Is anyone using VOIP for their phones

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bryanchewy

34 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 08:57:13 AM

Hey guys. i wanted to know if anyone is using VOIP for their main lines. I have a nice PBX system in the office and hate to have to buy a IP phone, etc. I have verizon DSL at 3.0/768 and wanted to add a couple lines of VOIP.

I am wondering if anyone is using VOIP with their current analog PBX system and how it is working for you guys.

How is the sound quality and are you dropping any calls, etc.

I use Lingo for my home service and it works pretty good on my home cable modem.

Thanks for any info and experiences you all have seen!

mortgagemessiah

7793 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 09:01:30 AM

I did. I used Packet 8. They were good. Most cable companies now offer phone service which work very well.

mortiz0126

205 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 10:46:51 AM

I use a complete VOIP system in my office by Ring Central. Call quality is amazing and you can add lines with ease. Check them out at www.ringcentral.com

assassin17

3170 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 10:52:28 AM

If you have PC skills, get RingCentral and some headsets. You'll wonder why you ever dropped money on a PBX and a large phone bill. We would have saved over $20,000 if my partner had listened to me and gotten it in the beginning.

mortiz0126

205 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 11:10:28 AM

quote:
Originally posted by assassin17

If you have PC skills, get RingCentral and some headsets. You'll wonder why you ever dropped money on a PBX and a large phone bill. We would have saved over $20,000 if my partner had listened to me and gotten it in the beginning.

I agree it is pretty sick what you can do and you can not beat the price.

ATLMORTGAGECO

11 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 11:29:03 AM

I use Vonage Fax + Line phone for 49.99 plus tax

http://www.vonage.com/call_plans_business_premium.php?lid=business_premium&refer_id=OLNSR070901051W1&promo_id=USVONRPFMF

Jimmy Liu

mortiz0126

205 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 11:34:53 AM

quote:
Originally posted by ATLMORTGAGECO

I use Vonage Fax + Line phone for 49.99 plus tax

http://www.vonage.com/call_plans_business_premium.php?lid=business_premium&refer_id=OLNSR<span style="cursor: pointer; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;" onclick="javascript: currentNumber = '+7 0901051'; RCcall('callNumber1');" onmouseover="RCapplyStyle('up', '1'); RCpause(this, 'rcMenu', '+7 0901051', '1', 'Russia');" onmouseout="RCapplyStyle('down', '1'); RChideMenuOn('rcMenu'); flagHide = true;" id="callNumber1">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="display: inline; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;">
<tr style="padding:0px 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;">
<td id="RCleftStyle1" height="13" width="25" style="padding:0px 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; background-image: url('file:///C:/PROGRA~1/RINGCE~1/RINGCE~1/RCToolBar/left_style_down.gif');"></td>
<span id="callNumber1_Pos"><td id="RCmiddleStyle1" height="13" nowrap style="padding:0px 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; background-image: url('file:///C:/PROGRA~1/RINGCE~1/RINGCE~1/RCToolBar/middle_style_down.gif'); font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">070901051</td></span>
<td id="RCrightStyle1" height="13" width="4" style="padding:0px 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; background-image: url('file:///C:/PROGRA~1/RINGCE~1/RINGCE~1/RCToolBar/right_style_down.gif');"></td>
</tr>
</table>
</span>W1&promo_id=USVONRPFMF

Jimmy Liu

No offense...............But I had Vonage before I came across Ring Central and it is uncomparable. Vonage has by far the worst customer service of any company I have ever utilized. It droped calls, quality was bad, and it does not have all the bells and whistles like Ring Central.

liverichly

3617 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 11:39:05 AM

Packet8.com for $19.95/mo... can't beat it IMO.

mdiclemente

982 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 12:54:53 PM

I have a T1 line with 6 analog lines and VOIP lines on top of it. I bought a HYBRID NEC system that supports VOIP and Analog. I had a straight VOIP system before with 3 different companies, but they were all too unreliable. You get the benefits of both with the HYBRID. Reliability/scabability/deployment capabilities. I have a phone on my desk in my house that runs on VOIP and patches into my office PBX. It has it's own extention, but I don't give it out. If I need to take make or receive a call after I get home, I can do it while appearing as if I am in the office. It is transparent to the other party. I just forward my real extention (from the office) to my home extention while working there. I also have a couple POLYCOM and softphones linked too... it all works great. I could not be happier with the system.

