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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Has anyone heard of it yet? I understand it's new and it's hot and there are billions to be made in a new market if one gets in on the ground floor.
Has anyone here heard of it, and what do you think?
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Vonage is one the main companies for VOIP. You can buy it at many stores, like Radio Shack (in the US) and The Source by Circuit City (in Canada).
Here is the American website for Vonage. Here is the Canadian website for Vonage. One thing you have to remember, is that when your power is out, your phone doesn't work. Another thing is that when your ISP is down, your phone doesn't work. Also, I have heard that when you are doing some serious downloading at the same time you are on the phone, it can make the phone conversation choppy. The long distance rates are great (500 North American minutes for $19.99 CAN, Unlimited minutes North American for $39.99 CAN, personal line... business a little more), and you can choose to have your phone number's "home number" in any city, even if you don't live there (your "home city" can be Toronto, and you can live in Vancouver). This is great for when you visit Japan, for example. You just plug in your unit, and use it like you were using your local number in Toronto, Canada. Right now, at The Source by Circuit City (in Canada), you can buy the Vonage unit for $89.99 CAN, with a $65 CAN mail in rebate. Then you pay your monthly fee, as low as $19.99 CAN. And it includes call display with name, voice mail, call waiting, call forwarding, etc. at no extra charge. I know a bit about Vonage, but not a lot about the other main companies offering VOIP. With some of the other companies, I've heard that you need a special phone. Any phone can work with the Vonage unit. - Donald P.S. I understand that one of the masterminds behind MagicBroadcast.com is using VOIP to run things behind the scenes.
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
This sounds incredible. Just incredible. And if you can get in on the ground floor, well, that would be kind of like if you were able to get in on Microsoft back in it's infancy. I mean..look at the market!!! Billions of people world wide. It staggers the mind!
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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MCM Elite user Minnesota 456 Posts |
I work for a small ISP and I have doubts about the current technology. Here are the current issues facing VOIP.
1. 911 Service - there have been some issues with the VOIP providers proving 911 service to people 2. Tech issues - If you can't connect it could be an issue with your PC, your ISP or the VOIP service or software, and you might have to speak to three separate companies to do it. 3. VOIP Spam - If you thought email spam was bad, someday they might find a way to bulk-send recorded messages to your VOIP number. Finally, the internet is still very much the Wild Wild West out there as far as "law and order" - what if someone makes "spyware" that can scan your calls as well as what websites you are surfing. And, I don't even want to know what new viruses will do with VOIP. FYI, go to news.com for info on Internet/Tech news, it will give an idea about what is going on. |
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Also do a google search of VOIP. There are lots of links for more information.
- Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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blindbo Special user Bucks County, PA 790 Posts |
Been using it at work to carry 8 phone lines.
Been down a half dozen times in three years...and its always a fight with provider and Verizon on who has gone down. Always has been the T from Verizon. No other problems. |
Alniner Loyal user Burlington, ON, Canada 254 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-06-26 22:19, MCM wrote: Not that I'm trying to advertise the company I work for or anything: http://www.borderware.com/products/sipassure/ We're the first to have an application layer security solution for VOIP.
Skål
-- Alan |
RiffClown Inner circle Yorktown, Virginia (Previously Germany) 1579 Posts |
Voice over IP is a great. A few of the pioneers in internet telephony (dialpad.com for instance) made our lives easier while we were in Europe because they were FREE. The only issue I have is that a technology whose protocols are essentially included with your broadband connection should cost or have an additional monthly charge.
Rob "Riff, the Magical Clown" Eubank aka RiffClown
<BR>http://www.riffclown.com <BR>Magic is not the method, but the presentation. |
JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
I agree Rob. I used dialpad when it was free, but I certainly wouldn't pay for it. I'd rather use a phone, where I have a much better connection. There was always a lag in those things, you say something and it takes a few seconds for the other person to hear you ... then you wait for what they say. It's not a long wait, but noticeable. Don't use a headset and you can hear the delay yourself.
I still use Yahoo voice and when Yahoo don't work AIM. Yahoo seems to work best for PC-to-PC calls, the sound quality of AIM is horriable and MSN doesn't seem to be useable. I also have unlimited long distance on my cellphone for $29.95 a month - no per-minite-charages what-so-ever. I don't think that's available in all areas, but if it is in your area I recommend it ... don't even have a landline no more. JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
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jayp Veteran user 333 Posts |
Skype is the best pc to pc software its amasingly clear and free!
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Jerrine Special user Busking is work. 629 Posts |
Been using ATT Callvantage for about a year now. Love it. All kinds of features at $35 a month. Sounds great. Value value value. I'm not cell phone guy so this works great for me.
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Patrick Differ Inner circle 1540 Posts |
This may put long distance services on the run, much like email has dinged the postal service.
Will you walk into my parlour? said the Spider to the Fly,
Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy; The way into my parlour is up a winding stair, And I've a many curious things to show when you are there. Oh no, no, said the little Fly, to ask me is in vain, For who goes up your winding stair -can ne'er come down again. |
MCM Elite user Minnesota 456 Posts |
With spam and such, email is not quite the replacement people thought it once was. Also, given that you can't send emails over 5-10mb, it isn't ideal for sending digital photos or videos.
One other thing on VOIP. Your "upstream" (sending) bandwidth is significantly lower than your downstream (receiving) bandwidth. So, if you try and send files while using VOIP, you might experience some distortion. |
milamber Regular user California 130 Posts |
I have a VOIP line in my home office that I use primarily for overseas phonecalls. It allows me to have "local" numbers in various countries and/or states, which is quite convenient as the person calling you only pay for a local call even though they are calling me in the States.
However, the sound quality varies and sometimes it degrades to the point where it sounds like you're talking on a bad cellphone line. Steven |
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