gmac17 Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 I'm running a bit of a business from an off site location, and I want it to look like I am nearby. I need a (cheap) system where I can: a) have incoming calls go to a certain area code b) check voicemail online if possible. c) make calls so that the caller id says a certain area code. d) Make outgoing calls in multiple locations if possible All I can think of is skype,. I know they do a/b/c but can you have the same skype number hooked up to 2 different locations? Any other ideas for handling this? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeFerguson Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 www.grandcentral.com I have invites if you want one. PM me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmac17 Posted May 8, 2008 Author Share Posted May 8, 2008 Thanks JF. Can you make calls using grandcentral? I need to call someone and have a certain area code as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeFerguson Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Thanks JF. Can you make calls using grandcentral? I need to call someone and have a certain area code as well. Yes I think so. I've never done that, but I think you can do it. It's in beta testing right now. If you want an invite just PM me your email address. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan in San Diego Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Vonage can do this ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Vonage can do this ! Absolutely. It can do everything you're asking for, and more. I've been using it for four years and have had no problems at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Absolutely. It can do everything you're asking for, and more. I've been using it for four years and have had no problems at all. I'll be the third to confirm this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In-A-Gadda-Levitre Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 I'll be the third to confirm this. yep, count me as #4, it can, but there's a few downsides to any VOIP service: 1) If you lose internet connectivity for whatever reason, there is no phone service. 2) You compete for bandwidth on your broadband connection, so just about any type of download activity on computers that are sharing the same network connection can significantly hurt voice quality. This could be something as simple as a web page automatically updating itself. If you typically do a lot of Peer To Peer transfers, watch YouTube, listen to internet radio, or do file downloads, this can be a major problem. 3) I've noticed that VOIP service doesn't always recover well from temporary losses in internet connectivity or power. It has happened with two different VOIP service providers. This means after your power or internet service returns from some momentary outage, there is no phone service, because the VOIP adapter doesn't initialize properly and you have to call them on a cell phone to get them to manually restart it. I will admit that going to a separate VOIP device (as opposed to the integrated VOIP/Router that they supply) has made a huge difference in this respect. I strongly recommend Vonage, just be aware of the tradeoffs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acantha Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Just make sure you have a fund set up for the divorce lawyer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmac17 Posted May 8, 2008 Author Share Posted May 8, 2008 Vonage it is. I've used them before but canceled cause i never used it. Can i hook up a vonage phone in 2 locations? ie one here and one upstate? Just make sure you have a fund set up for the divorce lawyer. "Honey, as you can tell from my area code I'm still up here in Syracuse on a big project...won't be home till Friday" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wacka Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 How many K's are you movin a week?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmac17 Posted May 9, 2008 Author Share Posted May 9, 2008 How many K's are you movin a week?? beaucoup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan in San Diego Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 yep, count me as #4, it can, but there's a few downsides to any VOIP service: 1) If you lose internet connectivity for whatever reason, there is no phone service. True 2) You compete for bandwidth on your broadband connection, so just about any type of download activity on computers that are sharing the same network connection can significantly hurt voice quality. This could be something as simple as a web page automatically updating itself. If you typically do a lot of Peer To Peer transfers, watch YouTube, listen to internet radio, or do file downloads, this can be a major problem. Never had this problem 3) I've noticed that VOIP service doesn't always recover well from temporary losses in internet connectivity or power. It has happened with two different VOIP service providers. This means after your power or internet service returns from some momentary outage, there is no phone service, because the VOIP adapter doesn't initialize properly and you have to call them on a cell phone to get them to manually restart it. I will admit that going to a separate VOIP device (as opposed to the integrated VOIP/Router that they supply) has made a huge difference in this respect. Never had this problem, but the occasional reboot of the router will cure any ill I strongly recommend Vonage, just be aware of the tradeoffs... I Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In-A-Gadda-Levitre Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 2) You compete for bandwidth on your broadband connection, so just about any type of download activity on computers that are sharing the same network connection can significantly hurt voice quality. This could be something as simple as a web page automatically updating itself. If you typically do a lot of Peer To Peer transfers, watch YouTube, listen to internet radio, or do file downloads, this can be a major problem. Never had this problem 3) I've noticed that VOIP service doesn't always recover well from temporary losses in internet connectivity or power. It has happened with two different VOIP service providers. This means after your power or internet service returns from some momentary outage, there is no phone service, because the VOIP adapter doesn't initialize properly and you have to call them on a cell phone to get them to manually restart it. I will admit that going to a separate VOIP device (as opposed to the integrated VOIP/Router that they supply) has made a huge difference in this respect. Never had this problem, but the occasional reboot of the router will cure any ill the bandwidth contention is based on many factors, like your connection speed, the ISP, the connection to the resource you're trying to download, time of day, etc. yeah, of course I had to power cycle the router, made no difference. sounds like you're lucky or I'm unlucky... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In-A-Gadda-Levitre Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 Can i hook up a vonage phone in 2 locations? ie one here and one upstate? You can always move the Vonage device wherever you want or get a second box, but that's not always practical. A good way to go would be their softphone setup that let's you call from a laptop or another PC. It's $25/month unlimited calls to US, Canada, and some western europe landlines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan in San Diego Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 the bandwidth contention is based on many factors, like your connection speed, the ISP, the connection to the resource you're trying to download, time of day, etc. yeah, of course I had to power cycle the router, made no difference. sounds like you're lucky or I'm unlucky... You can configure how much bandwidth each vonage line uses. The default is the highest, I turned it down to the lowest setting. It still sounds great at the lowest setting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In-A-Gadda-Levitre Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 You can configure how much bandwidth each vonage line uses. The default is the highest, I turned it down to the lowest setting. It still sounds great at the lowest setting. hmmm, where is that setting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan in San Diego Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 hmmm, where is that setting? In the features section, Saving bandwidth area Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In-A-Gadda-Levitre Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 In the features section, Saving bandwidth area thanks, found it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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