internet phones

[GCC Consulting]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: filepro-list-bounces at lists.celestial.com 
> [mailto:filepro-list-bounces at lists.celestial.com] On Behalf 
> Of Enrique Arredondo
> Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 1:54 PM
> To: filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
> Subject: OT: internet phones
> 
> All of my neighbors are getting rid of their local base 
> phones and switching to vonage.com and paying just $14 a 
> month for 500 minutes or $24 for unlimited local and long 
> distance plus many other add-ons like caller ID, email alert 
> of phone calls, call forwarding,etc.... and the great thing 
> is that you take your current phone number with them!
> 
> It comes with the E911 which will work like the normal 911 service.
> 
> My internet cable provider is earthlink and they also started 
> to offer a similar product "TrueVoice" for the same price.
> 
> After seeing the Voip service in action with my neighbour, 
> I'm going to get it right away, but I'm wondering if anybody 
> has any comments about earthlink's true voice versus vonage service ?

Be very careful, your phone service depends on your internet connection.
That goes down, goodbye phone service.

If one were to consider doing this, my suggestion would be to keep the land
line and move it to the most minimal service one can get.  That way, when
your ISP connection fails, you're not without phone service.

Don't count on a cell phone either.  When the power goes out, your cell
phone may not work.

The old fashioned pots line with a wired phone will normally even in a
blackout.

I have Comcast service in my area  and they to are offering VOIP service.  I
wouldn't take this service as my primary phone service as they can't keep my
high speed access up.  I have had outages lasting from 15 minutes to over 2
weeks.  Just imagine being without you phone for 2 weeks.  Although some may
think that's a good thing.

One other thing to make sure of.  What kind of 911 service will your
supplier offer.  Vonage was having problems offering full 911 coverage.
That is, a 911 operator could not get your location or phone #.  They were
ordered to correct this problem.

So, as they say, buyer beware!!!!

Richard Kreiss
GCC Consulting