Magic Jack

[MikePA]

You might want to give this option a try. It only cost you the price of the device. I have been using it for years now. Google ended support for this device but they are now "officially supported" by google. Anyway: after your initial setup you have no recurring cost. I posted a detailed thread about it here http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/related-topics/285488-great-voip-telephone-service-update.html
I detailed what you need to do to port your existing phone #, although it is a bit easier if you use a random google number.
Good luck, Dave

I use an Obihai (202 model) with Google Voice, too. I also have a 'real' IP phone that connects directly to the Internet. The other boxes, called ATAs, allow the connecting of a traditional phone to the Internet. Each have their advantage and both are cheaper than a landline.

 

[k0ua]

I used an Avaya IP phone that directly connected to an existing ethernet port on my network and registered itself to a PBX in Tulsa OK. (I am in Branson MO.). The only trouble I ever had with it in 9 months of operation was when I lost internet connection from the Cable provider. I operated the phone from 8 to 10 hours per day near constant use. If you have a good internet connection, IP phones can be very reliable.

 

[Soundguy]

BTW, another option I use for my elderly mother is straight talk. I set her up with their cell based unit for $75 dollars for the unit and $17 a month. She does not have a reliable internet connection and this has performed great with free long distance and e911.
Dave

i switched our work to straight talk hotspots ( verizon ) vs sprint broadband. we are saving 60-75% of the cost, and get better service, faster, more devices connected ( no dsl/cable in our area ).

 

[caver]

I've been using MJ for years on broadband cable. You have to keep computer on for it to work although they have a newer one that goes directly to your cable modem.

 

[ultrarunner]

I’ve kept the folks ATT landline going for the occasional call from a relative or friend… they had the number since 1960’s.

At $90 per month with virtually no calls placed my thought is to transfer the number to Magic Jack and keep the number alive.

Any thoughts pro or con…

Some places I go have no phone service but do have internet so I’m guessing all I need to do is take the Jack with me?

 

[LittleBill21]

I’ve kept the folks ATT landline going for the occasional call from a relative or friend… they had the number since 1960’s.

At $90 per month with virtually no calls placed my thought is to transfer the number to Magic Jack and keep the number alive.

Any thoughts pro or con…

Some places I go have no phone service but do have internet so I’m guessing all I need to do is take the Jack with me?

congrats on resurfacing a 11 year old thread.

why you pay 90 a month is ridiculous.

old people make a big deal out of changing numbers, my mother went through 3 different numbers due to switching voip providers.

she hemmed and hawed about how it would takes weeks years months to have everyone know the new number.

since 99% of people use cell phones now, and just store the number, its irrelevant

after hearing about it for 3 months, we switched. she called everyone, it took 30 minutes for everyone to switch the number....

 

[Chewwy]

Lots of scam calls on VOIP. The calling number is easy to spoof. My cell phone provider blocks most of them based an scam reports. I generally don’t answer calls from numbers I don’t know. The few that get thru to my voice mail never leave a message.

 

[LittleBill21]

Lots of scam calls on VOIP. The calling number is easy to spoof. My cell phone provider blocks most of them based an scam reports. I generally don’t answer calls from numbers I don’t know. The few that get thru to my voice mail never leave a message.

prolly 90% of all calls are voip based now scam blockers are based per number, not technology. I have used voip for over 20 years at this point

 

[Chewwy]

I’ve kept the folks ATT landline going for the occasional call from a relative or friend… they had the number since 1960’s.

At $90 per month with virtually no calls placed my thought is to transfer the number to Magic Jack and keep the number alive.

Any thoughts pro or con…

Some places I go have no phone service but do have internet so I’m guessing all I need to do is take the Jack with me?

An alternative to the AT&T landline could be cell service. You can keep the same phone number and it is much less than $90/month. (Ours is $25/month.) They can also connect plug it into the homes phone line network so wired extension phones plugged in to that network will work.

 

[Chewwy]

prolly 90% of all calls are voip based now scam blockers are based per number, not technology. I have used voip for over 20 years at this point

Your are correct. It is based on reports regarding that number. Not perfect but better than nothing. After getting blocked, they either give up or spoof a different number.

If I could block all VOIP numbers, I would.