Voice over IP (VoIP)

My Success Story

I have severed my ties with ma-bell.  I have disconnected the wires at the termination box outside of my house! BUT I still have a dial tone, why? Because I am using the latest technology in phone service, Voice Over IP (VoIP), from Vonage, and have saved over $75.00 per month.

I have spent years with the big monopoly phone companies and now I have a real choice.  VoIP gives me more features then the big phone companies and I was able to keep my existing phone number.  Is VoIP for everyone – No, but if you want to save a lot of money, have an existing broad band internet service, and have about a half-hour to make a few connection, you should give it a try.

I was skeptical at first, but hearing about Vonage from a friend guided me in the right direction.  My friend Keith was the last person I thought would install such a service into his house, but seeing how easy it was for him made me give it a try.  Now, before we go any further I had some advantages with my local phone company.  I had call forwarding on my existing land-line service which made it easier for me to test run the Vonage VoIP service. 

1. Vonage gave me a temporary local phone number.
2. I forwarded my existing phone number (temporarily) to the new Vonage number.
3. I disconnected the wiring at the phone connection outside of my house.
4. I connected an ethernet cable (supplied) from my newly receive VoIP router to my existing wireless router that had one open port (I connected to port 1 – because it was an open port)
5. I connected the supplied phone wire to phone jack 1 on the router, and then to a duplex connecter into the wall jack of my house.
6. I follow a few easy instructions, waited about 5 minutes, and my entire house phone system was connected.

Note: If you don’t have the advantage I had with call forwarding, you should test run Vonage using the two services.  Just connect one or two phones to the Vonage router and have people call you on the temporary number and make all of your calls through the Vonage service.  This will give you the opportunity you need to test this service, before committing to Vonage.

This is where the rest of your time will be spent:

Vonage gives you a “Dashboard” over the internet that allows you to control everything with your phone service.  With this feature, you will never need to call support to change any features.  This is the greatest improvement over local phone companies, and this alone, should persuade you to leave the big monopoly.

1. MOST IMPORTANT - Set up 911 services – this is the first thing you need to do!!!
2. Next you will need to set up your voice mail.
3. Take time surfing around the dashboard and modify your settings, such as voicemail forwarding time, network down forwarding number, etc…
4. If you like the service and want to keep it, and you have used it for about 30 days you should apply to have your existing land-line number changed over to Vonage.  On your Dashboard is a form you will need to complete which will disconnect your service from the phone company and make Vonage your primary phone service.  All of the transactions are done for you.  You will receive an email informing you that your number is now ported over to Vonage and your phone company can no longer bill you – this is a good thing!

Some great features:

1. Virtual phone number – This is a service for $4.99 that allows you to have multiple phone numbers.  Take for instance, Mom lives in California and you live in New Jersey  If Mom called you this would be long distance charge for her.  With Vonage’s Virtual number you can have a California number, local to Mom, and your existing number.  So, when Mom calls you she just dials the local California number and it rings at your house in New Jersey.  She is not charged for long distance because she dials a local number.

2. Network Availability Number: Is a feature that allows you to automatically forward your number to a cell phone (or any number), in case your broadband or power fails in your home.  Yes, If you don’t have a UPS system connected to your router, or if your broadband provider has a disconnect, you will loose your phone service in your house. Vonage has fixed this by adding a feature to the Dashboard that allows your number to automatically forward to a cell phone when such problems occur.
3. Toll Free Number: Kids away at college? This is a great service because your kids away from home can now call from anywhere with an addition toll free number.  It’s a small fee for this number, but it will give you a sense of security, knowing your loved ones can call from anywhere at any time.
4. look at the standard features Vonage offers: Voicemail, 3-way calling, call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID with name, online billing, voicemail sent to your email, free long distance anywhere in the US, Canada, and now Puerto Rico, in-network call for worldwide free communication, caller ID block, repeat dialing, call transfer, call return, Click-2-Call… the list goes on Click here to see

 
Iif you have any question please post them on my How2Fix.com, Forum.  Want to sign-up for Vonage Calling Plan, Click Here Now!

Thanks
John Kosh