You remember Vonage right? The trailblazing VoIP company is still around and appears at first glance to have instigated a bit of coup in the battle for VoIP calls over AT&T connections. Unfortunately they haven't, at least not yet. See, the free Vonage Mobile app just added to the iTunes App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch has been approved for making international calls over AT&T's cellular network (take
that Skype) in addition to WiFi. Unfortunately, we're not talking about SIP calls over EDGE/HSDPA data. Like the
rejected Google Voice app, if you're out of WiFi range but still have voice service then Vonage Mobile will redirect your international call (entered directly into the App or selected from your address book) to a local access number in the US -- you're then using your AT&T minutes while being charged Vonage Mobile's discounted worldwide calling rates. The app is strictly pay-as-you-go for the moment and will not give free global calling to those who subscribe to Vonage's $25 per month Vonage World plan -- Vonage says that will come before the end of the year. The Vonage Mobile app for BlackBerry only works over your carrier's voice network while the iPod touch app only works over WiFi, naturally. Also, BlackBerry users will revert to Vonage's lower rates anytime they make an international call whereas iPhone users must launch the Vonage application first.
[Thanks,
Ricky B.]
posted Oct 5th 2009 6:33AM
I don't want to start a flame war or anything, but people still use Vonage?
Yes. Until something better comes along..... you know of anything better? I'm all for a good deal!
@zsyco Something better? How about using Google Voice to direct to my Gizmo number for free incoming calls. Then only paying $.02 a minute to call out. Combine that with the Linksys PAP2T and I have a regular "landline" for really really cheap
Adam, that's a good plan if I were the only one using the phone, but, I'm not and we have more than enough minutes used on outgoing calls alone to end up spending close to $15 / $20. That's if we don't count the occasional international calls. Situationally, it is certainly better than what we're doing right now, but those times that the lines are really busy are where the difference would balance out.
I tried a similar setup to what you mention when GoogleVoice was still GrandCentral and we had issues with calls not being routed properly from time to time. Maybe it's time that we try it again and see if a switch if feasible. Honestly, if it were just me I'd have nothing but a mobile phone. Our security system is wireless now so there is no more requirement for the land line except call quality (coverage in some parts of the house sucks)
Jailbroken iphone + 3GOverIP from Cydia + $13/month unlimited Skype world plan = WIN!
So, I've been looking at some of the options out there and decided to give Ooma a try. I wish I'd questioned Vonage before.... thanks for the discussion guys.
The sooner the carriers pull their heads out of their asses and realize that doing things like this just piss customers off, the better. Customers want to fee like they're getting value when they spend their money. Stupid shit like this just drives a bigger wedge between carriers and their victims........I mean customers!
Yea, $25 a month is a bit much when you could get the "MagicJack" for that a year.
I doubt most people have a need for Vonage anymore.
Except that Vonage is reliable and MagicJack.... isn't, and MJ's call quality is ridiculously bad. Anyway, the MagicJack I saw has to have a computer to plug into... Vonage just needs a router.
I still have Vonage, don't really see any reason to get rid of it anytime soon either. I've had it for probably around 8 years now and only had a few issues in the very beginning. It's pretty flawless and I have the 500min plan since I don't use my phone all that much.
Yeah, another fan of Vonage/Vonage user right here. I don't think I'll switch anytime soon, even after I switched to the unlimited T-Mobile plan. Here's why:
I need a phone at home for the family for when I'm gone. They need one. They need a phone that provides the benefits of a home phone system, namely: reliable, not dependent on a running computer, always available to incoming calls, and available in many rooms on different levels of our home. Vonage fits that bill.
Also, nobody talks about their $15/month plan. It gives unlimited incoming, and 500 outgoing minutes, which we never get near.
All of their great features are icing: simulring, emailed voicemails, etc.
No, I don't mean to sound like a commercial - their customer service is a nightmare - but I've been very happy with their product for years.
If you have T.Mobile, just get their @Home service ... it's just like Vonage, a VoIP adapter and all. Plus you get unlimited nationwide calling vs. 500 minutes, and only about $2 in taxes/fees vs. whatever Vonage is charging now. Oh, and if you're on a family plan, it's in your Mobile2Mobile.