The system that I got was the NEC Elite IPK.. here's a link to the system. http://www.necunifiedsolutions.com/main/Products/ProProduct.asp?solid=2&prodid=4

I paid $5500 in October 07 for it and that includes installation. That was six handsets and I went with the higher end ones. The base system is around 900, plus 700 for the VOIP card, about 200 for music on hold, and 700 for remote management. The phones were about 250 a piece. The feature that I didn't expect, but I love now is the intercom system. Each phone acts like an "overhead" page system... great for notifying agents of which line to pick up.

mdiclemente

982 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 12:56:32 PM

I tried vonage, packet8, and APTELA for VOIP. The first two were unreliable to me and VONAGE was absolutely horrible. Aptela was good, but still not perfect.

bryanchewy

34 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 1:22:42 PM

I see alot of you are using it exclusively, but some have had problems with reliablity. That is why i want to see if i can still keep a line or two from verizon(they have my dsl anyway) and then add a couple lines of VOIP to cut the cost of verizon's unlimited freedom plan(about $60 per line). I really like the idea of that NEC system, and if i was setting up a new office that is what i would do, but i have so much invested in my current PBX, that i couldn't afford to just scrap it and get a whole new system. i have 22 extentions plus voicemail system in that PBX, so it would cost me a fortune to do the whole thing all over. And the current system works great, so why change.

i guess i was hoping to hear that someone had a current PBX system and had added some VOIP lines like i want to do. I just didn't know if they were reliable, sounded good, and even if it could be done. I am assuming you would just take the box they give you and plug the phone line from that into the PBX as if it were a analog line. Anyone know if that is possible?

rspaulding

108 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 1:58:52 PM

I'm using VOIP and T1 for cable from XO Communications. We get pretty much unlimited long distance. My toll free number came over free also. Our phone system is NEC. The quality is the same as when we were using analog. Our internet is now MUCH better. I wasn't really concerned with the speed increase as much as the fact that Time Warner went down all the time. The title company across the hall still has Time Warner and they end up piggybacking their whole office on my wireless router about 2 twice a month.

The installation was free so long as I signed a 3 year contract. The savings ended up being north of $200 per month.

mdiclemente

982 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 2:00:21 PM

I don't really know, but it sounds possible. Try looking at this website: http://www.callcentrevoice.com/home.asp That's where I learned about systems (it has a forum similar to the BO) and I was able to make my decision from there

Quicksilver04

62 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 5:05:05 PM

Bryanchewy a friend of mine has a PBX system and uses VONAGE I think he has about 10 lines with Vonage and payes 25 dollars a line. He uses brighthouse networks for his internet and is paying about 150 for cable internet. I don't think the DSL from Verizon would work as good as the cable internet, but I'm not sure as I'm not a network person. From what I understand the vonage box you get just plugs into a reg phone but he had his phone person hook up the lines into his PBX system. He tells me it works good. I would talk with the person that hooked up your phone system. Oh another think he told me he had to do was put a fan in the closet where the vonage boxes where because they heat up pretty hot sometimes. Hope thats helps you out some.

bryanchewy

34 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 6:58:34 PM

Yes guys, that helps out alot. I sort of thought that just pluging in the lines from the VOIP adapter right into the PBX system would work, but wasn't sure. Sounds like atleast one person is doing it successfully.

Are you guys just signed up on the residential services with these places like vonage? I talked to one company, i think Viatalk, and they said that they monitor the usage and will shut you off if your using it for business. The business plans are like $50 compared to $25 for residential. I wonder if they would ever really know?

As per the cable modem, i don't have acces to one. So ADSL was my only option besides a T1 which is way to expensive. I am really close to the CO so i get almost the full 3/768 that i pay like 60/month for.

I have downsized my office and don't need a ton of lines(used to have 14) so I think i will be ok with the DSL i have for now.

Looks like I am going to use ringcentral for tollfree calls and faxes(incoming only..as i have a fax server for outgoing hooked upto the PBX)

And maybe Speakeasy for business VOIP for $30/month...but no free fax line like the others, so i might check around a bit yet. But with ringcentral i won't really need the fax line anyway.

And then keep one of my Verizon freedom lines, just incase the VOIP takes a dump on me. LOL

Any other ideas would be appreciated. Thanks guys!

