Leo Mauler wrote:
--- Garrett Goebel [email protected] wrote:
Whenever it becomes affordable, I will switch to VOIP for local and long distance voice service through someone like SunRocket http://www.sunrocket.com for $200/year.
About the only reasons I don't switch to any kind of VoIP are 911 service (the 911 dispatcher knows where you are with regular phone service but not with VoIP), and the point that phone service doesn't necessarily go out when the power goes out, but VoIP service either goes out instantly during a power failure, or runs out in six hours when the built-in UPS runs out of battery power.
There is supposed to be e911 now. They know where you are now because you tell them where you are, and the calls are routed to the 911 operator in your area. Eventually, I think it's supposed to be able to figure out where you are. That's kind of disturbing, yet comforting. Hmm.
I had a friend point out that if there was a real emergency, he would want to be on a cell phone anyway so that he could stay in touch with 911 while getting out of the house.
Everest gets around these difficulties by offering phone service over conventional phone lines, but other cable services offer VoIP which isn't as stable as POTS in extremely bad weather.
That ice storm a few years back knocked out the power for two days, knocking out cable service too (one battery-powered TV). Phone lines worked fine for both
days, allowing me to call the electric and cable companies for information.
All the phones in my house are wireless, and thus go out with a power outage anyway. I have a cell phone to call the BPU and/or Time Warner to report an outage. And if that doesn't work, too bad. I'll just sit in the dark for awhile. :-)
The only real reason that I need a land line phone is because I have teenagers. Sun Rocket includes two lines in their price. Perfect to have a teen on one line, and have the other ring through. If it weren't for the young'ns I would just have cell phones and internet. VoIP is just a transition.
Peace, Jim