VoIP .........Not as Popular as expected?

You guys think VoIP will ever become popular on a mainstream level?

I know Vonage is the leading VoIP, and it's still not 5% of US phone users. I heard complaints about their Hardware. Also heard Quality was not that great compared to Desktop VoIP. I personally don't see replacing a hardline for a make pretend one.

Then comes Skype. I'm getting used to talking on the phone using my headset .... VIA free US calls. Quality is GREAT ...but sometimes a 1 sec lag that I don't notice unless I'm testing it out calling my own phone. I even order Pizza and Chinese using Skype since I'm already on the pc. Skype on my Smartphone is sweet to.


Also when I had AIM installed, it was nice to be able to receive calls for FREE. Nobody had my AIM number, but I easily forwarded my cell to that number and all my cell calls were received thru my headset
I had to deleted AIM for spyware. But I really like the FREE AIM number and might reinstall ...then use the AIM Spyware Remover. Especially since Skypes Free calls are about to end.

Netzero also has a VoIP service. But I can't try it for free. . They do however give me a FREE number for voicemail. Voicemail service is good and it's records to your e-mail. AIM also has this feature. UPDATE : 10 min free trial is included.



I think VoIP is GREAT, but why don't we see more AD's or a bigger push to use these services? Are VoIP companies not ready yet for mainstream ...or is it the other way around?

 

I think VoIP is still a little too new in the market to cause any dominance...I mean...cellphones are still growing at a rapid rate, I think its not VoIP's "time" yet.

 

Well the people at vonage have been very forthcoming with the way their industry is going- vonage has said they will NEVER be profitable, and that their future will come from licensing their technology to the phone/cable/satellite companies as more and more of them jump on the bandwagon.

What made VOIP so attractive was its low cost. Now that the government is trying to regulate and tax it, it will probably bloat up like the phone companies, and will cost too much for too little service.

I like the idea but I'm not sold on its future quite yet, honestly it seems like the whole VOIP system is ripe for a major shakeup especially if net neutrality falters...

 

my take is that the voip is making (very) slowly ahead with personal usage. this is due more likely to what LIVEFRMNYC mentioned above (accessing from device outsides the VOIP network - great idea with the call forwarding)

but if u look around, many mail-order businesses (and call centres) are embracing it like a hurricane. u r on a desktop/laptop ordering catalogue items, got a skype (or a headset) , you can hook up and talk direct to the sales/support reps

and internally, many businesses switch over the voip, why should they pay extra when the internet is readily available to connect one remote office to another?

cheers ...

 

aslong as cable/boardband internet is expensive it will never beat out the old telephone line if broadband gets as cheap as dailup then i'll reconsider.

 

we just got a bunch of cisco voip phones at work that are seriously cool. transferring is a breeze unlike with our old system. they've got big lcd screens with loads of options. first day we had lots of fun playing with them lol.

 

I don't use any type of landline, just my cell phone.

Friend of mine used to work part-time for a VoIP startup, so he has a bunch of those Cisco phones hooked up in his house. Not sure if they work since the company went under though.

 

How reliable is VOIP in a major emergency situation?

Like at the home end, you get a backup battery, but that doesn't last all that long, right? (an hour or two?). What happens during a widespread power outage, like the one that hit the NE US and Canada in 2003? Cell phone service also tends to get disrupted in situations like that, from overload if nothing else.

VOIP is great if you want a second line. Great in situations where you've got access to a regular land line if you need one. I'm a bit hesitant to go for it as my primary home phone service.

That being said, a lot of people learn the hard way that cordless phones don't work during power outages (wheras a simple corded phone will).

 

Yea, I was speaking on a more Personal use of VoIP. I guess it's still a hidden secret. Most know about it but don't realize what it's capable of yet.

Broadband is as chaep as it gets these days. I was paying more for dial before I switched over. (LOL, I sound like the commercial.)

Good Point!!! But the funny thing is on 9/11 most people on a hardline were trying to call a cell phone number, being that family and friends were at work or on the way.

I think we are almost past the point anyway. But calling 911 is still a problem.

 

i dont call 40, 50 dollars cheap lol

i pay 10 dollars a month for my dialup yeah it sux i know

 

I only pay $19.99 for 10MB & $19.99 for Basic Cable with a RCN Package.

It comes out to $46 after taxes for both.

They are Too many cheap deals out here. Just Google for deals.

Most people I know have 5MB for around $12 - $17 a month.


If your paying more than $40 a month for broadband under 10MB, then your getting ripped off. IMO


But there are a few Occasions were remote places equal higher cost.

 

i went through comcast (before they screwed me over) i got cable tv and cable net for 64 dollars a month but without that package the net would of been 60 a month.

 

I also think it's location.

Ofcourse me being in NYC, and other large cities might have the best deals.

There has got to be something much cheaper where your located tho.

 

no wonder its so cheap u live in nyc and the lowest fast internet connection i found was verison 19 dollars a month but they dont offer it where i live, i dont live in a large city, 3rd largest in tennessee but its no where as big as the major cities and im suprized ur using that, id say u being in nyc u could pick up a wireless connection anywhere.

 

I was camping with 2 friends in the Southern Tier of NY during the power outage in August 03. Obviously didn't affect us any, and our cell phones still worked fine, but trying to find out what was up my parents were the only ones we could get through to - the others didn't have any corded phones in the house.

Earlier this year the cable connection on our street was out for about 20 hrs - dropped off one evening, came back the next afternoon. Time Warner claimed to have no idea it was down. I commented that if you only used internet and VoIP for communication you would be kinda stuck in that case.