Quicksilver04

62 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 9:56:08 PM

All of his lines are residential as it way cheaper. He has been using vonage for over a year with close to 10 lines and they havent shut him down yet. I'm not to sure if they monitor the mins or not. Ringcentral is good for the 800 numbers.

mdiclemente

982 Posts

Posted - 02/09/2008 : 10:13:53 PM

A T1 is not that expensive when you compare what you get. I pay 350 a month for a full T1 and that INCLUSES 6 phonelines. Prior to the T1, I was paying almost 600 for 5 phonelines with AT&T and another $150 for my cable modem through Comcast.... you also get business reliability with nearly 100% uptime and preferred service calls when it goes does (which it never has). Also, your name shows on caller ID, which it didn't for me when I had Vonage.

bryanchewy

34 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 06:19:25 AM

Wow, you were getting ripped by at&t buddy. So on your T1 are you getting the 1.5 up and down plus the 6 pots lines? Or do those 6 lines cut into your internet speed a bit.

Also, do you pay minutes used on those six lines? i have always seen that you had to buy a block of minutes on top of the 350 a month for the T1. Am i wrong?

If anyone is paying over 60/month for unlimited LD phone ines, you need to switch. there are a ton of companies out there that will charge around 50 or less.

Quicksilver04

62 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 07:14:38 AM

MORTIZ0126 I use ringcentral for their 800 service and love it. Are you saying that you are using them for your whole system IE phone lines and 800 service? Also I see that you can buy there IP phones instead of using there adapter so you can use reg phones. Are you using their IP phones and if so how are you guys liking them. THe 800 service with the extensions for each LO and departments are great. When you use them for the whole system is it still the same set up with the Extensions and what not? Thanks for you info

IF YOU WANT TO EMAIL ME DIRECT THAT WOULD BE COOL SO WE COULD TALK ABOUT THIS. THANKS FOR YOU HELP. JOE

darkstar

15606 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 07:18:29 AM

I ust bought magicjack at magicjack.com $40 one time(includes 1st year of service)...$19.00 A YEAR after the 1st year!!!!!!!!!!!!!...Unlimited local and long distance!...

I'm using it now and will make all my calls from Europe to the US free next week, it will pay for itself many times that week!...

mdiclemente

982 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 08:34:26 AM

quote:
Originally posted by bryanchewy

Wow, you were getting ripped by at&t buddy. So on your T1 are you getting the 1.5 up and down plus the 6 pots lines? Or do those 6 lines cut into your internet speed a bit.

Also, do you pay minutes used on those six lines? i have always seen that you had to buy a block of minutes on top of the 350 a month for the T1. Am i wrong?

If anyone is paying over 60/month for unlimited LD phone ines, you need to switch. there are a ton of companies out there that will charge around 50 or less.

Yes, my T1 is 1.5 up and down, BUT you are right, the 6 pots lines cut into it.

There was supposed to be a per minute charge, but I negotiotaed with the sales rep. I bought a $30 800 number package in exchange for unlimited local and regional calling. I was paying about $60 a month for thost phonelines on the base price, but by the time you add unlimited long distance and taxes and all those stupid fees, they were rediculous. I only went with them because of the two bad experiences i had with VOIP. The first two times I had it, it really was absolutely horrible. With the T1, VOIP is a transparent transition from POTS.

Quicksilver04

62 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 08:56:04 AM

Darkstar I read about that magicjack once you have it please let me know how the quality of the sound is. Thanks

Brianquigley

1772 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 09:27:33 AM

I use Aptela.
www.aptela.com
NOt bad, about $50 per phone unlimited, local, long distance.

DONT< DONT DONT use VOIP to house your FAX LINE. That will be a logistic nightmare.

Get a landline.

Sometimes the calls ares dropped with VOIP which can become frustrating, however, in my opinion, it is a small price to pay, for going with a landline office.

khoiey

1291 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 09:34:57 AM

With residential lines via vonnage or VOIP, it will show up your own name not the company.

quote:
Originally posted by Quicksilver04

All of his lines are residential as it way cheaper. He has been using vonage for over a year with close to 10 lines and they havent shut him down yet. I'm not to sure if they monitor the mins or not. Ringcentral is good for the 800 numbers.

mdiclemente

982 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 10:49:07 AM

Don't you have to show the company name when telemarketing? Someone told me that a long time ago so I have always used business lines because of that, but I'm not sure if that is accurate.

darkstar

15606 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 10:51:04 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Quicksilver04

Darkstar I read about that magicjack once you have it please let me know how the quality of the sound is. Thanks

It's as good as the headset or earpiece you use...So far it's been just under SKYPE's quality, but then I'm using a crappy headset as the soundcard in my comp is shot so it may be comparable...If you travel once a year, it will pay for itself, but if you give up a landline, it will save you tons...

