|
We've used Vonage for over a year. It's just like a regular phone. You plug a VOIP modem between your cable or DSL modem and your router (or computer if you don't have a router). You plug a phone set into that modem. If you want multiple sets, use a wireless phone system that lets you use however many handsets you want. You can set up phone bases in several rooms. Vonage modems allow you to buy a second line if you want.
Long distance is free, all the normal stuff like forwarding and waiting is included, and the price is less than regular phone service. You don't even think about long distance. You can even choose a different area code if you want.
The only drawbacks I've experienced: When cable is out, so is phone (not very often); now and then I get bad connections (again, rare); Vonage has poor customer service, and it's hard to call them if your phone goes down. Our phone modem was fried by lightning once, and it took two weeks to get Vonage to get a new modem to us, and a while longer to straighten out the billing. Not unlike the regular phone company.
And 911 doesn't go to your local 911 service, it goes to a central service who has to route the call locally. If you aren't registered (a simple step, but not automatic) they can't track where you are calling from, so your kids have to know your full address.
|