Comments on: Cheap VOIP Options http://www.geekandcheap.com/2007/cheap-voip-options/ A Geek's Guide to Money, Investing and Technology Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:29:49 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: admin http://www.geekandcheap.com/2007/cheap-voip-options/comment-page-1/#comment-8 admin Sat, 22 Mar 2008 03:24:36 +0000 http://www.geekandcheap.com/wordpress/?p=4#comment-8 geeknlovinit, I appreciate your comment. I agree completely. I use Skype with a Netgear SPH200D cordless phone which allows me to not be signed into Skype but use it just like a regular phone line. I have experienced all of the cons that you mentioned but still find it to be a fairly reliable service. I do wish they would fix the caller id issue, but I have heard it is more complicated than one might think. I have figured out a way around it by signing up for a free grandcentral forwarding number and then logging in to grandcentral and having it call back to my SkypeIN number then the outgoing caller sees my grandcentral number instead of no caller id. It is not entirely convenient, but works fairly well. Thanks again, and I look forward to hearing from you again. geeknlovinit,

I appreciate your comment. I agree completely. I use Skype with a Netgear SPH200D cordless phone which allows me to not be signed into Skype but use it just like a regular phone line. I have experienced all of the cons that you mentioned but still find it to be a fairly reliable service. I do wish they would fix the caller id issue, but I have heard it is more complicated than one might think. I have figured out a way around it by signing up for a free grandcentral forwarding number and then logging in to grandcentral and having it call back to my SkypeIN number then the outgoing caller sees my grandcentral number instead of no caller id. It is not entirely convenient, but works fairly well. Thanks again, and I look forward to hearing from you again.

]]> By: geeknlovinit http://www.geekandcheap.com/2007/cheap-voip-options/comment-page-1/#comment-7 geeknlovinit Sun, 03 Feb 2008 06:49:00 +0000 http://www.geekandcheap.com/wordpress/?p=4#comment-7 Good pts about both magicjack & skype. I had a few to add. Skype : As of now unlimited calling plan with a phone number in USA costs $36 + $24= $60 per year. (no equipment if you use PC otherwise see below) Skype (Pros) 1. no need to turn on computer, use a device like Linksys CIT 400 or Netgear SPD200H (typically costing $120) 2. Owned by eBay so you know they wont fold up like sunrocket. Skype(Cons) 1. no outbound caller id (just as you said) so person receving your call sees a generic number 000-123456 or 'anonymous' so they might not answer your call. 2. extremely poor DTMF support. what that means is when you call one of those 1-800 type numbers where you have to enter numbers/extensions to navigate through a voice response system (example 16 digit credit card number when you call a credit card company) skype fails to transmit those numbers properly, so you are unable to continue with the call. good luck calling airlines, hotels, banks, ur doctors office. MagicJack :As of now unlimited calling plan with a phone number in USA costs 20 (+ 20 for the equipment) MagicJack (Pros) 1. low cost, ($20 vs $60) 2. better support (or I should say works satisfactorily) for DTMF MagicJack(Cons) 1. have to keep computer on to get service. 2. owned by ymax corporation (not sure if can last long enough in the business OR go without raising the rates 3. not enough area codes (as of now some states NC, SC are still missing) Good pts about both magicjack & skype.
I had a few to add.

Skype : As of now unlimited calling plan with a phone number in USA costs $36 + $24= $60 per year. (no equipment if you use PC otherwise see below)

Skype (Pros)
1. no need to turn on computer, use a device like Linksys CIT 400 or Netgear SPD200H (typically costing $120)
2. Owned by eBay so you know they wont fold up like sunrocket.

Skype(Cons)
1. no outbound caller id (just as you said) so person receving your call sees a generic number 000-123456 or ‘anonymous’ so they might not answer your call.
2. extremely poor DTMF support. what that means is when you call one of those 1-800 type numbers where you have to enter numbers/extensions to navigate through a voice response system (example 16 digit credit card number when you call a credit card company) skype fails to transmit those numbers properly, so you are unable to continue with the call. good luck calling airlines, hotels, banks, ur doctors office.

MagicJack :As of now unlimited calling plan with a phone number in USA costs 20 (+ 20 for the equipment)

MagicJack (Pros)
1. low cost, ($20 vs $60)
2. better support (or I should say works satisfactorily) for DTMF

MagicJack(Cons)
1. have to keep computer on to get service.
2. owned by ymax corporation (not sure if can last long enough in the business OR go without raising the rates
3. not enough area codes (as of now some states NC, SC are still missing)

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