Vonage dropped prices - $29.99 for Unlimited

[amdmaxx]

Hello xxxx,

We are very excited to inform you that your monthly phone bill is going DOWN! Our price on the Residential Premium Unlimited Plan has been dropped AGAIN!

The base price of the Residential Premium Unlimited Plan will drop from $34.99 to $29.99 as of your first billing cycle on or after May 17, 2004.

There is no need to contact customer care - you will automatically receive the 14% monthly savings. The new, lower price plan will be reflected in your next billing cycle.

By adding 150,000 customers to our network, Vonage has cemented its lead in the industry. As a reflection of our commitment to our customers, we would like to reward you by passing the operational efficiency and cost-savings we've achieved through our success directly back to you.

Again, thank you for your continued support and loyalty. Without you, we would not have been able to pass this significant savings along. If you have any questions, please email us at customerresponse@vonage.com with the words "Price Change" in the subject line.

Sincerely,
Rich Gale
Manager, Vonage Customer Care

PS - with this new price change, it's a great time to tell your friends about the savings through our Refer-a-Friend program!



Vonage · 2147 Route 27 · Edison, New Jersey 08817
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[M0NEYSH0T]

I've been with Vonage now for 1.5 years and they have been great. Customer Support is OK, i.e., sometimes it takes a day for them to respond to an email, or you're on hold forever if you choose to call, other than that, the service ROCKS.

For the time being, I am seriously considering switching to, www.broadvoice.com, because it's 19.99 for UNLIMITED calling and their virtual numbers are only $1.99 vs. $4.99 a month, among other things. Check them out.

 

[INXSible]

Many thanks for the link, M0NEYSH0T

 

[714xkickz]

i like vonage... except when i call long distance i can hear them, but they cant hear me. and then im screwed if the call is important.

 

[Sendero]

Are there any deals for new subscribers? Looks good but the $30 activation fee is 2x the cost of the monthly fees. Can't quite get past that...

 

[cyberia]

Broadvoice seems like a killer deal for me (whenever Comcast finally hooks us up to broadband). I do not really need long distance, so $9.95 is about 80% off from what I am paying now. However, $39.95 activation seems a bit too steep for a $9.95/month plan.

I went through the info on their site. My biggest problem with them is some kind of $49.95 "disconnect" fee if you decide to cancel. But there is no info on how long a contract you must sign with them (12-month or whatever) to avoid the disconnect fee. Does it mean that you'll be out $50 even if you stay with them for over a year?

 

[WebDude]

Vonage also has a 'disconnect fee'. $39.99. Theoretically you can get it back, if you return your equipment and all the original packaging and paperwork. Don't know how sticky they are about that -- could be a potential problem if you were missing like some paperwork. Haven't tried it yet so I don't know.

1.8 Return of Device
The Device may be returned to Vonage within fourteen (14) days of the termination of Service to receive a credit for the $39.99 disconnect fee (refer to section 4.6 of this document regarding termination fees), provided: (i) you have retained, and return along with the Device, proof of purchase and original packaging; (ii) contents are undamaged and in original condition, reasonable wear and tear excluded; (iii) all parts, accessories, documentation and packaging materials are returned; and (iv) equipment is returned with a valid return authorization number obtained from Vonage?s customer care department.

Vonage also charges a 'Regulatory Recovery Fee' on all accounts, on a per month basis.

The Regulatory Recovery Fee is $1.50 per phone number. This is a fee that Vonage charges its customers to recover the costs related to Federal and State Universal Service Funds (USF) and other similar country specific funds, as well as other domestic and international fees and surcharges. Your total Regulatory Recovery Fee reflects a $1.50 surcharge for every phone number you have, including primary voice lines, second lines, fax lines, Toll Free PlusSM numbers, and Virtual Phone NumbersSM

Don't know if BroadVoice has a similar fee.

 

[novon]

Is there a way to get Vonage to forward a US number to a Canadian number? I want to move to Canada for a while, but I don't want to loose my US number.

 

[randomlinh]

if only i didn't have to rely on comcast for my internet...

 

[wedi42]

Originally posted by: novon
Is there a way to get Vonage to forward a US number to a Canadian number? I want to move to Canada for a while, but I don't want to loose my US number.

easy:
subscribe to vonage while in US
move to canada
take vonage with you
unpack
plug vonage hardware into fast internet connection
you are done.

you can take your vonage hardware with you and plug it into any broadband connection and it will work.
eg. friends houses, hotels, work.

 

[Yo2]

vonage is now also offered at CC. New subscribers may be able to get a better deal with them (e.g. free equipment and no shipping).

Yo

 

[nekote]

Really liked learning about www.broadvoice.com .

They have a $5.95 / month BYOD (Bring Your Own Device(s)), with only a $9.95 One-Time Activation fee.

Unlimited Incoming minutes.
Included outgoing minutes limited to 100 (!!!) (In-state and State-to-state, combined (?)) with extra minutes priced at 3.9¢ / min.

4 BroadVoice plans compared

Might work as solely (primarily) an incoming line?
Something for my teenagers?

Alternatively, as a *second* BroadVoice line, after paying for the whole 9 yards Unlimited In-State plan?


