> -----Original Message----- > From: j at cruit.net [mailto:j at cruit.net]On Behalf Of J Cruit > Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 10:20 AM > To: Chuck Cole > Cc: TCLUG-List > Subject: Re: [tclug-list] OT? VoIP help > > > I'd look at Viatalk who is open enough to allow asterisk SIP > connections so they should be cool with a "bring your own device" type > deal. Plus they are pretty crazy cheap for 199$ for two years which > works out to around 8$ a month BUT BUT BUT they don't tell you they > charge a monthly recovery fee of now around 3$ so its more like 11$ a > month. Maybe that's included now, I got in for even cheaper early on > and perhaps they figured out that it was too cheap just ask them about > it if you order. > > In any case that's not too bad for an unlimited plan with dual phone > lines, BUT that dual line means that you have two lines on the same > number so you can carry on two conversations at the same time on two > different lines but you can't (as far as I know or perhaps for more > money) have two different numbers on those two lines. That 2 line definition seems OK for what I want, but I should get them to clarify. They are one of the ones I previously called, and their support folk could not or would not answer questions. > > I honestly didn't check to see if they meet all your requirements as > I'm actually fairly lazy. No prob, but it is a prob that Viatalk folk would not help so I could determine whether to buy. > > > On Wed, Aug 6, 2008 at 12:55 AM, Chuck Cole <cncole at earthlink.net> wrote: > > I'm looking to replace my home phone service with a non-Vonage but Vonage-like VoIP service. I've searched past stuff > here as well > > as done Google searches and called 3-4 tech support lines to get answers. Discovered that Vonage is just expensive, > and that others > > just don't or won't help much. > > > > I think a couple of the providers that offer 2 lines with a basic home plan may be my answer, but they won't or can't > help and say I > > gotta use their hardware which makes me suspicious whether I can use their features as I could with Vonage (Vonage > requires extra > > monthly payments and/ or 2nd subscription to do what I listed below: expensive and not "seamless".). > > > > > > I'll appreciate any and all comments. Here's what I think I want: > > > > > > VoIP home plan desired: > > > > Unlimited calling in US & Canada > > 1 home line, replacing POTS by Frontier, and keeping same number. Only need one number. > > use my Linksys RTP300 adapter for home line (Linksys info sez this will do my VoIP home connection). > > online access (from anywhere) to features, forwarding, and other standard VoIP personal preferences > > unlimited online changes to forwarding home number to cell phone, or > > unlimited forwarding to designated laptop, etc (eg, forward to personal laptop when going to 9-5 job, vacation, etc) > > unlimited changes to access/substitute home phone via my laptop at WiFi hotspots (ie, any broadband link) > > via a USB adapter such as Vonage claims for their V-Phone product (tiny adapter: www.Vonage.com/V-Phone), or > > via SW such as Vonage claims for their V-Pro product (SW only with headset, needs no adapter - but there's no online product > > info) > > > > Notes: > > 1) I want the ability to switch home to laptop so I don't always need to use cell "prime time" minutes, but have the choice. > > 2) do I need or want a hardware adapter like the Vonage USB V-Phone for my laptop to reduce CPU load? > > 3) is their an unlocked product like the V-Phone which is locked? > > 4) prefer the choice for laptop to access via Ubuntu or WinXP so phone can be ready in background, regardless of my main > > application. > > 5) Vonage tech support said that frequent switching from home to a V-Phone (eg, daily) isn't allowed, but sales said it is > > unlimited. > > 6) the services which said I must use their equipment did not or would not clarify how I could use my laptop as a phone at a > > hotspot. > > > > > > I could not locate a site or something and did MANY searches before asking this here.. (could't find answers at www.voip-info.org among other places. lots of red herrings though) Chuck