Sam Spade wrote:
> hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
>> Before I answer, you should know I am not a big fan of VOIP. IMHO it
>> is overhyped and there are many technical details (like 911
>> connectivity) to be worked out. IMHO (and personal experience) many
>> of the sales people often give out incorrect information and do not
>> have adequate resources to serve customers correctly. Thus, you may
>> be promised something that doesn't come to be.
> VOIP is a wonderful alternate method of telephone communications for a
> lot of people. I have had Vonage since its inception. However, I
> also maintain one LEC line as well.
> Telecommunications is a complex marketplace, with all of its choices.
> Smart consumers almost always fare better than those who cannot, or will
> not, figure things out by doing some homework.
> Vonage, for example, doesn't have the best customer service around,
> but neither do most of the LECs these days. And, unlike the LECs,
> Vonage has a web site that provides all the options in a clear, quite
> useful manner. A potential subscriber can see in advance all the NPA
> and office codes available. If the potential subscriber cannot figure
> out whether any of those are local calls for his physical area, he
> isn't very able.
The biggest difference between Vonage and the ILEC (with folks like
Time Warner somewhat in the middle) is that with Vonage if it doesn't
work no mater what you'll have to hire a consultant or abandon the
service. With the ILECs you can go to WalMart or Staples or whatever
and buy a phone for $10 to $20 that can be plugged into the DeMarc. If
things work, it's your problem, most likely wiring. If they do not
work at this point a nice (usually) person in a truck with a big logo
on the side will arrive and fix things.
DLR (news23@raleighthings.com)