Vonage phone system

[Lostagain]

Has anyone out there tried the Vonage telephone system? I checked out their rates for long distance to Co. and they're in the 8¢ to 10¢ per minute with 12¢ per minute for calls to cell phones.

All of the prepaid fone cards we have tried have been really going down hill lately. Seems the same old companies are changing names of the cards and giving less and less minutes, then hitting you with a huge connection charge for each call so a 200 minute card has a value of less than half that multiple calls are made despite it claiming no connection fee.

[Bill123]

I use Vonage. Remember, Vonage is a closed VOIP system. They provide the equipment and the settings are locked. I don't use it to call Colombia much, since I mostly use Enjoy Prepaid or One Suite, which are re-chargeable type of phone card services, even though there is no card. They work pretty well, and are cheaper than Vonage's rates.

You can also try another closed system, Lingo, which has better rates to Colombia than does Vonage.

I also use an open SIP system. It is available in three forms....online, with ATA adapter or VOIP phone, and a wireless Wi-Fi phone. I have the adapter form and the wi-fi phone. I use a service on them that is free to Colombia land-line phones. This is a very sophisticated phone system and would not be workable unless you are a major tech geek.

Another option, if you are calling just one person, is to set up a computer on a broadband connection down there, and then just use Skype to call back and forth from the computers. With Skype, you would use headphones, but you could also use their USB phone or their USB adapter with your own phone. Headphones are generally ok though.

The problem with this method of course is the monthly cost of their broadband connection, so phone cards are generally cheaper...or Vonage.

Another option is to take down to Colombia a Vonage phone, but it too has to plug into a broadband connection.

All very complicated eh?!

[ April 07, 2006, 06:51 PM: Message edited by: HonkyTonk ]

[Lostagain]

Dang, Bill, I think I'm going back to some cans and a string. ... or maybe writing letters and using stamps.

We have been having real bad luck with phone cards lately. I think I'll check out Enjoy Prepaid and One Suite.

Thanks for the info. Good to hear from you.

[mustang]

I have Vonage. The prices are very good, and it has some intriguing feature (online voicemail, etc.). Does not interfere at all with internet surfing, etc.

There are definite service quality issues, though. Whether calling local, interstate or international I have had occasional problems with dropped calls and consistent problems with communication going in and out, if I stay on the line more than a few minutes.

[Tinto]

I use Vonage and really like it. The problems that I've encountered with Vonage have only been minor. The main reason why I purchased it was to take it with me while living in Colombia so I could be reached easily from the US and also call back to the States.

There is a relatively new system out there which is internet/computer based called VOIPbuster. It is a free (except for a small one time deposit) and allows you to call both cell and land lines! Colombia is one of the countries on the available list so I'm wondering if any one has tried it out? I've downloaded the beta version but so far haven't used it.

Here is their link for those interested:

http://www.voipbuster.com/en/index.html

[Bill123]

Voipbuster is not free, at least for calling to cell phones. It is free at the moment for calling to land lines, but this is a beta product and it won't be free for long. Dead-end charges at the local PSTN lines in Colombia are expensive, so the free feature will be short-lived.

I found another free SIP service that allows me to call back to the U.S. from a wi-fi phone, but it won't be free for long either. And setting it up is very very difficult with this provider. But like I said, it is free now, and allows me to use ANY open Wi-Fi hotspot, instead of having to have one of my own.

A closed and locked system, such as Vonage or Lingo, is a good and easy option, albeit not the cheapest way to go.

[spanky]

Tinto,

If you take Vonage to Colombia is there anything else you need to bring besides the router? Such as phone D-link,cable?
Thanks

[Bill123]

You will need the standard Vonage ATA, with its power source, and bring a phone too and its cord to plug into the ATA....or buy one down there. Also, an ethernet cable to plug into your router.

The big question is whether it will work with either a DSL or a Cable router. Someone else may be able to answer this. I have heard the ports are blocked when using a DSL router in Colombia...but there may be ways around this.
In general, it's best to have cable broadband to use it in Colombia.

Personally, I think an open-based SIP wifi phone is the best route to take, especially if you have a wireless router set up down there...but it is the hardest one to set up...unless you go with a service that charges $25 a month, in which case Vonage would be fine as an alternative.

[Bill123]

Enjoy Prepaid just lowered their rate to a Bogota landline to 4 cents a minute for their Emerald Plan. A bit more to other cities and 11.5 cents a minute to cell phones.

[dpad]

My aunt bought vonage with a phone line down here, set her computer with a cable line, modem, and a phone and thats it she call my mom and my mom calls her its a local call, so this would be good set up for your novias, personally i have sunrocket and have not had a problem. They have a plan were you pay one year $198 and includes taxes and every bell and wistle. tip call during a holiday and they have specials, i got that same deal for $198 but for 2 years. So monthly its 8.25 per month. up yours bell south ja