 AnonShawUser
join:2006-06-17
Calgary, AB
| Evolution of the VoIP market? I can't help but wonder if the seeming crumble of the VoIP market might just be due to standard issue market demand.
If a company isn't making a profit, it can't stay in business. So, they need to find a way to make a profit. This would mean they need to get more subscribers. In a saturated market, such as VoIP has become over the past few years(I actually remember having a conversation with someone who said VoIP would never become popular at all. Especially not when standard land lines are available), it might be that everything just needs to shift and larger companies move in to grow.
Those who can adapt, do. Those who cannot, die. | |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
 ·Comcast
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? A shakeout in the VOIP market was overdue. Too many marginal players that just can't make it any longer. Especially after the cable companies started using their huge advantage in marketing dollars and exposure.
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Internet News
My BLOG
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Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY | Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? This VoIP shake out kind of reminds me of the pager services. There used to be a bunch of them but they really had a winnowing out a few years ago.
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Remember safe sex does not prevent crabs. | |
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RARPSL
join:1999-12-08
Suffern, NY
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? said by Transmaster  :This VoIP shake out kind of reminds me of the pager services. There used to be a bunch of them but they really had a winnowing out a few years ago. The Page has been (to a major extent) superseded by the Cell Phone. Thus it has become a niche market. | |
| | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| It amazes me how people love their VoIP service at $24 a month or $199 for two years. They love to save all this money and claim that other VoIP and POTS services are too expensive (usually $15 more a month)...
However, they remain shocked or angered when their companies are starting to fold. This should be a lesson to people that phone service just can't be sold for $24 a month or less. Enjoy the savings now and just be ready to come back to the real world of telephone service. This is what a savings of $15 gets people... no dial tome.
My attitude is eat out at McDonalds one less time and put that towards reliable phone service from a company you know will be there tomorrow.
Undercutting the competition will/can only last for so long. There's also one other thing these guys forget.. in order to undercut AND stay in business for long, they need to also offer a service that is equal or superior to the very people they are trying to undercut - so far, they haven't.
... Line 'em up! Who's next?
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-serving, the lazy, and I’m told it’s a woman’s prerogative..." | |
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tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Saint Clair Shores, MI
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? said by fiberguy :It amazes me how people love their VoIP service at $24 a month or $199 for two years. They love to save all this money and claim that other VoIP and POTS services are too expensive (usually $15 more a month)... However, they remain shocked or angered when their companies are starting to fold. This should be a lesson to people that phone service just can't be sold for $24 a month or less. Enjoy the savings now and just be ready to come back to the real world of telephone service. This is what a savings of $15 gets people... no dial tome. My attitude is eat out at McDonalds one less time and put that towards reliable phone service from a company you know will be there tomorrow. Undercutting the competition will/can only last for so long. There's also one other thing these guys forget.. in order to undercut AND stay in business for long, they need to also offer a service that is equal or superior to the very people they are trying to undercut - so far, they haven't. ... Line 'em up! Who's next? Ditto. But there will still be those "cult" types who will almost just die as not to go back to the likes of "AT&T" type service. And for every "Oh, my service was outstanding", there's a "my service sucked". SOOOO as they say, that is that. While the Voip die hards bounce from cheap provider to cheap provider, I'm afraid in a few years, only the TELCO's will be selling IP based communications and these MOM and POP companies will be few and far between.  | |
| | | | | matrix3D
join:2006-09-27
Deep River, CT
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? You did take into consideration that these same "POTS" companies are typically the ones that control the backbone that all indie VoIP provider traffic must travel on, right? Meaning, they end up having to pay The Bell anyway. So, The Bell can charge just enough for the bandwidth consumption where the indie VoIP is forced to raise their rates to match (or, more often than not, exceed) the prices offered by The Bell for the exact same service. Why do you think The Bell has been raising the network neutrality issue so frequently for the past couple of years? They want to raise the prices in order to control more of the market using anticompetitive practices. And, unfortunately for us, The Bell pays off Uncle Sam so there's absolutely no hope of this cycle ever ending in this country.
The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. | |
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knightmb
Everybody Lies
join:2003-12-01
Franklin, TN
 ·AT&T DSL Service
| said by fiberguy :It amazes me how people love their VoIP service at $24 a month or $199 for two years. They love to save all this money and claim that other VoIP and POTS services are too expensive (usually $15 more a month)... However, they remain shocked or angered when their companies are starting to fold. This should be a lesson to people that phone service just can't be sold for $24 a month or less. Enjoy the savings now and just be ready to come back to the real world of telephone service. This is what a savings of $15 gets people... no dial tome. Am I angry that Packet 8 went under? No, never used them and didn't work for them so I can't speak much to that effect. Am I happy that I have 6 lines (had for years now) through Vonage and saved a ton of money and never had any more outages than what my DSL provider had (like 1 or 2 over the last few years, on weekends, no business interrupted) Heck yeah I'm happy.
