Voice Over IP - A First Hand Perspective

[Jason Dunn]

http://www.devbuzz.com/content/vona...over_ip_pg1.asp

My friend Derek Mitchell over at dEVbuzz has written up a first-hand perspective of using the Vonage VOIP kit. I've always been curious about VOIP, but I don't do all that much long distance calling so I haven't looked into it. Curious about VOIP and the benefits? Check out Derek's article!

[Jason Dunn]

http://www.devbuzz.com/content/vona...over_ip_pg1.asp

My friend Derek Mitchell over at dEVbuzz has written up a first-hand perspective of using the Vonage VOIP kit. I've always been curious about VOIP, but I don't do all that much long distance calling so I haven't looked into it. Curious about VOIP and the benefits? Check out Derek's article!

[OSUKid7]

Awesome. :way to go: I've been semi-interested in VoIP, and have tried out Skype and a few other VoIP apps, and the FWD service (free VoIP to PSTN calls in the US ). Vonage's digital phone adapter is pretty cool. May try to talk my folks into that if (hopefully when) we get our basemsnet renovated and ethernet through the house. Glad you can keep existing phones and still use VoIP, but it would be better if the adapter were smaller. (Or even better yet if there wer just one adapter for all analog phones in the house...but that's asking a lot.)

[ricksfiona]

I use Vonage as my primary voice line where I live in California. I think it works VERY close in quality to that of my cell phone. Sometimes, there is a delay when I talk to the time the caller hears what I say, but it doesn't happen often.

Now, if they can get a software app for me to use on my PPC and use my phone number on it, that would be very nice.

[OSUKid7]

Quick question about Vonage: they have an app for PCs, right? So can you put that on a laptop, go away from your house, get on a different network, and still make and receive phone calls with your home number? When someone calls you in that case, would the softphone on your laptop ring as well as the phones in your house?

Also, is it possible to add a second "line?" Or have unlimited "lines" so that you can always make a call when someone else is on the phone?

Maybe I'm dreaming. lol :lol:

OK, more than a few questions. ops: :wink:

[cmchavez]

Originally Posted by ricksfiona

I use Vonage as my primary voice line where I live in California. I think it works VERY close in quality to that of my cell phone. Sometimes, there is a delay when I talk to the time the caller hears what I say, but it doesn't happen often.

Now, if they can get a software app for me to use on my PPC and use my phone number on it, that would be very nice.

Not to be the voice of doom, but I read an article on ZDNet a couple of weeks back regarding Vonage. Basically, the article said that the services offered are good, but the long term forecast for the company is not as rosy because they don't own or maintain any of the infrastructure. Also, since their service is based on available bandwidth\data pipelines, any of the Telco's could make life hard on Vonage by limiting the amount of VOIP traffic through their system. This could also happen if a Telco starts up their own VOIP service and wants to limit competition.

[that_kid]

I've been using vonage for over a year and it's been great. I also use vonage on my pocketpc's and it's just great, especially with a bluetooth headset. Many of my friends also have vonage and with free world dialup you can call to/from vonage. The only bad thing I've found so far is trying to order pizza. I have a New Jersey phone number but I live in Virginia, when I need to give my home phone number, people think I'm trying to scam them. On the upside my phone bill is crazy low and so is the phone bills of my family and friends, that's what counts most.

[that_kid]

Originally Posted by OSUKid7

(Or even better yet if there wer just one adapter for all analog phones in the house...but that's asking a lot.)

That's possible now and that's how I have my house wired. I have one adapter hooked into all the phones in the house.

[OSUKid7]

Originally Posted by That_Kid

That's possible now and that's how I have my house wired. I have one adapter hooked into all the phones in the house.

Awesome. I know you can do that by hacking the phone box outside the house, but did you do that legally through Vonage?

[that_kid]

No hack involved, all you need to do is disconnect your local phone service from the nid(box on your house) and then plug the vonage box into a standard phone line. As long as all the lines are hooked up, you'll get a dialtone throught the house. Now if you have alot of phones throughout the house, then you will need something else to generate the current needed for the 54volt phone line. It's all legal as long as you stay on the customer side of the nid.

[ricksfiona]

Originally Posted by That_Kid

I've been using vonage for over a year and it's been great. I also use vonage on my pocketpc's and it's just great, especially with a bluetooth headset. Many of my friends also have vonage and with free world dialup you can call to/from vonage. The only bad thing I've found so far is trying to order pizza. I have a New Jersey phone number but I live in Virginia, when I need to give my home phone number, people think I'm trying to scam them. On the upside my phone bill is crazy low and so is the phone bills of my family and friends, that's what counts most.

Where did you get the Pocket PC software? I've been looking for it and can't find it. I would LOVE to have it!!!