Author Topic: Internet telephone (Read 1790 times)

74cb750 · « **on:** December 22, 2009, 08:08:14 AM »

HI All,
there are so many well informed people on this site I thought I would ask;
what is a good internet telephone provider?
good microphone?

Since the kids moved away my telephone long distance bill is becoming unsustainable.
I used to have Net-2-Phone, but the quality was poor. The $10-20 mic's I have bought at various stores never seem to last long.

any input would be appreciated.
peace,
michel

westondc · « **Reply #1 on:** December 22, 2009, 08:21:11 AM »

my brother has a MagicJack and its awesome! plug it into your computer via usb and you can plug any home phone into it. it has a standard phone jack on it. the service is free but i think you have to pay $10 a year, or something like that, if you want to have your own phone # for it. its the best deal.

westondc · « **Reply #2 on:** December 22, 2009, 08:23:35 AM »

oh and Skype is good also if you want video chat.

Peterbylt · « **Reply #3 on:** December 22, 2009, 08:45:28 AM »

I have been using Vonage almost since they first opened for business. Few things in life have worked as well as Vonage. They send you a box to plug into your router and you plug your regular phone into that. Works just like a regular phone. you can even keep your current phone number. It's $24 a month and unlimited calling in North America.
Another thing I like is that they have survived repeated attempts by Verizon to crush them.

The only outages I have had have been Roadrunners fault not Vonage. You can also logon to the internet and get your voice mail that way

Peter

333 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 22, 2009, 10:49:11 AM »

+1 on the Skype. At least the computer to computer service. The best part is that it's free.

westondc · « **Reply #5 on:** December 22, 2009, 10:52:18 AM »

http://www.magicjack.com/8/index.asp you can pick them up at radio shack for around $30

ColinMc · « **Reply #6 on:** December 22, 2009, 11:00:07 AM »

+2 on Skype, I have friends in Holland and Korea I talk to over that and works pretty well.

MötleyRöx · « **Reply #7 on:** December 22, 2009, 11:01:26 AM »

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/03/12/magicjack_far_from_enchanting/
I might get it if I didn't have a cell with free long distance.

But, why talk into a phone receiver if you can do totally hands free with Skype and VIDEO calls.
I use Skype all the time for work, and its really great.
I use it to play Wii with my buddies in different places around the globe, as well. It's like they're right there in the room playing with me.

ColinMc · « **Reply #8 on:** December 22, 2009, 11:09:53 AM »

Quote from: MötleyRöx on December 22, 2009, 11:01:26 AM

... It's like they're right there in the room playing with me.

Video games you mean right?

Gordon · « **Reply #9 on:** December 22, 2009, 11:14:15 AM »

I agree on the video calls. My parents and I talk on the computer about once a week using the video call service on Microsoft Live Messenger. It's great because my son gets to see his grandparents and they get to watch him grow up even though they're not here. And it's free. You just need a web cam, but those are cheap.

74cb750 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 22, 2009, 08:36:39 PM »

Thanks for all the replies. I don't believe Skype will work for my needs.
Vonnage is not available in my neck of the woods. So....guess I'll check
out majikjack.
peace,
michel

Zaipai · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2009, 08:52:00 PM »

If for some reason MagicJak does not work for you check with your internet provider, they some times have a flat rate service thats more then vonage, but service is usually really good.

333 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 23, 2009, 03:32:51 PM »

Me too, but I suspect it's a lack of broadband. If so, then internet phone isn't available at all.

tramp · « **Reply #13 on:** December 24, 2009, 09:24:28 AM »

majic jack wont work if your computer goes into sleep mode
i pay $20 a month for sprint long distance all calls in the us

CaféElite · « **Reply #14 on:** December 24, 2009, 09:38:46 AM »

There are six guys on my team and we are all magicjack whores...

techy5025 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 24, 2009, 05:23:50 PM »

Magicjack seems to work really well most of the time. But if you read the forums, their customer service sucks. Skype is about two cents a minute for connection to the phone network in the US and most developed countries. You do need broadband. Calling from abroad it is hard to beat. About two cents/minute and free to 800 numbers.

A have a friend that uses Magicjack and he just uses an obsolete laptop that stays on all the time for the phone connection.

Jim

ludite13 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 24, 2009, 05:50:40 PM »

There is another majicjak type device out there. Netcom I think? Very similar, but does not need a pc to connect to the web. I think all you need is an ethernet cable to connect to a modem. Looks great for travel, etc. But nice that you don't need to run a pc and it's power supply all the time to have constant phone service. I've never used it, so I can't attest to the quality of service, etc. I've been using Vonage for a few years now and it works good. Much cheaper than the old service I had from the phone company, plus all the perks that they charge extra for.

-James

techy5025 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 24, 2009, 05:57:18 PM »

Most people have a router in their home if they have a home network and several PC's. Maybe that new device is a router integrated with the electronics of the Magicjack. Combines both functions into one.

Jim

vanillagorilla · « **Reply #18 on:** December 25, 2009, 08:40:06 AM »

I personally did not have a good experience with MajicJack. And their customer service is freaking pitiful! It may have just been a defective one, but didn't care to try another one. Skype seems to be the way to go for me, anyway. I will be investing in a webcam soon I guess!

westondc · « **Reply #19 on:** December 25, 2009, 09:23:43 AM »

my brother build a bar in his basement last year where most cell phones wont get reception. he had a computer setup as a jukebox which he would leave left on and bought a magic jack for it. the caller id is displayed on the computer screen and shows the number and time of missed calls. he even hooked it up to a old style looking wall phone. the magic jack its connected to the main house line so it works on his cordless phone to. its been in use for over a year now without any problems. only issue is if the computer is off, then no phone.

74cb750 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 05, 2010, 05:12:07 AM »

OK, well seems Vonage is available in the village. Strange as the town I live in surrounds the village. Will be checking it out as the last long distance bill was over $176.00!!

Zaipai · « **Reply #21 on:** January 05, 2010, 05:18:27 AM »

Quote from: 74cb750 on January 05, 2010, 05:12:07 AM

OK, well seems Vonage is available in the village. Strange as the town I live in surrounds the village. Will be checking it out as the last long distance bill was over $176.00!!

Ouch, That is bad. Ours got to $80 and I said enough. But all my wifes family is long dist so I had to do some thing..

News:

Author Topic: Internet telephone (Read 1790 times)

MötleyRöx

ludite13