VoIP Phone service providers. Who to use?

[mike_s]

Anyone out here using any of the Voice over IP (VoIP) providers?


who's the best to use and why?

It seems that many of them have some great features, but that none of the providers really support "everything". Vonage even went to the distance of lieing saying they could port over our local number when they couldn't after the install and we had to pay extra to get the local land line hooked back up.


some of the features that I want them to support

• Port over local exisiting phone number.
• Tivo Dialup
• Enhanced 911 support to my local 911 center, not some remote call center.
• caller ID info transfered (instead of all my calls just showing up as a 'private call' to others.
• directory listing (in local phone book)
• fax machine support
• 2nd number and distinctive ring would be great for fax machine.
• service outage rollover to desingated 2nd number (such as cell phone).

Any suggestions?

 

[danclem]

Hi Mike:

I use Skype (Skype official website – free download and free calls and internet calls). Works very well, especially overseas. In our region Verizon and Comcast are the main providers.

I don't believe you will find the 911 functionality. The closest is reverse 911 where you can register and receive communication blasts in emergency situations.

For a variety of reasons, we have retained land lines. Call quality is generally superior, there is service when power is down or batteries have died. There is no issue with 911. If there is a DNS attack on your ISP or VOIP servers, no phone until the situation is resolved.

I am on a "campaign" to get rid of faxes, so we are only dealing with snail mail or e-mail requests.

Dan

 

[TravisD]

...
[*]Tivo Dialup

Why would you want to keep Tivo on Dialup? It functions MUCH better when it's connected via broadband.

 

[mike_s]

My Tivo doesn't have the ethernet/broadband interface. only dialup. There is a 'hack' I think though were you can add a ethernet card. I might end up doing that....

and it's got the "Lifetime Subscription", so I don't want to get rid of it and have to pay $16/month for the subscription for a new one. especially since I upgraded it to a huge hard drive.


I'll check out Skype. (can't right now because for some reason they block it at work.) But I really don't want a computer software based voice over IP. I want one that uses regular POTS phones. (standard home telephones).


I've found that Lingo has E911 in my area. I'm considering them. but I don't think they support directory listings and have some issues with caller ID. maybe some other things that I cna't remember off the top of my head.