Vonage says broadband provider blocks its calls

ZDNet ^ | February 14, 2005 | Ben Charny

[holymoly]

It's payback for their obnoxious "Woo-hoo, woo-hoo-hoo" ads.

[cmsgop]

All of my neighbors have Vonage but I am not so sure. The Quality (at least around here) is touch and go. The price seems attractive though.

[Rightly Biased]

What ya wanna bet it was Time Warner?

[Constitution Day]

obnoxious "Woo-hoo, woo-hoo-hoo" ads

I hate 'em with a passion, much like that idiotic, gay "roaming gnome" from Travelocity.

[SedVictaCatoni]

What ya wanna bet it was Time Warner?

We run our business on Vonage using Time Warner's commercial RoadRunner, so it's not them.

[unixfox]

It's not Time Warner because I signed up with Vonage and my calls went through just fine.

However.... I cancelled because after 4 months of hell trying to get my number switched over, well they just couldn't get the job done. Si I just told them to forget it. They DO NOT return phone calls and they act like they could care less.

In a word Vonage SUCKS!!

I am now looking at packet8, it's cheaper too.

[Cultural Jihad]

It's not a regulated utility, as is the local phone company. They simply provide a web-based service.

[MediaMole]

I'd keep a conventional landline until the 911 issues are ironed out for cellular and VoIP services.

[Rightly Biased]

I can be wrong thats fine.

Kinda glad its not TWC since I work for em but it sure sounded like something they'd do.

[Doohickey]

I was thinking Verizon. They have a history of shafting competitors.

[FLCowboy,]

I love their ads. Some of the "stupid" tricks are really that. Stupid, and funny.

[Rightly Biased]

or the Giant comcast

[Cultural Jihad]

. . . after 4 months of hell trying to get my number switched over, well they just couldn't get the job done.

Sounds like your local telco doesn't offer number portability.

[Doohickey]

Maybe. I've never had cable broadband, but I've heard stories.

[klute]

I have had Packet8 for about a year now. I love it and it saves me hundreds a month in long distance to Canada. When I ordered it, it was the only VoIP carrier that included Canada.

[Cyber Liberty]

She would not identify the operator ...

Makes the story pretty damned useless.

[unixfox]

I was hoping someone would chime in on Packet8. Glad to hear it's working for you. I will investigate more, thanks!

[flada]

I know that Cox Communications blocks ports for SMTP for email accounts that aren't theirs. I am completely unable to send email on my accounts that aren't web-based. I've tried various workarounds--to no avail. I'd consider switching to a different provider, but Cox has a monopoly for cable service here and I don't want to go back to DSL or dial-up.

[elmer fudd]

"or the Giant comcast"

As a Comcast employee I'm wondering the same thing. I know we have plans to launch our own VoIP system in the very near future.

[unixfox]

My phone company does offer number portablility. I have SBC. Vonage clearly dropped the ball and they admitted it. I sent them the forms 3 different times, and 3 different times they said it was transferred. NOT. They screwed up royaly and now I will bash them every chance I get because of their arrogance and poor customer service. For those thinking of Vonage, beware.