone mean it's unlocked?
>
>
Voip.co.uk have failed to answer my email over the past 24 hours - not
impressive so far.
Adam
| |
| hairydog@despammed.com 2006-02-19, 8:15 am |
| On Mon, 13 Feb 2006 20:52:14 GMT, Brian A
<no_spam_bca1000@hotmail.com> wrote:
>free evening and weekend UK calls(up to 1
>hour) and 2p per 1 hour UK call at peak times (geographic)
That's what they claim, but I notice that a two-hour call one evening
recently was "no charge"
I don't think they charge after the hour is up. Maybe they will one
day.
| |
| hairydog@despammed.com 2006-02-19, 8:15 am |
| On Mon, 13 Feb 2006 21:13:28 GMT, M.Dexter@blueyonder.co.uk wrote:
>On Mon, 13 Feb 2006 20:52:14 GMT, Brian A
><no_spam_bca1000@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>Vonage are not a rip off at all in fact Vonage provide a very good
>service for a modest cost ,how the hell can they be a rip off when for
>an outlay of 33 PENCE at day inclusive of ALL geographical calls
>within the UK and the all of Ireland router included .
>But you do not get inclusive calls which is where the likes of Vonage
>and Freetalk shine through and don't forget with any providers like
>Sipgate Voipfone etc you also have the added cost of buying an ATA
>Which don't come cheap to start with unless you want to leave a
>computer running 24/7 .
>Did you conveniently forget to mention the added cost of an ATA in
>your hurry call to Vonage rip off merchants which they ARNT Brian .
The usual arrant nonsense from the twerp in the looney corner.
For most people who work during the day, the vast majority of their
calls are off-peak, so the voip.co.uk charge of £2 per month offers
the same inclusive calls as the Vonage £20 per month.
Yes, Vonage lend you a locked PAP2 for the duration, but you'd soon
(about three months if you have one VOIP line, six weeks if you have
two) be better off buying an unlocked one. There was a time when
unlocking Vonage PAP2 units was easy, but they have made it well-nigh
impossible now.
Yes, Vonage are a no-brainer for people with no brain. Maybe it suits
you, but most readers of this newsgroup aren't like that.
| |
| hairydog@despammed.com 2006-02-19, 8:15 am |
| On 14 Feb 2006 03:42:20 -0800, kabads@gmail.com wrote:
>Can an ordinary Voip ATA be used with voip.co.uk?
Yes. I use two of them.
| |
| hairydog@despammed.com 2006-02-19, 8:15 am |
| On Tue, 14 Feb 2006 14:22:58 GMT, M.Dexter@blueyonder.co.uk wrote:
>But supposing someone who is easily put off had spent eighty pounds
>on a Sipura 2000 and had signed up to Sipgate and got the service I
>got from them and said stuff voip I will stick with BT, they would be
>eighty quid down the drain .
Well, seeing as BT are switching to VOIP anyway, that seems a bit
daft.
When you look at BT call rates, you have to think "Why on earth use
them?"
| |
|
| Ivor Jones wrote:
>
> Only if it will let you put in details of another provider and use it..!
> Try it and see.
>
Ivor, I'm a simpleton when it comes to VoIP. You can view my MTA's user
manual here:
http://www.eglobalphone.com/support...User_Manual.pdf
What do I alter / change for a new provider? Any chance of step-by-step
tutorial?
| |
| M.Dexter@blueyonder.co.uk 2006-02-19, 8:15 am |
| On Wed, 15 Feb 2006 23:23:59 +0000, hairydog@despammed.com wrote:
>Yes, Vonage are a no-brainer for people with no brain. Maybe it suits
>you, but most readers of this newsgroup aren't like that.
You don't know me mate I am very capable of doing most things and have
done most things including the setting up of an ATA and building
computers from scratch when the need arises .
The trouble with most of you lot and why you are so dead set against
the likes of Vonage and Freetalk is that you are so damned scared of
opening your wallets in case the moths escape .
| |
| M.Dexter@blueyonder.co.uk 2006-02-19, 8:15 am |
| On Wed, 15 Feb 2006 23:26:55 +0000, hairydog@despammed.com wrote:
>When you look at BT call rates, you have to think "Why on earth use
>them?"
In recent years when I had a BT line I never paid them for any calls
only the line rental except for one or two due to dialing mistakes .
| |
| adrian_h_hudson@yahoo.com 2006-02-19, 8:16 am |
|
M.Dexter@blueyonder.co.uk wrote:
> On Wed, 15 Feb 2006 23:23:59 +0000, hairydog@despammed.com wrote:
> You don't know me mate I am very capable of doing most things and have
> done most things including the setting up of an ATA and building
> computers from scratch when the need arises .
You fall short with regard to the correct use of the English language.
One could also mention you inability to understand the United Kingdom
telephone numbering schema.
A.
| |
| Niko Patera 2006-02-19, 8:16 am |
|
Telephoneman wrote:
> Amazingly,
> some people prefer not to do business with Companies that we think are
> "loosing serious money" (sic) on the grounds that it's a pain when they go
> bust.
And some people have no problem - see the number of people using the
Finarea SA offerings.
I checked out http://www.hermesbroadband.com/hip.php
I don't understand how they are able to afford offering unlimited
packages to 30 countries for that fee!!!
I subscribed and I am waiting for their device. I will use it for
outgoing calls (Germany, China, Singapore); I'll keep you posted.
N
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