Vonage: What are the Pros & Cons?

tony_baduk

I've also heard about the 'non-advertised' shipping, activation and change your plan charges which I think are quite expensive.

More feedback anyone?

Mancunian

NTL / virgin amendment

it looks like you might be able to have TV without paying for landline rental now. looks like (any) 2 for £20 ,,3 for £30 etc anyone know for definate?

Mancunian

hurrah wrote:

If you want to keep your BT Line,and your mainly looking for cheaper calls to Usa,Canada,and Australia have a look at Euphony EuTalk + 18 which is recommended by MSE .It includes 24/7 Uk Geographical Calls ,and calls to 28 intl destinations (the 3 destinations you principally call are included).Calls to Usa and Canadian Mobiles are also included although it doesnt tell you.(its a 18 month contract,and works out to less then a £1 a week for first 18 months(£4.33p a month).

It can be used in conjunction with 18185 for cheaper mobile and ngn calls.

http://www.euphony.co.uk/

https://www.18185.co.uk

now much per month?

Mancunian

Choice of kit.... £20-40 off (hence the 'if u cancel early T&C) ..and dont forget your £20 back from Quidco!

D-Link VTA
SRP£29.99*
Instant Rebate-£29.99
Price After Rebate
Free

Product Description Works With Up to 2 Vonage Lines
Small Size is Great For Travel
Perfect If You Already Have a Router
*More info*More infoThe D-Link VTA phone adapter can connect up to 2 Vonage lines through your high-speed Ethernet Cable or DSL Internet connection. This small device is great for all your phone needs and perfect for existing home networks. Just plug into your current router and use the two standard telephone jacks to connect your existing phones or phone and fax machine.
*See Full Device Description and Condition of Instant Rebate



Motorola VT2442
SRP£49.99*
Instant Rebate-£40.00
Price After Rebate
£9.99

Product Description Works with up to 2 Vonage lines
Includes a Motorola router
Great for connecting up to 4 computers to the Internet
*More info*More info

The Motorola VT2442 Phone Adapter can connect up to 2 Vonage lines through your high-speed Cable or DSL Ethernet Internet connection and includes a networking router. It's great for all your phone and routing needs. Just plug it into your Ethernet broadband modem and use the two standard telephone jacks to connect your existing phones or phone and fax machine. The router allows you to connect up to 4 PCs and use your Internet connection for your computers and your phones at the same time.
*See Full Device Description and Condition of Instant Rebate


Vonage V-Phone
Price£19.99

Product Description

A fully functional Vonage phone on a 256MB USB flash drive
Supports 1 Vonage Phone Line
Fits on your keychain

The Vonage V-Phone includes everything you need to get started: Vonage Talk software pre-loaded, detachable stereo earpiece microphone and 250MB of extra portable memory storage. Vonage V-Phone is a fun on-screen telephone that can make and receive calls from any broadband-connected computer. Very easy to use-there's no software to install-just insert your Vonage V-Phone into a PC USB port, plug the earpiece microphone into the side of the Vonage V-Phone and you're ready to go! Ideal for travelers, it even fits on your keychain.
*See Full Device Description



D-Link VWR
SRP£59.99*
Instant Rebate-£20.00
Price After Rebate
£39.99

Product Description

Great for All Your Routing Needs and Creating a Wireless Home Network
Enabled for 2 Vonage Lines and 4 Wired Ethernet Ports as well as Wireless Access . Supports All Vonage Features

The D-Link VWR can connect up to 2 Vonage lines through your broadband Ethernet Cable or DSL Internet connection and includes a wireless router. It's great for all your phone needs and creating a wireless home network with either Wireless-G (802.11g at 54Mbps) or Wireless-B (802.11b at 11Mbps). Just plug it into your broadband Ethernet modem and use the two standard telephone jacks adapters to connect your existing phones or phone and fax machine. The router allows you to connect up to 4 PCs directly and use your Internet connection for your computers and your phones at the same time, as well as connecting multiple wireless devices.
*See Full Device Description and Condition of Instant Rebate


UTStarcom F1000B Wi-Fi
SRP£89.99*
Instant Rebate-£40.00
Price After Rebate
£49.99

Product Description Pocket-sized wireless Internet phone
Works with your wireless router at home or at the office
Can be used at Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide

scope

Never mind the hidden cost..l what about the cost you can see? Have a look at voip.co.uk or sipgate instead.. far better deals.. I am personally using voip.co.uk and can recommend them 100%.. I've dropped my landline and are now using VoIP only.

hurrah

Mancunian wrote:

now much per month?