I've been a Vonage customer for a long time and something like this is great. My only issue is that they didn't do a Windows Mobile version so theres a market (albeit a small one comparatively) that is neglected. If you do any international calling Vonage is the way to go. Even with the bundle packages, getting home service from cable or FIOS is more expensive than what I'm paying now and I get more options with Vonage than either of them offer.
I want to see if there's a battle between them and AT&T like the one that AT&T is having with Google over Google Voice.
Yes. Until something better comes along..... you know of anything better? I'm all for a good deal!
This was supposed to be a reply to thebolster....
If there is a mod, please delete it.
I love VONAGE home service. Living in NYC I rarely use my cell phone, since I'm usually either underground on a subway or in a high-rise with poor service. So a cheap $30. cell plan for occasional use combined with $25. for unlimited calls anywhere on a clear VONAGE landline connection (that I can take anywhere in the world) works very well for me.
But this new VONAGE iPhone app is a waste. It's only for people who need to make international calls, either away from their VONAGE line or independently. But I don't. I expected the app to integrate with my existing VONAGE account so I could at least check voicemail, my account, etc., just like I can on the web. But this does NONE of that. Big build-up for nothing. I hope they change things and fast!
I use Vonage because it is still a better deal than bundling TWC's offering with my cable and RR. I have family abroad and now that I have switched to the unlimited international calling plan, it makes even more financial sense to stick with it.
It's a decent app. I would have much preferred integration with existing Vonage accounts where possible. You can't even use your same Vonage username and password to log in! As a plus for iPod touch users, though, it allows free calling to any number in the US! They don't mention this anywhere on their site, but it essentially turns your iPod into a free long-distance phone service if you have Wifi. This is pretty much what Google Voice was supposed to do, if it hadn't been rejected....
That's a letdown. I was hoping for something like the old jailbreak app, Vonagent. I miss that app. It let me change my Vonage account settings and listen to voicemails on my iPhone without logging in to their slow website. That was a great app!
Where did it go?
I agree. I was expecting something totally different. His bullshit app is major letdown. All that buildup wad a complete waste. Man does that piss me off.
"Like the rejected Google Voice app, if you're out of WiFi range but still have voice service then Vonage Mobile will redirect your international call"
Is it just me or does the author of the article imply that Google Voice can be used for VOIP....?
That just isn't what it does (on its own).
Indeed. There are already enough people confused about what Google Voice is. This is unfortunate as people don't seem to be particularly concerned about AT&T blocking VIOP apps from their network, and thus aren't too concerned about Google Voice's absence from the App Store if they believe it's just another VOIP app.
Why would the "i" in "VoiP" be lowercase? Doesn't it stand for Internet, which is a proper noun and always uppercased even when not used in an acronym?
I use vonage but I use it a little bit different then most on here it seems. If any one knows something better I would be interested. I recently moved to Europe and wanted to keep my US phone number so friends and family could call me. I transferred my us number to Vonage. Then when I plug it in to the Internet over here I can call any where in the US from Europe for free. (accept the monthly fee.) then all my friends and family can call me as well. Sure you can do the same with skype but then I have to make sure all my friends install the software ...Plus trying to explain computers to my parents isn't worth the time. Just knowing every one I know can still call me the same way they use to is pretty cool.
I have Vonage for 6 years now, never had a problem with them, originally had the unlimited plan but then move to their basic 500 min, Only use it for international calls so it's a great deal.
I've been waiting for the apps for a while now.
if they lauch in europe i would buy it , 25$/month for international calls for me is a bargain.
@adam and @zsyco: Google SIP, magic jack hacks, linksys pap2.
Essentially, you can get the Magic Jack service for $20/year and pair it with a SIP router, such as the Linksys PAP2. You plug your home phone(s) into the PAP2 device, just like you would with Vonage.
This setup relies on a hack, which is easy to do. You have to download a program, which is run after you've plugged the Magic Jack device into your PC. The program downloads all the info from the MJ device, which you use to program the PAP2.
You need some type of broadband connection. The Linksys PAP2 and similar SIP router devices can be had brand new on eBay for around $35.
