[Previous entry: "~ Thoughts from Florida ~"] [Next entry: "~ Kelvyn Park High School - Class of 1968 ~"]
03/30/2008: "~ Going to Internet Phone ~"
NewWave, the cable company in our neck of the woods, advertised a 99.95 special of internet, cable and phone. Guess what? it isn't ready yet, so I did some research of the various VOIP solutions and have decided the best value is VOIP.com.
Get Voip Save 50% Off Your Phone Bill
THIS SERVICE DOES NOT WORK WITH DIALUP!!
The annual plan comes to $16.58 per month for local and long distance, and that suits me plenty well!
THIS SERVICE DOES NOT WORK WITH DIALUP!!
Some things I can see that are fun are the online records, contacts, and the SoftPhone. The SoftPhone is an interface (sadly only available for Windows at this time, not my Mac) to turn the laptop or desktop into a phone. This means you can use your laptop as a phone anywhere you have internet service. Currently, since I ported my number, it is the only way for me to make calls..... The adapter didn't arrive yet to use my cordless phone outfit!
I am recommending that when you try the service that you sign up WITHOUT porting your number (keep your regular phone service for a while) because they give you a temporary number to use during the first month. Once you have all the equipment and the service is up and working, THEN port your number (if you want to keep it). Seems phone companies are quicker than the postal service!
Also, at the end of your free trial month, you can just return the adapter if you don't like the service and you still have your landline.
(If you read carefully, you will notice that your first month is NOT free if you port your number. The reason for that is the fees associated for transferring the number from one service to another.)
So.... I have my cable and still am using Robert's internet. I will keep Robert's until the cable internet actually becomes available, and is installed and working. I may keep it anyway if being at the end of the cable line gives me slow internet usage.
I'm very cautious, and recommend you also be when trying new technology, but I will be straight with you and let you know after I've tested something for a while. Give me through the end of April, at least, to let you know about our local cable internet -- if it really gets here -- and the VOIP service.
Mel tested the VOIP type phone service and has been using Vonage for some time. She gave me the courage to try it here. Thanks Mel. We on fixed incomes need to cut costs.
