It is the femtocell I was talking about:

For Verizon...

Verizon Femtocell Sells For $249 - Dead Zones

Sprint:

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/...tocell-airave/

ATT...

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/3gmicrocell/

 

From a law enforcement standpoint, make sure you know how whatever company you go with handles 911 calls. Website from the FCC about VoIP 911 calls.

VoIP and 911 Service

•VoIP 911 calls may not connect to the PSAP, or may improperly ring to the administrative line of the PSAP, which may not be staffed after hours, or by trained 911 operators;

•VoIP 911 calls may correctly connect to the PSAP, but not automatically transmit the user’s phone number and/or location information;

•VoIP customers may need to provide location or other information to their VoIP providers, and update this information if they change locations, for their VoIP 911 service to function properly;

•VoIP service may not work during a power outage, or when the Internet connection fails or becomes overloaded

I personally can't imagine the safety of my family resting on the VoIP phone service not sending my 911 call to a 911 call center, and just to an admin line that isn't staffed, resulting in no help for me and possible loss of life.

 

yep, that's what we have. easy plug in set up. love it.

 

great point. As an Emergency Manager, I am always informing people of similar issues.
that's why i like the extender, if your area sends CELL 911 calls to your dispatch center, then you are in luck (like we are in my area).

 

Old topic for sure, but let me weigh in.

VOIP service is only as good as the provider's equipment, and the internet path latency.
Since the service is internet based, it is prone to the packetized data segments being scrambled or arriving at the destination out of sequence. This is due to the fact that internet traffic can take various routes from point A to B. If the receiving equipment does not have a large enough cache or fast enough processor to reassemble the packets in proper order, or the packets arrive too late (long latency timeout) they may get discarded.
For most voice applications, minor packet dropping is not noticeable to the average person.
Data applications are another matter altogether. Modems, faxes and other data based information devices do not tolerate this aspect of VOIP very well.

I cannot tell you how many business/schools I know that jumped on the VOIP bandwagon after some slick sales presentation, only to later learn that their fax machines, credit card POS systems, and modem accessed devices failed miserably, in some cases adversely affecting their businesses, until traditional telephone lines could be installed to support these devices.

Also as previously mentioned 911 service is an issue if hot handled properly.
Last point, if your internet service or electric service is down, so is your VOIP phone.

It can be a good cheap service, but you better have a back up plan for emergencies.

Dialtone

 

We have the 1.5meg service, it works pretty well. Some things stop and rebuffer occasionally, but I'm on here and my kids are watching something on Netflix now with no issues.

 

I sold business VOIP. Great reduction on cost for long distance and multiple location offices. Ability to have the same phone number and have offices located miles away. SIP trunking reduces long distance costs. Features as follow me find me, call blast, great for the executive suite business, and call center. ......

CONS Power goes out the battery back up provides 20min of 2-3 lines of talk time tops.
The lines are more prone to disconnect and no service if you already have problems with water in the lines.

Anything else just ask me, these are the main points.

 

I had Vonage for 2 yrs..and never saw a bill increase($23.99tax inc) but the modems were junk. 5 different modems in 2 yrs. The sound was excellent but no phone for 10 days every 6 months sucked.

I now have Road Runner all-in-1. Cheaper than LL, Net, & Cable for 2 or more different co.'s, for me.