Only thing I would have "preferred" would have been a KY area code, it gives you about 30 or more choices to pick from and KY wasn't one of them...NO biggie though...Built in voicemail with call capture assures I don't miss any calls when I'm not plugged in...My main purpose is to use it when we travel overseas to avoid calling cards, Int'l cell phones and the high rates, this is FREE!...It will pay for itself next week :-)

khoiey

1291 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 10:52:21 AM

It's true.

quote:
Originally posted by mdiclemente

Don't you have to show the company name when telemarketing? Someone told me that a long time ago so I have always used business lines because of that, but I'm not sure if that is accurate.

Managing Prime

2258 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 10:56:32 AM

You can't "spoof" or hide your company information if it is broadcast, but if you service does not broadcast CID Name information CID Number is sufficient for compliance.

quote:
Originally posted by khoiey

It's true.

quote:
Originally posted by mdiclemente

Don't you have to show the company name when telemarketing? Someone told me that a long time ago so I have always used business lines because of that, but I'm not sure if that is accurate.

mdiclemente

982 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 11:04:51 AM

So, does that mean that using a residential line to telemarket is not compliant? Since you are showing a personal name and not the company calling, wouldn't that be non-compliant?

quote:
Originally posted by Managing Prime

You can't "spoof" or hide your company information if it is broadcast, but if you service does not broadcast CID Name information CID Number is sufficient for compliance.

quote:
Originally posted by khoiey

It's true.

quote:
Originally posted by mdiclemente

Don't you have to show the company name when telemarketing? Someone told me that a long time ago so I have always used business lines because of that, but I'm not sure if that is accurate.

Managing Prime

2258 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 11:13:04 AM

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/calleridalrt.pdf

It's open to interpretation. The question is...are you as the licensed originator and person making the call the seller or is your company?

Can they call that number back during normal business hours and speak with someone to be removed from your companies dialing list?

quote:
Originally posted by mdiclemente

So, does that mean that using a residential line to telemarket is not compliant? Since you are showing a personal name and not the company calling, wouldn't that be non-compliant?

quote:
Originally posted by Managing Prime

You can't "spoof" or hide your company information if it is broadcast, but if you service does not broadcast CID Name information CID Number is sufficient for compliance.

quote:
Originally posted by khoiey

It's true.

quote:
Originally posted by mdiclemente

Don't you have to show the company name when telemarketing? Someone told me that a long time ago so I have always used business lines because of that, but I'm not sure if that is accurate.

bryanchewy

34 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 11:49:21 AM

That magicjak is pretty cool for home use. I don't know if it would work for business though.

But i am thinking of trying it out and replacing my LINGO ($25/ month) that i use at home. I actually disconected from the Dmark outside and then plugged my LINGO box into the wall jack and got all my jacks in the house working off VOIP.

I woud think magicjak would work the same way.

Thanks Darkstar, if it works at home, you saved me some money. THANKS!!

Did you say your using it now? Did you plug a regular phone into it and see how the sound quality was? Let us know.

Managing Prime

2258 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 12:45:30 PM

Read the TOS. You know about things that seem to good to be true. It's free incoming and Magicjack-to-magicjack. There are fees for outgoing calls and once they have your number it's theirs...not portable.

quote:
Originally posted by bryanchewy

That magicjak is pretty cool for home use. I don't know if it would work for business though.

But i am thinking of trying it out and replacing my LINGO ($25/ month) that i use at home. I actually disconected from the Dmark outside and then plugged my LINGO box into the wall jack and got all my jacks in the house working off VOIP.

I woud think magicjak would work the same way.

Thanks Darkstar, if it works at home, you saved me some money. THANKS!!

Did you say your using it now? Did you plug a regular phone into it and see how the sound quality was? Let us know.

bryanchewy

34 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 6:30:36 PM

I don't see that anywhere in the TOS...where did you see you can't make calls.

