«

I am looking at reducing my calls and at the same time trying to get a 2nd
line that would have inclusive calls. NTL is currently costing me
14.50/month.

I was looking at Vonage but are there any others out there? Also I would
also like to use FWD which is SIP based? Any guidance?

Sid

On Mon, 13 Feb 2006 19:58:52 GMT, "Sidknee"
<> wrote:

>I am looking at reducing my calls and at the same time trying to get a 2nd
>line that would have inclusive calls. NTL is currently costing me
>14.50/month.
>
>I was looking at Vonage but are there any others out there? Also I would
>also like to use FWD which is SIP based? Any guidance?
>
>Sid
>
Yes - Vonage is a rip off. I can't understand why anyone, with any
technical competence, would want to use it.
For a very good incoming call service (1571, 1471 etc.) and reliabilty
I'd choose voipfone.co.uk Their voicemail responds with a different
message depending on whether you are unavailable or currently on
another call. They have call waiting and caller display too.

However, if you want a good tariff and reliabilty I'd choose
voip.co.uk - £2/month for free evening and weekend UK calls(up to 1
hour) and 2p per 1 hour UK call at peak times (geographic). Their
voicemail service, when it works, is, currently, only very basic,
but, I am given to understand, a new one is being developed. They
have caller display and call waiting works well too. Currently no 1471
equivalent.
If the new voicemail proves to be good then voip.co.uk will be
unbeatable in my opinion.

Remove 'no_spam_' from email address.

On Mon, 13 Feb 2006 20:52:14 GMT, Brian A
<> wrote:


>Yes - Vonage is a rip off. I can't understand why anyone, with any
>technical competence, would want to use it.
Vonage are not a rip off at all in fact Vonage provide a very good
service for a modest cost ,how the hell can they be a rip off when for
an outlay of 33 PENCE at day inclusive of ALL geographical calls
within the UK and the all of Ireland router included .
>For a very good incoming call service (1571, 1471 etc.) and reliabilty
>I'd choose voipfone.co.uk
But you do not get inclusive calls which is where the likes of Vonage
and Freetalk shine through and don't forget with any providers like
Sipgate Voipfone etc you also have the added cost of buying an ATA
Which don't come cheap to start with unless you want to leave a
computer running 24/7 .
Did you conveniently forget to mention the added cost of an ATA in
your hurry call to Vonage rip off merchants which they ARNT Brian .

<> wrote Vonage provide a very good
> service for a modest cost ,how the hell can they be a rip off when for
> an outlay of 33 PENCE at day inclusive of ALL geographical calls
> within the UK and the all of Ireland router included .

I checked the website and note that the PAP2 comes freee! Can the PAP2
be used for other SIP based services like FWD/Pulver communicator/Sipgate
etc. If it is locked what is involved in unlocking or is it not wrth the
hassle.

Sid

<> wrote ...

> >Yes - Vonage is a rip off. I can't understand why anyone, with any
> >technical competence, would want to use it.

> Vonage are not a rip off at all in fact Vonage provide a very good
> service for a modest cost ,how the hell can they be a rip off when...

> ....and don't forget with any providers like Sipgate Voipfone etc
> you also have the added cost of buying an ATA Which don't come
> cheap...

Tell me - is this the voice of a vested interest? If so then perhaps you
should state that fact!

To get what I am using now (two independent SIP phone lines) would cost me
£18.99 PER MONTH, to "save" the £90 or so for my Sipura ATA + bits +
adapters. In other words after only six months I have more than paid for
this "free" ATA. Plus of course I would have a useless bit of locked down
hardware physically tying me into the Vonage service, preventing me from
trying alternative services.

Of course Vonage are not interested in the likes of me, there is no facility
at all for customers to use their own equipment, it's the tied in service or
nothing.

Do you also recommend that people rent video and DVD players?

Keith L

On Mon, 13 Feb 2006 23:46:32 -0000, "Keith Lawrence"
<> wrote:

>Tell me - is this the voice of a vested interest? If so then perhaps you
>should state that fact!
Nope I have just closed my Vonage account but only because I was not
using it enough to justify the cost never the less I always intend
giving Vonage a good name has never once did they fail me likewise
with Voipfone and Freetalk . Unlike Sipgate who let me down no less
than three times in the first month and a few times in the following
three or four months until I got rid .
>Of course Vonage are not interested in the likes of me, there is no facility
>at all for customers to use their own equipment, it's the tied in service or
>nothing.
Vonage supply the equipment at no cost when you leave you send it back
or you can buy your own Linksys 3 port router from Staples this does
also have two phone ports which are tied to Vonage but if you leave
you are still left with a good working router has I am now .
>Do you also recommend that people rent video and DVD players?
No why should I , I only recommend three voip providers Vonage
Freetalk and Voipfone voipfone are good no mistaking that but you do
have to go buying a ATA anything from £ 60 to 80 or more plus you have
to pay for all calls plus £ 2.00 a month for a geo number if you want
one.
For less than £7.00 a month you get all UK geo number calls free with
Freetalk and you pay 19.99 for the ATA which is tied to Freetalk.
The cheapest is of course " voipcheap" but again unless you leave a
computer running 24/7 you need an ATA but I would not like to rely on
them has a sole provider and I certainly would not go buying an ATA
just to use with Voipcheap although they are good considering you can
dial many places in the world for free .

I only recommend three voip providers Vonage Freetalk and Voipfone
voipfone are good .....

I am surprised you did not mention Hermes Broadband; they offer same
service BUT with a WiFi option and unlimited calls to 30 countries!!!
These guys must be loosing serious money; I don't know what their catch
is. I googled "Hermes Communications" and I come across their
communication satellite technology! cool stuff!

Take a look of Hermes Boradband; mobile internet phone and unlimited
calls to 20+ countries.

"Niko Patera" <>

SNIP>
> I am surprised you did not mention Hermes Broadband; they offer same
> service BUT with a WiFi option and unlimited calls to 30 countries!!!
> These guys must be loosing serious money; I don't know what their catch
> is. I googled "Hermes Communications" and I come across their
> communication satellite technology! cool stuff!

Perhaps you didn't notice that this is a UK group.

WOW! unlimited calls to fixed lines for only £25 a month! Wi-fi, gosh! and
only £175 for a phone that Voiptalk will sell you for £117.49. Amazingly,
some people prefer not to do business with Companies that we think are
"loosing serious money" (sic) on the grounds that it's a pain when they go
bust.

"Sidknee" <> wrote
Can the PAP2
> be used for other SIP based services like FWD/Pulver communicator/Sipgate
> etc. If it is locked what is involved in unlocking or is it not wrth the
> hassle.
>
Can the PAP2 offered free by Vonage be unlocked for simulataneours use with
FWD or other Sip operators?

Sid