Once upon a time I had www.eVoice.com as my voice mail service.
That feature is truly cool / outstanding - to be able to receive the voice mail, via email, listen to it and decide if it had high enough priority to kick the teenagers off the single phone line to return the call.
Unfortunately, for no decent reason I ever heard, they simply shut down.
Didn't even ask to raise the price!
Some patent beef?

 

[Crucial]

When you buy the vonage stuff at circuit city there is no activation fee and you get the first 2 months free I believe. The kit is $99.99. Right now it is on sale for 89.99 with a $40 rebate. CC link

 

[nekote]

Oh yeah.

I forgot to mention.

www.OneSuite.com

2.5¢ / minute (In-State or State-to-state).
Beats BroadVoice's 3.9¢ / minute rate.
(If you have unlimited out-going to a OneSuite local access number)

No Activation / Signup / One time fees.

But, have to pay in advance, via CC, minimum $10 per "refresh".
And, they keep the balance, *IF* you don't use for 6 months.
(correction, *IF* you don't recharge (in 6 months?) - Thanks for the accuracy, dabuddha!)
Not an issue, for frequent users!

 

[patrickj]

You have PM Sendero

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: nekote
Oh yeah.

I forgot to mention.

www.OneSuite.com

2.5¢ / minute (In-State or State-to-state).
Beats BroadVoice's 3.9¢ / minute rate.
(If you have unlimited out-going to a OneSuite local access number)

No Activation / Signup / One time fees.

But, have to pay in advance, via CC, minimum $10 per "refresh".
And, they keep the balance, *IF* you don't use for 6 months.
Not an issue, for frequent users!

Not exactly true. They do "keep" the balance but if you recharge your account, you get the balance back. I had ~$3 that I didn't use. Put in $10 and my account had a balance of ~$13

 

[wedi42]

Originally posted by: csaddict
When you buy the vonage stuff at circuit city there is no activation fee and you get the first 2 months free I believe. The kit is $99.99. Right now it is on sale for 89.99 with a $40 rebate. CC link

the deal for circuit city is no activation fee ($30), free shipping ($10) and first month free ($15-30).

 

[M0NEYSH0T]

Broadvoice doesn't have numbers in my area code yet, but as soon as they do, I will be switching...
Hint for all you current Vonage members thinking about switching...

Call Vonage for the purpose of canceling, and they will offer you two months free service.

That's nice and all, but I want rates at 19.99 for unlimited calling like Broadvoice has offered. I know it's only 5 bucks difference, but still, 5 x 12 = $60.00 per year. 60 bucks is 60 bucks I could spend else where. ;-)

 

[50]

I don't think I would ever switch to VoIP until IDT (small phone company) goes out of business. I haven't switched to them yet, but probably will be in the next couple months. They offer unlimited long distance and local calling for $39.95 a month. For the extra 10 dollars(probably more around 15 b/c taxes, is VoIP taxed?), I would feel much more secure not having to depend on my internet connection 24/7.

 

[mscdex0]

I'm confused about BroadVoice. Are you able to call landline phones and cell phones? Or are you only able to call other IP Phones?

 

[ldulitz]

What router do you use with vonage? i have been gone thru 4 so far and i still get choppiness.

 

[Macro2]

Packet 8 is $19.95/mo. Unlimited. US and canada. World wide really if the caller is outside US calling the us.

 

[MarthaLynn]

I'm all over this $9.95 broadvoice plan. Somebody here needs to test the waters and give us a review!

One thing to keep in mind is no 911 service. Workarounds for this:
1. keep a phone plugged into your old disconnected phone line - 911 still works (FCC requiremnent)
2. program the actual numbers of your closest fire/police/rescue into speed dial
3. keep a cell phone around (again, doesn't have to be activated - 911 still works)

Another thing to keep in mind is that no electricity = no phone (unless you have your gateway on a UPS)

 

[M0NEYSH0T]

With BroadVoice, like Vonage, you can call any phone in the world. I can attest to the clarity of Vonage, heck, I can't even tell the difference between Vonage and a the traditional home telephone.

BroadVoice intrigues because they are offering an option phone, which can be used over any WiFi to make and receive phone calls. I just think that's cool, and not too mention the price.

The virtual numbers, offered by both Vonage (more expensive) and Broadview is great for if you have relatives that you frequently call long distance. You can setup a virtual number in your relative's area code that forwards to you, so it's like they're making a local phone call, and there's NO charge to you.

Any way... It's pointless to look at a VOIP phone company if you have DSL, because I THINK to have DSL you have to have phone service, so what's the point? Ya know?

 

[cyberia]

Originally posted by: MarthaLynn
I'm all over this $9.95 broadvoice plan. Somebody here needs to test the waters and give us a review!

One thing to keep in mind is no 911 service. Workarounds for this:
1. keep a phone plugged into your old disconnected phone line - 911 still works (FCC requiremnent)
2. program the actual numbers of your closest fire/police/rescue into speed dial
3. keep a cell phone around (again, doesn't have to be activated - 911 still works)

Another thing to keep in mind is that no electricity = no phone (unless you have your gateway on a UPS)

I was concerned about 911 not being able to pick up where you call from when you need help. (You know, for those situations when you are able to dial but not able to speak). I am not sure about broadvoice, but Vonage have a simple workaround for 911. Not 100% sure how it works (I read about it a while back), but basically, you give Vonage your permanent address, and 911 will know where you are calling from.