The OFFICIAL VOIP internet telephone thread

[Diogenes2]

Originally posted by: ricochet
I'm interested to see whether Vonage can even survive this patent infringement lawsuit. Last I heard they can't add new customers while the suit is being disputed in court.

They have an injunction in place that lets them continue business as usual ..

http://www.vonage.com/customer...er_id=WEBCM070501003W1


They seem optimistic about their chances to win ..


I have the $15.99 plan, and am very satisfied...

 

[bdubya]

1) There's a thread on the skinny billfold claiming you can get SunRocket for $99/year, YMMV on waiving the activation. The key appears to be mentioning that you're with Vonage, or considering them. Phone number for sales is 800-504-8429

2) GigaOM usually posts reliable information, and they have a story about major layoffs at SunRocket. Speculation is that either it's out of cash and near the end, or preparing to be sold.

 

[bdubya]

http://gigaom.com/2007/07/12/s...ustomers-not-required/

"SunRocket, the ailing VoIP service provider has hit another air pocket: the company has stopped taking new orders, which in a business that is dependent on subscriber growth, is pretty much a kiss of death. Comments over on Broadband Reports message boards indicate that they are out of devices. More to follow."

http://www.dslreports.com/show...r-Sunrocket-Done-85682

According to this thread, they've been sold: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18660180

To the owner of: http://www.magicjack.com/site/index.html

 

[Mitch101]

SUNROCKET
My Tivo is able to make daily calls on it.
I can fax on it without paying any additional costs.
Excellent voice mail and call forwarding options including e-mail.
Better voice quality than Vonage was.

Vonage.
Lousy Fax service that costs extra. Was completely useless. Waste of money.
Would lose voice mail and it was critical during the time I was job searching.
Tivo would not work no matter what with Vonage.

 

[bulletpr00f]

SunRocket is not doing well there are rumors around that it will be closing down soon. Make sure you clear your awards

Check out the linky

Sorry I missed bdubya post. It is the same thing.

 

[shadow9d9]

Sunrocket had terrible service, Vonage has been much better.. we use the unlimited plan... something like 25 a month.

 

[ibfishing]

We currently have had Viatalk for about half a year now. Got in on the buy one
year get one free deal, so cost wise it can't be beat. But...

We have had many instances of echoing, calls not going through, and it takes
way to long to start ringing calling and recieving.
Sometimes unplugging the power to the router helps, sometimes not.

It sure is nice not getting the monthly phone bill though.

 

[TheTony]

There's still no "official" word, and the website is still up and accesible, but it appears that SR has "landed". Calls to the main CS number state "we are no longer taking customer service or sales calls - goodbye".

Seeing what's occurred so far, unless there are some last ditch efforts going on to come up with a buyer (sounds like there were but they fell through), things are not looking good. Not sure how long phone service will remain functional, but DO NOT reset your gizmo - sounds like provisioning is down.

Expect something official in the next day or two, unless there's some unexpected development.

So, one less choice and surely quite a few will be checking in on this thread.

 

[bulletpr00f]

SkyPe beats them both on all dimensions, price and quality!

If you don't care about emergency calls and transferring your current #, here is the trick as anandtech exclusive .. enjoy and i hope it will help you dump the useless and non-sense expensive vonage account

1. Get SkyPe unlimited linky
2. Get SkyPe In linky
3. Get SkyPe - PSTN adapter. You can get it from ebay, ebay linky or from best buy, best buy linky

Your setup cost ~ $50 and yearly recurring cost is ~$90.

P.S. You get skype pro which gives lot more stuff with 30 euros off from skypein. Eventually it comes to same yearly price (~ 90) but you end up with lot more toys.

You connect your desktop to device I mentioned on 3 and bada bing bada bang, you can make and receive skype calls via usual PSTN phones! Some devices even provide 1-800 dial in number type of capability where you call home via ur cell and then dial a certain key combination with password where a line is given through skype. Pretty sweet!

 

[unhuman]

sunrocket is doomed.

http://gigaom.com/2007/07/16/sunrocket-is-toast-memo/

Edit: If you wanna refer to me on your switch to ViaTalk, I'd appreciate it - PM me.

