Alextn-
You don't have use someone else's phone number as the promo code. On the Sunrocket frontpage just click on the phone the bird is standing on and you see the two-phone deal. It probably would be good to use someone's promotional code instead, as that gives someone a $25 credit.
As for hateboy GTFAN's post: Classic case of someone with self-inflicted problems blaming the world. Heck, his Con list isn't even his own, he recopied it from some other hateboy from another forum.
Since I personally have installed SR for 13 differing parties, and all, without fail, have enjoyed the service so far, here are the real Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- overall price - $16.58 for unlimited calling in the US and Canada
- no startup fees of any kind, no cancellation fee
- 2 free phones
- $3 allowance for overseas calls - 100 free minutes to countries like Germany, UK
- crystal clear sound. Codec used by SR is probably the best for VOIP, also used by Vonage and Broadvoice.
- only provider that already gives you E-911 as part of the basic service. Everybody else is scrambling.
- second incoming number free. You may even choose it to be an "Anywhere Number," which means that you can assign a differing area code to it, allowing local calls for friends or family. Altrnatively you can give that second number to your wife or teenager (I gave it to my wife.) It has its own voicemail and is allows full control.
- Call forwarding - functions very well. You have options of forwarding to one number or multiple numbers.
- Rewards program - If you like the service you'll probably show others. If they sign up you will have rewards pending. However, these referrals have to be happy with the service, as they have to be with SR for a minimum of 31 days. That usually is never a problem. 9 out of 10 appear happy with SR.
Cons-
Occasional outages. Far and few between. There was one last Friday, lasted about 90 minutes. Three weeks ago SR had an issue where for 3 days in a row the phone went dead for about 45 minutes each. But that is not a typical. It is an issue with all VOIP providers, as they are dependent on multiple partners simultaneously. Someone who believes that building in network redundancy would solve most outages simply does not understand how VOIP is structured.
Failsafe transfer - In the event of an outage there is no failsafe, so folks who call you get only dead air. If it is your service that shut down (power outage, your ISP has an outage) SR calls will eventually go to voicemail, but not right away. SR is working on a solution to transfer all calls to a cell phone or voice mail if the service has a problem. A solution is in the works and should be available soon, but is not yet.
- Missing Busy Redial - I would like the option to have the system automatically redial a busy number until the call connects.
- Softphone - It would be nice to be able to use a Softphone while travelling. The Gizmo can travel and you can actually take your personal phone number anywhere you can plug into a broadband connection, but it would be more convenient if I could leave my gizmo setup at home intact, so the wife and kids can use it, and I could use a Softphone on my laptop when travelling. The way it is now I can only pack the Gizmo when we all travel together.
Check out SR's GBU rating at BroadbandReports:
http://www.dslreports.com/gbu
Review rating:
http://www.dslreports.com/reviews/2521
Note that SR with an 84% customer satisfaction rating is 2nd amongst all VOIP providers
Call Quality rating is 89%, which puts SR first amongst all VOIPs.
BTW, if someone talks about echoes as an issue it is usually a sign that their setup has an issue. Maybe they are running SR through a faulty router or they simply don't have enough bandwidth to use any VOIP at full satisfaction. Get as much bandwidth as you can afford, both D/l and U/l, put the gizmo behind the router and you should not have call related issues.