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#8: Don’t be the friend that is always there when he needs you

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Article Index
Guide to VOIP Phone Service
VOIP service requirements
Know how you call before
selecting a VOIP plan
Shop around for a VOIP
provider
Check for VOIP e911
Look hard at the big
VOIP providers
Ease into VOIP service
Mr. Thrifty Principle #6 Ease into the switch to VOIP service 

If you are a risk adverse person, you may want to ease into your VOIP service.  In other words, keep your regular phone line running while you test your new VOIP provider.  Most VOIP providers offer the option for you to return your equipment and cancel your service within 15 or 30 days.  If you hook up VOIP service and it goes down all the time or your sound like Neil Armstrong talking from the moon, you may decide that VOIP is not the way to go for you.  Box everything up and ship it back and you are done.  Much easier than having to call one of the Bells and plead for them to hook your service back up.

Congratulations!  You have now hooked up your new VOIP service.  Your girlfriend and parents are now impressed because you are not only saving money but also are on the cutting edge of technology.  Happy calling!

Want more information?  Mr. Thrifty has composed a handy VOIP Glossary

Comments
Nice.
Written by Guest on 2005-07-26 08:45:46
Interesting article. I will use some of this information as I shop for a new VOIP carrier. What do you think of Broadvox?
Broadvox VOIP
Written by Mr. Thrifty on 2005-07-26 08:49:15
Thanks for the question around Broadvox... Mr. Thrifty has used them before and had a great expereince with them. The only knock that Mr. Thrifty can give is that their customer service took FOREVER to get a hold of...
VOIP not that cheap
Written by Guest on 2005-08-06 08:47:27
I get regular POTS service for ~$13/month (metered line, max 25 outgoing calls). Combined with onesuite.com for long distance, this is much cheaper than any VOIP plan I've seen. 
 
The only way VOIP would be a better deal would be is if you make a lot of calls or use a lot of long distance.
25 calls ??
Written by Guest on 2005-08-06 21:34:48
If you have a social life at all, or have multiple people in the house, 25 calls per month is ridiculously low. That's not even comparable to any VOIP plan. 
 
I use VoicePulse and pay $15/mo for unlimited local calls, with 200 long distance minutes included. They have a nationwide unlimited plan for $25/mo. Their call quality is superb. The only downside at this point is they don't offer E911 (coming in October '05).
Land lines...
Written by Guest on 2005-08-10 09:50:26
I know that VOIP is the way of the future but I STILL think that the land lines are the way to go for now. Vonage and all of those other guys sure seem to go down a lot. Doesn't matter if you are saving money if your phone service is down all of the time.
I love VOIP
Written by Guest on 2005-09-12 19:57:41
I have had Packet 8 service now for almost a year now and love it. The sound quality is great and I am saving about $20 per month. Highly recommend
VOIP user
Written by Guest on 2005-09-17 11:02:05
Ebay buying Skype for $4.1 billion? Why? I know that Skype has a large VOIP phone service user base but they only had $7m in revenue last year. Wow. Someone got scammed. 
 
I have been a VOIP phone service user for over a year now from my cable company. Pretty good deal. Sound quality is good most of the time. Only issue is that it seems to go down a lot.
Anyone actually happy with their VOIP se
Written by Guest on 2006-01-05 15:36:50
I have been a VOIP service user for 8 months now and have not been happy. I have found that my VOIP calls make me sound like I am in a cave or there is an echo on the call. Any other VOIP service users have the same expereince? Anyone happy with their VOIP service? 
 
 
Unhappy VOIP service user 
:upset
Written by Guest on 2006-01-15 06:45:32
I am a current Vonage customer and would like to switch providers. Would my modem (a Motorola VT1005V) typically work with other providers, or would I need to buy new equipment? :?
Need new equipment
Written by Guest on 2006-04-06 19:51:54
In my experience with VOIP carriers is that they make you buy new VOIP equipment if you switch providers. Probably out of luck with your current stuff.

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