April 30, 2004VOIP - Voice Over IP - Pt. IIMy quest for a VOIP (Voice Over IP) phone system continues. When I wrote my first column on VOIP back in April, I thought it would be fun to include a little survey (via SurveyMonkey). It turned out to be a very cool thing to do ... Lockergnome readers are the greatest readers in the world. I'm proud to say that over 100 Gnomies responded to the survey on VOIP ... and I'm happy to be able to share the results with you.While I don't aspire to be a statistician, it's clear that a substantial number of folks using VOIP are pleased with the results. To be sure, VOIP is not without its faults. A good number of existing VOIP users were quick to shine the light at the technologies flaws, as well as its strengths. Without further adieu, lets get to the survey results ...
1. Are you currently using a VOIP solution, such as Vonage, AT&T CallVantage, or VoicePulse?
2. Which VOIP solution are you currently using?
3. If you're currently using VOIP, how happy are you with the sound quality?
Folks seem generally happy with their VOIP sytems. Of the "Other" responses, these were among the most interesting: Sometimes a little barrelish sounding, other time okay. Customers say they get some cutting out. Generally it is as good or better than regular calls, but when there is a problem it is so unlike normal phone problems that it is very disconcerting. The garbling or hiccups or pops that you get when the connection is not optimal are very odd. I love it. I have it set to send me a page when someone calls and leaves a message on the number and I can hear the messages at work right thru my browser. I would not go back. I have also taken my phone with me to Internet cafe's and used it. People don't know what to think of it. Sounds like a good cellphone connection.
4. Are you happy with your VOIP service overall?
5. What are your favorite VOIP features?A total bill of $20.55 (that includes taxes) for a local phone line that has all the expensive bells and whistles that Bell has to offer plus unlimited calling in the US and Canada. I especially enjoy calling a friend in Australia once in awhile for three cents a minute. Dashboard and online management of accounts in one place. Detailed reporting of calls. The ability to have virtual numbers in alternate area codes (I am moving to the country and my area code will change so that my clients will need to dial long distance, so switching to Vonage allows me to look like I'm still downtown when I'm out in farm country. Ability to check voicemail over the web; cost; I'm not a slave to Ma Bell anymore! 1. The low cost (saving about $100 a month), and all the features like call waiting and call forwarding are included in the package. 2. The option to set up a number in any area code, so you can have a 'virtual' office in any part of the country. 3. Their customer service is actually helpful, and a pleasure to deal with! They work hard to solve any problem. I love unlimited nationwide calling, the ability to take my line with me whenever I travel, and the simultaneous ring feature that lets me ring my cell phone at the same time as the VoIP line. (By the way, I checked "other"...I'm using Packet8) Cost, cost, cost. I am Canadian, using Primus. Other then all the goody features offered at a very reasonable price, what impresses me the most is the absolute dedication and friendleness of the support staff. What a breath of fresh air after dealing with the telephone co. * All of those features for one low price/ * No hidden extra taxes and charges. * The fact that whenever I get a VM message, I get an e-mail telling me so. * The ability to chack my messages on-line from anywhere. * The "virtual number" feature, whereby, for $5/mth, I have another number, with different area code, that rings on my actual line. Clarity, price, features, price, clarity! Customer service is generally above-average to great. Videophone service, ease of setup, ease of use, price (I use Packet8 which is better than any of the choices in this survey...and I researched them all). Price ... I have the 34.95 plan and save $40/month with the free long distance. Service ... I ordered the service and 3 days later I had the equipment and was talking VOIP 20 minutes later. Beats the S**t out of Qwest service. I have had NO land lines into the house for 6 months and I don't reget it a bit. TIP: I had to replace my single line/handset phones. I bought a Uniden multi handset cordless system and have 3 phones off this system. One at the base station, one in the bedroom and one in my office. Total cost from Costco was $160. 6. What irks you about your VOIP service?Inability to hook up fax and tivo. The delay, which averages a half second or less, can sometimes be annoying. It's not as annoying as a "normal" international call bounced through a satellite or two, though. If you're used to the normal compression/decompression delays on digital cell phones, you and VoIP will probably get along just fine. Besides, it usually costs next to nothing to sign up for a service and find out. There are a few times when the sound quality suffered, but these occasions were minimal. Having to dial one before every number (ok i am being picky) 1.The occaisional call gets dropped...if there's any kind of a blip in the internet a call will get dropped. 2.If the power goes out (I live in the northeast, so it does happen a bit too much), you lose your phones... so have a cell as a backup. 3. You have to dial the area code even for local calls, but you get used to this very quickly. All in all these are very minor things when balanced with the bucks you'll be saving and the overall quality of service... and dealing with the regular phone company was never a walk in the park either. Defenetley for the high width band user. I've used it for over a year now with a cable internet line. I notice that if I'm downloading a file, and talking at the same time, the conversation is choppy. Vonage has a feature that deals with band with monitoring, and I have to say that I have not used it in order to see if it makes any diference in the quality of call, while downloading a file at the same time. Not much, I have had it for over a year and it rocks! Calls fade in and out The fact that when my internet (cable) connection was out for 2 days, so was my phone service. Although it took VM just as if I wasn't home, and I can change my options, so that the Vonage line forwards to my cell phone, if I want. *I experienced some dropouts for several weeks and no-one could solve it. Vonage thought it was a problem with my Netgear router, but couldn't really suggest how to fix it, although they really tried. It finally cleared up on it's own. Not IRKS but is a problem ... My cable broadband is limited to 384Kbps and if I am running a torrent which uses even as much as 15KBps the outgoing quality sucks. Incoming is still crystal clear. I understand that you can't suck up all of the bandwidth and expect to have good service. No other complaints .... NONE I have it set up on my home network and have assigned IP's to everything but i get strange sounds almost like stray data is being sent to the phone as if someone is pushing buttons on the phone itself. Also some people tell me that i sound like a computer talking to them, don't know what the deal is but maybe they will get all the bugs out Slight hollowness on line, disconnects on long, long distance calls (over hour) probably from network congestion before too long. Many many thanks to all the kind Gnomies that participated in this survey! You've given me enough solid info to go forward with it ... I'm going to roll the dice on a VOIP system just as soon as I put my current book to bed. Hopefully this week! :) Posted by geekbooks at April 30, 2004 11:42 PM |
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