BellaOnline Forums Computers Online Services Looking for info on VoIP

Since VoIP is telephone over the internet, thought this might be the place to post an inquiry. Would love to hear some tech types weigh in on this. What's your experience of the technology and if you use it, which provider?

Irritation with my landline carrier's customer service, or rather lack thereof <img src="/images/graemlins/wall.gif" alt="" /> got me looking for alternatives and I learned about VoIP. I'm excited about a provider called SunRocket. Heard great things from a colleague who has it, read positive reviews and customer reviews, and like the features.

Also like that the price comes in lower than some other providers like Vonage.

Thoughts?

I've seen that commercials for Vonage in our area. I'm tempted to try because their prices seem quite reasonable but I have a business to think about so I don't move into new technology that could impede the communication I have with my customers.

I've had a few customers call me using their VoIP and not very good - they were always breaking up and I had a hard time hearing them.

From what I've heard and my own personal experience, the technology is not nearly developed enough to be switching just yet.

I've just called SunRocket. They give you 30 days to try it out with a no-questions-asked full refund. Five to seven days from now I'll let you know how it works.

I've tried Skype for VoIP and didn't care for it.

I do have Vonage for both my home and business. Its been great so far. Sure has cut down on the long-distance bills!

I use Skype for internet communication with my friends and that was ok to me. Maybe will be trying other services soon.
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Hostingdiva, do you know who your clients are using for VoIP? I've heard there are a lot of companies out there. A colleague of mine told me he's got SunRocket and is happy with the service quality.

Mary Ellen, that full refund within a month is a great option, isn't it? Always makes it easier to take the plunge with something new. And I looked into it, you can get a pro-rated refund at any point in the annual contract.

Eager to hear how you like the service, keep us posted.
Anyone else using VoIP? What do you think of it?

I have been using VoIP for about six months now and I will not go back! I use Verizon as my carrier and I have not had any major issues. On occasion, there has been some static or an echo but nothing that makes the service unusable.

One of the most important aspects of using a VoIP service is having a dependable Internet connection. I have worked with VoIP in a corporate environment but had to revert back to standard phone service due to a faulty DSL connection. In addition, surfing the Internet (large downloads, etc.) can degrade the quality of the phone call since both services are sharing the bandwidth.

I have heard mixed reviews about Vonage. Some people have told me it is a great service while others said that the service was horrible. The main complaint that I have heard is that their customer service is not very responsive.

Allison, thanks for your insight into the internet connectivity and VoIP. My landline carrier who I am not too happy with is Verizon, so won't be considering VoIP from them anytime soon.

You mentioned hearing some customer service concerns with Vonage. I checked with my colleague who has SunRocket and he's had good experiences speaking to customer service. He's had SunRocket for about a year and is quite happy with it, esp the low price. Nothing like saving money on regular expenses, eh. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I am one of the lucky ones that as not had any problems with Verizon so I don't mind using them.

Of course, I have been dealing with telecommunication vendors for years and I have many stories � basically they all scare me!

If you decide to go with SunRocket let me know how it goes. I am always interested in hearing feedback about telecom companies.

SunRocket Internet Phone Service.
Save $500 per year on your phone bill!

They are not kidding. I signed up for SkyRocket. Customer service was wonderful, the installation was a snap, and the reception is so much better than my old phone line. I could not be happier. I was worried that it would somehow compromise my cable service, but it all works seamlessly!

Nicest thing, no monthly bill!

Mary Ellen, thanks for the update. Sounds like SunRocket has really worked out for you, great to here.

And not having monthly bills to worry about is so nice, esp. with identity theft concerns these days getting all those bills in the mail every month means a lot of mail coming in with your personal info.

Are you able to take advantage of the second line free option? Saw in a news article that people assign a different area code to the second line so that relatives can call them as a local toll charge- pretty nice option, esp. with older relatives who may be on fixed income.

I haven't done the thing where others can phone in for free yet. I wonder if Ireland could call the US for free? What a boon that would be! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> For years now, whenever anyone from overseas calls, I hang up and call them back because my rates are nothing compared to theirs.

You're so right about bills in the mail. I'm very nervous about throwing out old bills, envelopes, etc. My waste basket looks like a shredder bin. (Don't have one yet even though shredders are inexpensive; always forget.)

Hmm, good question. I looked on their website and they have info about a second number, and a little demo, kinda cute, that shows calling btwn NY and Chicago.

http://www.sunrocket.com/services/extra/
at bottom of screen

Luckily for you, Ireland is on the list of SunSpots- $.03 a minute.

And I so hear you on the shredder! My father is a financial planner and always been huge on shredding things. I have a shredder but misplaced it in a move. Then I found it, but never took it out of the box, so I find myself still shredding mail by hand. For day to day stuff that is fine, but I pull out the shredder for big paperwork cleanups.
<img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Mary Ellen, how are things going with your SunRocket account? Anyone else signed up?

For those who are interested, there is currently a promo for two free phones when you join.

It's incredible. Now that I've figured out how to use all the options on the phones, I have much more than I did before. The phones they send you can even be used like intercoms betwen each other. I don't have to shout to summon DH anymore. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

SunRocket Internet Phone Service.
Save $500 per year on your phone bill!

Glad to hear you are enjoying the phones- they look pretty spiffy from the picture on the SunRocket website.

It is such a good deal already even before the phone promo.

Yep, it's kind of funny. I had been admiring my sister's phones a couple of weeks before, which she had purchased for "old-fashioned" use. Then, lo and behold, when my SR phones came, they were the same kind. I was happy.

LOL, you've really had luck with SunRocket Mary Ellen!
What are the chances of the free phones being exactly what you want?!

I believe you mentioned calling Ireland, have you used SunRocket for that. The international rates on their website look really good- $.03/ minute rates are pretty good, eh.

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Hi all, thought i would add this , if you intend to fax over the digital lines, be careful. Fax communication high and low noises are not always allowed in the digital bandwidth, meaning it may work sometimes. Static or anything like that may affect it too. Just a heads up. Other than that only heard good things about digital lines.

I remember back in college, our lesson on our subject Internet Communication is about VOIP (voice over internet protocol), that time only few famous providers were available & I am glad to hear that today VOIP is improving very well to improve the lifestyle of the users in the field of Internet Technology.