Vonage VOIP

When I first heard of VOIP I was a bit skeptical. Basically you use your internet to call unlimited anywhere in US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. I decided I would give Vonage a shot, after seeing the commercials on tv.

The basic package I purchased was at Staples. It cost me approximately $60 and came with the start up package and a Linksys router.

Included in the router was the ability to hardwire four computers. This wasn't wireless but this was before wireless became popular. All I did was contact my cable modem out to the in on the router, and then from the router to the computer. Included is two phone line ins on the router as well. Plug your phone line into the correct port, call Vonage and away you go.

Some things I did notice, when the power was out, your phone was dead, which in a emergency or for those who don't have a cell phone this could be a big problem. Also if you have multiple computers doing some intensive downloading or playing multiplayer games etc....it could tend to echo if someone is on a phone, almost like a cell phone.

Vonage does have a ton of options, call waiting, caller id, etc like most phone plans. So in this respect it has alot of loaded features for approximately $30 a month.

The one thing I do want you to know about is the customer service is pathetic. While trying to disconnect service, I was transfered to a call center where I couldn't understand the person I was talking to. And they tried to get me to stay with the company, no matter what I said. I had told them that I switched to Comcast and they didn't want to hear that either, so I would like to warn you that if you do get it, getting them to disconnect could be a nightmare.

Other than that problem, I enjoyed my Vonage service for the most part.