I still use Vonage. I have also tried magicJack, and am considering getting tk6000 www.tk6000.com
Vonage is consistently reliable. It is a bit too expensive, ibut when I first got it, it was the only real alternative to Bell South. I use Vonage for business, and so need a reliable number. Also, I use the voice-to-text transcription of my messages feature and have that sent to my Peek. If I could get number transportability, I would switch to Google Voice. Since I use Vonage for my business, I am willing to pay for reliability. If Google Voice provided number transfer, that would be the ideal choice. At some point, cell phone providers will realize that data is data and will separate the phone service from the radio service.
So how does this get in and not Google Voice?
For people who call internationally to family etc...who do not have computers...there is nothing out there to rival Vonage. In a lot of international countries, people pay per minute usage still for internet, so Skype etc...is still not feasible.
So for me to be able to call internationally...unlimited for $25, well as was previousley stated, if you have something better......show me.
However, this app really doesnt do anything for me. I would have hoped that they would have somehow incorporated this into existing customers plans somehow. Im not sure people who use cheap discounted calling cards, are going to jump onto this until they introduce the monthly flat rate.
Are you guys kidding?..This is Godsent. Free iPhone WiFi phone calls to anywhere in the US (it's like T-Mobile's @Home service except you cannot continue to talk when out of WiFi range). WiFi roaming while abroad for free calls to the US.. Pay as you go international plan where you pay for what you use without the carrier fixed $4.00 or $5.00 rates per month and for a lot less than half.. per minute rates to landlines abroad! Better than Skype.. and I have both. They also announced that they will be incorporating this to existing Vonage landline accounts before the holidays.. what more could you want.
Vonage long distance rates are pretty terrible for India. I use startec and get 1.9cents a minute to India and 2.9 cents a minute to Canada. I don't need any apps for that either - just dial from my cell phone.
Get the $25 plan... it is unlimited calls to India for free.
250.00 and you are set for life with OOMA...
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/ooma-telo-hits-the-streets-handset-add-on-follows-next-month/
strangely enough an article was posted just hours ago
I'm havingtrouble understanding if this will work in iPod touch ??
Or how it will work on iPhone??
hmm, strange.. so this is 'breaking news' but the article about flash being dated isnt?
i mean come on, Flash is very much anticipated by smartphone users...
Right as AT&T is killing my CallVantage Service....may be time to look at Vonage instead of just switching over to Verizon for cell service!
I used Vonage for 6-9 months. It worked ok and did what I needed. However I was simply using it to keep an old number active incase someone I worked for in the past wanted to get ahold of me (I'm freelance). My plan after taxes and fees cost me 23 something dollars after they raised the price of my base plan. I said screw this and switched to a callcentric pay as you go plan. If no one calls me on that old number I only pay $3.45 a month to keep the number active. If I do use it it's something like 0.015 cents a minute. The only downside is its not for the tech-phobic. If you want a hard line input you need to buy and setup your own PBX box. However linksys makes compatible equipment that will cost you less than the cancellation and hardware fees vonage will charge you.
Vonage called to ask why i cancelled and the guy was completely stumped when I said I reduced my bill to less than 5 bucks a month. 10 at the highest. Callcentric also offers unlimited for 20 bucks a month and has a cool feature they call calling card...
With the Callcentric Calling Card feature you can use your Callcentric account as a Calling Card by dialing in from a regular phone (such as your Cell/Mobile) to place outbound calls.
On top of that there are tons of PBX iphone apps. Google should buy out vonage or someone else. I can't see vonage surviving on there own with all the options out there.
iCall is $10 a month and unlimited. Vonage is pointless.
If you need a "land line" Vonage is great and reliable, and you don't have to have a computer to use it -- and it's portable. You can take it anywhere with boardband (yes, even Europe, as someone else said). I've tried MagicJack and don't trust the hype. Vonage is superior.
As for the iPhone app -- yes, you can make free VoIP calls within the US if you have wifi. I tried it and it worked. Now, if you're out of wifi hotspot then it's really moot unless you're making international calls, and their rates are not bad -- definitely cheaper than what the carriers are charging. I'm not sure about calling from overseas TO the US, since I haven't tried it. I assume since it's VoIP then it could work as long as you have wifi connection. And by the end of the year you can use your existing Vonage home accounts.
With this and Google Voice and a cheap wireless plan, I'm all set.