I did read that you do not own the number and can't port it later if you leave the service.

JasonAaron1

1014 Posts

Posted - 02/10/2008 : 11:25:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by assassin17

If you have PC skills, get RingCentral and some headsets. You'll wonder why you ever dropped money on a PBX and a large phone bill. We would have saved over $20,000 if my partner had listened to me and gotten it in the beginning.

Which headsets do you recommend? Thank you for the info!

Jason

darkstar

15606 Posts

Posted - 02/11/2008 : 05:35:45 AM

I also use gotvmail.com for my non-profit....$20/mth and I get 20 extensions, I also like that very much...

omegafunding

235 Posts

Posted - 02/11/2008 : 09:06:08 AM

I use magic jack at home, but it is not realiable for business use. We have voip line in office packet8. Works ok

Brianquigley

1772 Posts

Posted - 02/11/2008 : 09:10:45 AM

www.aptela.com

jmcclain81

68 Posts

Posted - 02/11/2008 : 09:14:24 AM

We went with Vocalocity. Haven't had a problem with their service and they throw in alot of extra features. We have an 800 number and three local numbers, an automated assistant, hold music, and voicemail that will go straight to your e-mail so that you can pick and choose which messages to listen to first.
It's alot cheaper than buying a PBX and the system is completely scalable based on how many LO's you have in the office.

Jennifer McClain
National Fidelity Mortgage

Managing Prime

2258 Posts

Posted - 02/11/2008 : 09:32:56 AM

If you have more than 3 lines hosted PBX's do not make sense. It's much more cost effective to have your own system. http://www.3cx.com

jmatt

883 Posts

Posted - 02/11/2008 : 11:39:02 AM

Vonage *****. Stay away from them. Unless the idea of halfway through every phone call, the other party suddenly not being able to hear you is appealing.

I couldn't wait to get away from them and they're no cheaper than a reliable land line.

Quicksilver04

62 Posts

Posted - 02/13/2008 : 7:28:05 PM

Hey guys I just wanted to post this real fast. We just switched phone companies today to PBX Change www.pbx-change.com This worked out really good for us as we have a mortgage company and real estate firm. we got 8 lines 15 phones. 3 lines for the mortgage company 4 lines for the Real estate firm and one line for my busniess partners Law office. We got all local calling and 4000 long distance mins. Everyone in the office will have there own ext so if someone from the real estate firm needs to talk to someone from the mortgage company they can just dail there ext. We also got auto attendant for each company in case no ones in the office is there to answer the call. This also includes our internet. All of this for $510 a month includes the lease of the state of the art phone system. Just thought I would put this out there. Not sure if they can do out of state compaines or not as we are in FL. If anyone is currently using this company please contact me. Thanks

2075 Posts

Posted - 02/13/2008 : 7:42:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by darkstar

I ust bought magicjack at magicjack.com $40 one time(includes 1st year of service)...$19.00 A YEAR after the 1st year!!!!!!!!!!!!!...Unlimited local and long distance!...

I'm using it now and will make all my calls from Europe to the US free next week, it will pay for itself many times that week!...

If you happen to be in Amsterdam, could you pick up a very small package for me? It should only weigh about one kilo?

loancloser1342

280 Posts

Posted - 02/13/2008 : 7:53:54 PM

I actually switched from Vonage to Broadvoice to AT&T Callvantage. My issue with the first two was they are unable to broadcast caller ID info unless the person you are calling also has their service. So, when I called my clients it always showed "Unavailable" on their end. They do not have the capability to broadcast it according to their respective customer service agents. AT&T does though.

msancheznj

2100 Posts

Posted - 02/13/2008 : 8:47:08 PM

I have cablevision Internet+4 phone lines at $150 a month.

Quicksilver04

62 Posts

Posted - 02/13/2008 : 8:59:01 PM

The system we are getting are IP phones and its a VOIP service but we are paying around $800 a month right now so going to $500 a month for the service and getting a brand new system that we can add on to as our company gets bigger is a great investment we think.

mtel

409 Posts

Posted - 02/13/2008 : 11:15:24 PM

Packet8 for a home office using Comcast (6 Mbps up 2 Mbps down). The jury is still out...experiencing too many dropped calls but it may be software related.

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