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can someone explain how this system works and is it true that you can call the US from Colombia for free or for very cheap?
JK

... in response to Using Vonage?, posted by jediknight on Sep 7, 2005

It works over the internet.You pick a home area code,for me San Jose California.The phone basically thinks its there.Anyone in 408 can call me free,or a US toll call to 408 or if US unlimited dialing free.I can call the US and Canada free,unlimited time for $25 a month.You can get it with a limit for $15.I can call most of the world land phones for $.05-.10 a minite.Cell phones 2 to 3 times as much.I use it to call Cali cell phones,$.10 a miniute.I can call my European bank for $.05 a miniute.
My roomate does real estate loans out of California.His vonage phone has the same area code as his former phone number.Lots of people have no idea he is not right in town.He probably could have just got his number trassfered over.
Hell of a deal.Mine  almost never screws up,sometimes a bit of an echo but usually VERY clear.And if my internet cable goes down it is down.A guy calls me from Bogota,his has a problem.I was told he might be able to connect to vonage on line and change some settings.I would call them on the vonage phone and be on line at the same time to change the settings.
You can take the modem with you anywhere in the world,connect it to a  high speed internet and it is working.
Big toll charges are on their way out,but don't expect some companies  to go quietly.Right now they are raising a fuss about 911 service not working like with a local phone.People know that,its just BS competetion hassling.I would have a local phone also for local calls and 911.
Ah the new high tech world.Whats next?Every movie and song there ever was and CPS on your cell phone?

Pete

... in response to Using Vonage?, posted by jediknight on Sep 7, 2005

VOIP =voice over IP.  I have and I love it.

Call all over the US for 24 bucks a month.

It's 7 cents a minute to Colombia.  However the calling cards which I use are less than 2 cents a minute.  so I use it as back up.  Cristal clear

It's the bomb.

... in response to Re: Using Vonage?, posted by Heat on Sep 7, 2005

I didn't know about vonage untill you showed me yours.Greg was on his way here.He says that can't be true,then checked and called back all excited about it.We had 2 lines on his modem untill he moved.I have 2 modems here now,5 hard wire cable hookups and 1 wireless hookup
since Soltero took his back with him.We had 2.
Don't believe this internet usage is down,the number of accounts is down.I bet whole neighborhoods are hooked up to one cable connection here.

Pete

... in response to Re: Using Vonage?, posted by Heat on Sep 7, 2005


I have Vonage also and for the most part, really like it.  When you sign up for their service online, Vonage will send you a router but it is a non-wireless router. You can get a wireless version (which is newer technology) from retailers like Best Buy, Circuit City or Staples.  When I purchased my router at Staples a few months ago the $130 price tag for the router had various rebates that if I followed correctly, my router was free after three months of service.  

There are two+ monthly plans available.  A $20 fee allows 500 minutes incoming/outgoing calls.  The $25 fee has unlimited calls incoming/outgoing.  You need cable service wherever you set the router up.  All the telephone calls go through the internet; you just hook up a regular phone directly to the router.  You can also use a soft phone and call though your computer using a headset with microphone.  

You can select an area code of your choice allowing your friends and family to make a local call and wherever you are it’s a free call for them.  For $5 more per month you can obtain an 800 number.

Calling back to the States is "free" except for that monthly fee.  The few problems I have had with their service are that calls originating from the States at times can drop off momentarily or have a warble effect but if I unplug my computer it usually improves.  A faster internet speed will reduce or eliminate this problem.

Skype has a soft phone service that does the same thing without the needed router for basically the same fees only at a per minute rate.  Check out both services but I prefer Vonage.

... in response to Re: Using Vonage?, posted by Heat on Sep 7, 2005

are the rates the same when calling a cell phone in colombia? how about calling from colombia to US, is this possible as i've been reading in other posts?
JK

... in response to Re: Re: Using Vonage?, posted by jediknight on Sep 7, 2005

Calling a Cali cell phone,$.10 a miniute.Its $.40 a miniute if you use a calling card cell phone to call a cell phone.My home phone is blocked,I can't make a toll call which a cell phone call  from it,but it would cost more than Vonage.I don't want someone picking up my home phone and calling the US.It would probably be $10 a miniute.Cali land phone$.05 a miniute,the same as most of Colombia.Again,to the US and Canada,TOTALLY FREE after you pay the $25 a month,UNLIMITED TIME.
Vonage has a web site with the rates,There are some far east and middle east places about $1.00 a miniute.

Pete

... in response to Re: Re: Using Vonage?, posted by jediknight on Sep 7, 2005


Calling from Colombia to the States using Vonage is not a problem.  I think it excludes Hawaii and Alaska though.

I forgot to mention, one nice feature that Vonage has is that a missed incoming call will be turned into a voice email or you can choose to retrieve your messages by calling your number.

You can also help out your forum buddies here and sign up as our referrals giving us a free months worth of service, hint, hint.

Dios le pague!

... in response to Re: Using Vonage?, posted by Heat on Sep 7, 2005

Heat, what calling card is getting you 2 cents a minute?  

Also, what are your connection fees, maitenance fees, and rounding minutes with your calling card?

I've been paying 5 cents/minute to BAQ, with no connection or maintenance fees, but connections are becoming hit or miss...

Gracias

... in response to Re: Re: Using Vonage?, posted by Looking4Wife on Sep 7, 2005

You need to go to the local Colombian/Latina grocery in your area as all the states have their own version.

If you speak Spanish ask the local girl what is the best card for Colombian.  I pay less than two cents a minute.

When I sent money I also used the same wire service they did.  %3 on the dollar.