If you read my post carefully your see i referred to the EUTalkPlus 18 month contract, where as you are referring to the 12 month contract product which is dearer.;)

Mancunian

scope wrote:

Never mind the hidden cost..l what about the cost you can see? Have a look at voip.co.uk or sipgate instead.. far better deals.. I am personally using voip.co.uk and can recommend them 100%.. I've dropped my landline and are now using VoIP only.

I dont think the charges are hidden - its mentioned on some of the notes at the bottom of the pages and they come up on checkout BEFORE you complete the order but could be clearer...i agree

i had quick look thru the other offerings and found them all a bit complex differents boxes,,, different providers etc etc and took up too much time - something that wouldnt appeal to the masses

I started with the off the shelf Freetalk box which does appeal to the masses and then Vonage took over...so didnt have all the activations fee's etc.

I will have to take the time to investigate the other options.

I want an adapter that plugs into my cable broadband (so computer can be off) , own phone number (this will be my only home phone), and lots of features and good online account management. anything u (or anyone) can recommend?

thanks

Mancunian

just checked voip.co.uk you get charged for calls? you have to buy kit? you have to prebuy £10 credit? quite a lot to take in:-


http://www.voip.co.uk/res_products.html



UK 01/02* Peak 1p / min 2p per call for upto 60 minutes, then 1p per minute
UK 01/02* Off-Peak 1p / min FREE for up to 60 minutes then 1p per minute§
UK 01/02* Weekend 1p / min FREE for up to 60 minutes then 1p per minute§


UK Mobile* Peak 15p / min 15p / min
UK Mobile* Off-Peak 10p / min 10p / min
UK Mobile* Weekend 5p / min 5p / min


Available Options
Basic Monthly Charge FREE
Note: You must purchase at least £10.00 calling credit upon signup unless you purchase an inclusive minutes pack or hardware

SMS message for Voicemail notification £0.10
Optional UK pack £1.99 per month OR £19.99 per year
Optional Freedom pack MTA £9.99 setup charge and £4.99 per month
Note: 12 month contract
Optional Freedom pack Speedtouch *** £19.99 setup charge and £5.99 per month
Note: 12 month contract
additional telehone number (1) included in basic account £1.99 setup charge per number


Hardware
(You can optionally use your own VoIP hardware at no additional cost)
VoIP.co.uk Ethernet MTA £49.98
Note: Includes UK pack free for a year
Speedtouch 716v5WL *** £89.99
Note: Includes UK pack free for a year



* - Mobile charges to Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile and Orange

** - "UK 01/02" means: UK Telephone numbers beginning with '01' and '02' that are not on our network

*** - Integrated ADSL / Wi-Fi / Voice

§ - Diverted calls excluded from free minutes. UK Pack discounts apply only to one call at a time.

Peak time is Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm

Weekend is 0000 Saturday through to 2359 Sunday

Other Information
Please click on the following links to view out Terms and Conditions. TEXT or PDF

Please click on the following links to view our Codes of Practice. TEXT or PDF

BexTech

I've not used Vonage as I don't use the phone enough to make the monthly fee worth paying.

If you don't use the phone much then you may want to buy an ATA yourself and use one of the many providers out there, many have no monthly fee and you just pay for the calls you make, there's one that you can pay £20 for the year and get evening and weekend calls free up to 60 mins per call and then 1p/min after 60 mins, and the daytime calls are 2p for 60 mins and 1p/min afterwards.

With Vonage you have to pay the monthly fee each and every month, even if you are not making anywhere near enough calls to make it value for money.

Mancunian

tony_baduk wrote:

I've also heard about the 'non-advertised' shipping, activation and change your plan charges which I think are quite expensive.

More feedback anyone?

hidden fee's?

http://www.vonage.co.uk/services_premium.php

and also fully listed on the confirmation page BEFORE you complete.

looking more and more at the other voip's and so far not convinced. pretty confusing for your average Joe Public, fee's for UK calls, top up's/ credit required etc etc

my mind is open tho,,,and will keep reading up