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 Review by usa2k 
UPDATED: 172 days ago
member for 5.8 years, 3093 visits, last login: a few hours ago
 Canton,Wayne,MI
 $40 per month (month by month)
 about 4 days
 "They support T.38, and send outgoing name, solid performance"
 "Some start-up devices need help and patience"
 "They are a Price/Features leader"
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Ease of Installation:
Call Quality:
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Update: 6/15/08
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Not much to add because I left Broadvoxdirect some time ago now. No bad reason, just wanted to try something different. I think they abandoned the Residential world. therefore, I say it is likely best to look elsewhere.
New 03/28/2005
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The pricing I have is higher now, but a reseller »voip.net still has these prices.
NEW in 2005, BroadvoxDirect changed their unlimited package back to $29.95. Existing customers have not been adversely affected by changes for new customers.
»www.BroadvoxDirect.com has been such a good experience for me that I am leaving Vonage after 18 plus months of perfect service to use BroadVoxDirect as my preferred and primary phone service.
The presence of jgwilliams has not hurt them any. He is fair and supportive of other competitive services, and responsive to BVX questions. You can note he rarely initiates a topic; only speaks where he can offer perspective or help.
My stated monthly cost of $40 is roughly what Vonage started at for unlimited calling in all 50 States and Canada. Now I have two unlimited lines and two free virtual lines for the same price. Plans are getting cheaper (Vonage is $25 unlimited and for the same features I would pay around $56 a month.)
MY NUMBERS
734-437-xxxx Livonia MI
734-437-xxxx Livonia MI
647-722-xxxx Toronto Ont (Virtual)
904-482-xxxx Jacksonville FL (Virtual)
I feel Vonage is continually redefining the phone adapter they are using, and it is their down-fall with the manufacturing problems they have been having.
ATT CV also is floundering with the D-Link adapter. The bandwidth hogging, and troubles behind a router, and a NON-SIP protocol. Now they are going the Vonage use lots of different devices route. (And $30 too.)
BVX did start with the Sipura, and now is using the Mediatrix 2102. They have readily exchanged adapters for their customer base. The Mediatrix is a solid performer with T.38 supported by the adapter, and by the BVX switch. This is a first in reliable FAX transmissions.
A reliable Telephone Adapter(TA) combined with a reliable service at a decent price makes BVX the only smart choice for those served by Rate Centers they currently have. Their coverage is wide, but I hope they will expand further in North America.
The BVX click-to-call web interface will allow any phone to call any phone via their web portal. This counts as two calls, but on the Unlimited plan this is an amazing feature. I can force home to call my Nextel that has free incoming minutes as an example.
BVX does not offer incoming NAME; just NUMBER. I expect NAME and NUMBER in the first half of next year. They do offer an address book in their portal that will display any name you define. This is almost better because I can put my daughter's friends in instead of a parents name that I cannot remember or at least connect to the right kid.
The call treatments, and Follow-Me features are great to send an unwanted call that has a number passed to a busy signal, and to have family ring your cell phone if nobody answers at home 
BVX has a directory listing form. This sets your outgoing name (give it 3 weeks) and allows you to be listed in the local white pages. You can even receive a phone book.
Personally, I like to stay unlisted. I'm not on a do-not-call-list, and I still don't get all the telemarketing noise. VoIP seems good for that where numbers are widely available so you are not re-using someone else's number.
In LNP, they let you select to keep you existing number as a Virtual number, or have it ring the newly moved number for a temporary time, or just ditch the old number like I've decided to do. The LNP is web based and is intended to work with little human intervention. I am optimistic of a swift LNP report.
I also like that their portal will state useful updates/problems/announcements and you can look back at any of those notices in a calendar.
In summary I want to say you cannot compare price and features of BVX with any other service and feel short-changed. And yet there are new cool things coming yet.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Broadvox Direct |
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Broadvox Direct
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