 

[orion7144]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07...iness/17sunrocket.html

 

[stockjock]

Somone want a viatalk referral...I have to move and move fast because of Sunrockets implosions. First person that sends me their Viatalk info gets the referral.

stock

 

[BoKingWen]

Originally posted by: bulletpr00f
SkyPe beats them both on all dimensions, price and quality!

If you don't care about emergency calls and transferring your current #, here is the trick as anandtech exclusive .. enjoy and i hope it will help you dump the useless and non-sense expensive vonage account

1. Get SkyPe unlimited linky
2. Get SkyPe In linky
3. Get SkyPe - PSTN adapter. You can get it from ebay, ebay linky or from best buy, best buy linky

Your setup cost ~ $50 and yearly recurring cost is ~$90.

P.S. You get skype pro which gives lot more stuff with 30 euros off from skypein. Eventually it comes to same yearly price (~ 90) but you end up with lot more toys.

You connect your desktop to device I mentioned on 3 and bada bing bada bang, you can make and receive skype calls via usual PSTN phones! Some devices even provide 1-800 dial in number type of capability where you call home via ur cell and then dial a certain key combination with password where a line is given through skype. Pretty sweet!

Since I am doomed by Sunrocket I am thinking of switching over to Skype. Are you using this setup? Correct me if i am wrong for Skype you can't port your phone number over? The D-link adapter you have on BB linky isn't it have very bad review? Is there any other PSTN adapter that is good out there?

 

[TheTony]

I keep seeing references within coverage (what little there is in the mainstream, anyway) of the difficulty for small dedicated VOIP operations to succeed among the cable operators who offer bundles and packaged deals.

Now, I realize the allure of centralized billing and one provider to deal with, but is there really a comparison? Are they operating in the same VOIP territory? Doing a quick comparison, the cable co. (and even the local telco) offer VOIP style services. However, pricing is generally 2-3 times that of the smaller "single-play" VOIP operators out there. With prices nearly as high as POTS, is the cable co really competing for the same customers that ViaTalk, SR, Packet8 or even Vonage is? :roll:

Perhaps that was part of SR's undoing - they tried to get too big for their own good at the cost of not being able to sustain the customer base they already had. I can't help but thinking that despite this, companies like SR versus the cable co. is just not an apples-to-apples comparison.

 

[RideFree]

Suppose I'd better sign in on this...
Just ported my home (read: S/R # ) over to new SERO line.
Thanks all and especially GTFan!
Bidda Bing, Bidda Boom!

OK, so I'm Spanish and don't know how it really goes

 

[spinn]

I just got this email from Sunrocket. Which one is better...8x8/Packet8 or Teleblend?

Dear Customers,

After significant effort by the Company to avoid this result, SunRocket is in the process of closing its operations and therefore will no longer be able to provide you with the phone service that you have been accustomed to. However, this email provides you with an opportunity to sign up with select service providers who we believe will offer outstanding replacement service

In order to assist you, we have entered into negotiations with a number of service providers. As a result of those negotiations, we have entered into agreements with 8x8, Inc., provider of the Packet8 service, and Unified Communications Corp., provider of Teleband service to offer you the best options and we are proud to recommend the following alternatives to you. Please make your decision to move to a new service provides immediately as future service is uncertain.


8x8/Packet8

The Packet8 Internet phone service incorporates patent protected technology from 8x8. Inc., a publicly traded company in business for more than 20 years. The service works in the same way as SunRocket.s and offers a virtually identical feature set.

. No Startup Costs
. FREE activation
. FREE equipment
. FREE shipping
. FREE first month of service
. Quickly port your number at no charge

A Savings of over $100!

