Anyone use an internet phone??

[Brick Tamland]

I just racked up a $220 phone bill calling people in the usa. I keep hearing about the ip phones and the chat phones. If I get one of these it can NOT fack up. it would be my only phone.

Anyone use one? is the technology there for it to be the main phone??

[Brick Tamland]

also heard about Skype. That one you have to actully use your computer's mic??? ...sounds gay. I will look like an AT&T lady.

[JoshW]

I use Vonage currently (have used for two years). I believe is something like $23 a month for unlimited US and Canadian calling. You get all the features to at that price. Just have to have good internet connection and works 99.5% of the time. Also for the occassional call overseas prices are cheap, they don't screw you over like regular phone companies do if you are aren't a special international plane.

[kdmfox]

There are plenty of phone plans out there for unlimited USA useage for under $25-50/mo. even from conventional carriers like Verizon ... Come out from that rock you've been living under ... The Fox

[JoshW]

Do they let you keep your phone number when you get to moved to a new region? Do they offering caller id, call forwarding? You can get unlimited US calling from some IP phones for $10, but is bare bones plan similar to what conventional phones offer. Also, local phone service is usually in addition with conventional phones, if you want to pay $50, nothing wrong with that. But IP phones have their place and certainly are worthy of consideration.

[Dead Money]

I have that service. Combined with cable internet the price is 90 bucks a month.
It is a pretty good deal have had it over a year and have never gotten a suprise bill. Same every month.

Free long ditance in the cont 48 states and Canada

[bigboydan]

brick, why not look into unlimited minutes on your phone plan. or, you can just do a google search on how to alter your phone yourself

[Brick Tamland]

There are plenty of phone plans out there for unlimited USA useage for under $25-50/mo. even from conventional carriers like Verizon ... Come out from that rock you've been living under ... The Fox

KD and Dan

I did have a "block" of time and blew through it. but still... Ip phones being like 20 bucks for everyhting is less than maitining a phone line b4 the longD plans.

looks like I need to switch it up. Vonage it is?

btw i have a cable modem already so should be good there.

[Brick Tamland]

and thanks

[pats3peat]

i dont but i do get tons of free minutes from Phonehog (i enter bs info for the affiliates to get minutes.. so its aight.. and i use roboform to fill out forms so its easy)

then i just call the 1-800 number and enter in my pin # and can call anywhere

i dont have a microphone so i dont use internet phone

[Santo]

I'm not sure I'd have one as my only phone... power cut -> no internet -> how do you call the emergency services?

[Bill Dozer]

I have a video phone and plan on passing them out to family as Xmas gifts. As a rule the quality will be as good as your net connection. If you also keep a cell for backup you might never miss your land line. I have packet8 but it looks like they are all the same, like ISPs.

[Shawn01]

We have Road Runner cable, Internet and phone and I love it. The reception/sound quality on the phone is every bit as good as a land line, using the phone places no drag on the Internet connection (and vice-versa) and you can call anywhere in the U.S. or Canada as a local call (i.e. it's not long distance). It took me awhile to get used to no longer dialing "1" before what used to be long distance calls. BTW, when friends or family come to our home I invite them to call anyone they want to in the U.S. or Canada because it's a local call

Oh, the cable TV, phone and Internet is just about $100 a month, which I think is a good price. I'm very happy with Road Runner's service too.

[pags11]

I used to use an internet phone...I wish I could remember the name of it...now I just make long distance calls with my cell phone and try to call as much as possible after 9 and on the weekends...

[bookie]

Brick this may not meet your needs...but as long as we're reviewing available options...Yahoo Messenger (and I'm sure others) offers free international phone internet service to people on your messenger list...a head set with microphone costs $19.00 at Radioshack...plug it in and arrange with whoever you want to talk to also have accounts and to be logged in at X time and click their username and the connection is made and the quality is excellent. I live in CR and talk to a lot of people I probably wouldn't otherwise talk to because of this option.

[pags11]

one of the programs I used was called firetalk, but that wasn't the actual internet phone I used where you could dial a persons phone directly...firetalk was more of a forum and you could talk live to people as long as they were in the forum...still trying to remember...

[picantel]

I also use vonage and it has a ton of features and comes to $27.xx a month. You need cable though. If the power goes out then let's face it you could not have a phone anyway. The only occasional problem is if the cable service goes out which means I have no way of calling. What I did was get a prepaid cell phone for emergencies only. You have to put in $20 every 3 months to keep it active. IF you are interested in vonage pm me because I can send you a referral link and I get a free months and you get a free month if you sign up.

[onlooker]

I only have a cell phone service. The wife and I have our own phones. My plan has 2000 anytime minutes and dont come close to going over. Long distance is free, and have unlimited PCS to PCS. So the wife and I can talk call each other for nothing.

[pags11]

I love the mobile to mobile free minutes...saves me about 1000 minutes on my cell bill each month (cingular customer)...only thing that stunk about calling from the interent phone is I had to be by a pc...now if you can get a handheld with a connection to the internet that will allow you to do it, then you are set...

[Brick Tamland]

Picantel

Sorry man. I didnt see your post but got a Vonage. I used an internert coupon. I love this thing already. I guess i thought it would be staticky or something...like i would hear what the internet sounds like. lol

I highly recomend this service so far.