Copy and paste the following link into your Internet browser: http://getpacket8.packet8.net/sunrocket/ or call 1-800-868-0068 and mention special offer code SUNROCKET


Unified Communications Corp./TeleBlend

The TeleBlend Internet phone service incorporates patent-protected technology from Unified Communications Corp., a privately held company in business to provide outstanding customer service and telephony products. Teleblends has been working behind the scenes already to restore and continue service for all Sun Rocket customers The service works in the same way as SunRocket.s and offers an identical feature set with our Unlimited Transfer Plan.
. No Startup Costs
. FREE activation
. USE your existing hardware
. FREE and Quick transfer of your current number
. No Need to port your number to another provider
. UNLIMITED calling to the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico

Copy and paste the following link into your Internet browser: http://www.myteleblend.net

It has been our pleasure to service you at SunRocket!

 

[SoulAssassin]

I just switched back to a Verizon landline, I got a letter from them recently about unlimited local/ld/vmail/cid/etc for $25/mo for 1 yr. Didn't have the letter w me and they didn't try to verify it so I'm pretty sure anyone could get it. I think they also have a unlimited local/dl w/out the rest for $20/mo but cid is a must in my book. Taxes push mine up over $30/mo which sucks but I just want someplace stable to dump my # for at least a few months. Signup # was 800-942-5000 though it may be different for different parts of the country.

 

[Pulsar]

I "not so new" player has entered the Residential game.

Nuvio, who has been doing business level voip for some time, is moving into the residential market. I ported over to them successfully from sunrocket in about an hour.

They support all sunrocket gizmos and have unlocking guides on their website to lead you through the process of configuring for their service. So far I'm very impressed.

Best of all, their customer service is real. I've had to call them 3 times for boneheaded mistakes that I made, and I had a real english-speaking actual technician on the phone in under 2 minutes every single time.

 

[Tinkerman]

Well sunrocket went down.. it seems like the teleblend is offering a $12.95 a month deal which comes out $155.40 a year and you can use your existing hardware...
the 8x8 have a 199/yr deal...
It seems like teleblend would be the thrifty call..experiences anyone?
The cheapest I see the nuvio is $40 /month ouch..
RideFree. is SERO a wireless service?

 

[markrb38]

There are questions about who Teleblend actually is. Look over at DSLreports.com.
The Teleblend website showed up just a few days ago.
I ended up going with quantumvoice because I hardly do outgoing calls and needed 911 service.
I think there are better choices for unlimited out there, but I think they fit my needs nicely.

Mark

 

[Tinkerman]

ok after more searching the teleblend will only do the 12.95 deal until your original contract with SR runs out, then it is 19.95/month which comes out to $239.40 /year...
:/

 

[Pulsar]

Tinkerman, if you go here,

http://direct.nuvio.com/sunrocket/plans.html

you'll see that Nuvio is $199 for a year.

 

[Tinkerman]

Thanks Pulsar...but dont forget the activation fees: Nuvio Yearly Unlimited Plan
$199.00/year Unlimited Local/Long Distance Minutes
Additional one-time $9.99 activation fee, $9.95 number port fee and $11.88 E911 service fee applied on first invoice.

Anyways, I went with Bulletp00f's Skype suggestion...I have an old pay as you go wireless that I can use for 911 service..
I went for a year of skype pro, and a year of skype in together they costed only $60, and the USB>rj-44 adapters don't look too expensive, I should be able to pick one up for $30 or so...comes out to about 7.50 a month when all is said and done...
Does anyone know if the generic adapters will still put your call ID info through to the phone?

 

[Dulanic]

I've used Vonage for years now and it has been a great service never any problems.

Vonage.
Lousy Fax service that costs extra. Was completely useless. Waste of money.
Would lose voice mail and it was critical during the time I was job searching.
Tivo would not work no matter what with Vonage.

I don't even pay for fax service with Vonage and it works flawlessly.

 

[Pulsar]

Tinkerman - yep, I knew about the activation. You'll find that most other places too.

I HAD signed up for Viatalk. After 4 days my order still hadn't come out of status: invoicing. Their support phone line was so overworked that it was repeatedly reporting that it had been disconnected. I submitted a ticket and heard nothing for 2 days, and their internet forums were down.

They claimed they were getting hammered from new applicants that had sunrocket, but that's immaterial to me really. If I have no way to contact them, I'm sure not doing business.