Have you seen how much the most strip down line is here? $23 / Month for local service (no touch tone either), no long distance, nothing! I have only one for a inbound fax machine and for backup in case the VoIP goes down. In all these years I've never had to use it to call Vonage for anything. For $1 more I get everything that they offer and unlimited long distance to more places that I or anyone in my company would ever call. I've had my service for so long, Vonage cut me a deal on $19.95 / Month for the unlimited service (business level) A bunch of my Vonage lines do A LOT of faxing, also without issues. I don't know of any VoIP that can provide that much solid faxing capability through 6 lines on the same ISP.
Just because some companies go out of business doesn't mean all of them will go out of business. That's a very flawed logic in my opinion. There is a market for VoIP, a big one. If someone goes under, someone else will pick up the business. Did all of those Packet 8 customers give up on VoIP when they closed? No, they went to other VoIP providers. So I'll continue to enjoy my service at great savings and get a chuckle at all the doom sayers of how VoIP is going to die. I've been reading the doom sayers here for years and I continue to get the last laugh and probably will for years to come.  | |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03 | Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? FYI buddy, it weren't Packet8 that went under, but SunRocket. Just to clarify. Packet8 offered a deal (albeit a measly one) for previous SunRocket customers. | |
| | | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| If you notice, what I talked about was reliability. What you have is luck.. you still have no reliability.
I hear every word you say.. however, you are not one of the people I'm talking about. There are some that 'don't get it, why pay $40 when I can get it for $25'..
Why? .. how many stories pop up about ambulances that didn't make it in time, or at all.. fire trucks that don't make it.. etc. You saved some money and it worked for you.. great. What I'm still talking about is reliability. There is NO oversight on VoIP, there is no guarantee that the service will be there tomorrow. (See SunRocket) and there is nothing that protects you from a sudden, unannounced shutdown. (see SunRocket)
I know it was only a few that went under, but phone is a life line. If people want to save a few bucks, great for them! More power to them.. however, my logic is far from flawed. VoIP operated by 3rd party with no repercussions for bad or no service or stability that they will be there the next day is what I'm talking about.. and I won't gamble with my family or my own safety.
How much does that savings add up if you weren't able to get someone to your home in an emergency.. and you loose them? How much was that savings worth to you then?
It has happened, and those who laugh last are the "doom sayers"...
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-serving, the lazy, and I’m told it’s a woman’s prerogative..." | |
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Michieru2
zzz zzz zzz
Premium
join:2005-01-28
Miami, FL
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? The only reason why POTS provides reliability to 911 services is that it was tied in with the 911 system. The 911 system was not designed for VOIP to begin with, it was also not designed for dynamic locations.
A 911 service operator is seeing a screen, when you call all they get is the telco records of what that numbers address is tied too.
Since there is no way to move the line physically, the only way possible is to route it somewhere in a wireless fashion or route it directly to the net. Where you can be in Austria for all we know but you are using your computer to connect to your home server, and from there you open up the connection and place your call.
When you call it still shows that you are calling through your phone line, what address are they going to get? Not the one in Austria, that's for sure.
The 911 system must be updated to get GPS data from cellphones, and be able to trace the source of a call.
But then we get into the whole "privacy" issue and everyone is bent like a nail about it.
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Duct tape, saving lives since 1942. | |
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rec9140
Provoice just DO it
join:2003-07-29
Mulberry, FL
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? said by Michieru2 :
The 911 system must be updated to get GPS data from cellphones, and be able to trace the source of a call.
This has already occurred, but many areas do not support cellular E911 and there are various phases of this as well. You can blame PSAPS and carriers alike for the slow implementation of this. BUT....This is still not a 100% resolution to things on the cellular side.
There are areas in FLoriDUH which support Phase 2 Cellular E911. Its not perfect, trust me, the number of phantom calls that are chased to "estimated addresses" is quite annoying. Especially when you have a busy shift and these calls are treated as high priority due to the nature they could be anything. 9 out of 10 times its a nothing call, some sat on the phone and hit the 9 button, or hit the wrong key or stuffed in their bag and hit the 9 key, etc.. Along with the flat out lies..."We don't have no cell phone (as some stupid ringtone plays in the background as the call back number is called...  )
Even in the areas that don't have cellular E911, most get at least ICLID (NOT ANI) the way the calls are routed in some areas is not via 911 trunks but just a forward to a POTS line that is programmed into each cell site. With the ICLID it helps to at least call back if disconnected, but the process to trace it back to a customer, get their co-ordinates from the carrier is not speedy and is laborious on the PSAP end.
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Lorem ipsum ei pro stet equidem labores, at enim animal expetenda nec. Ea vix argumentum dissentiunt, usu esse ridens ex. | |
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morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs: | i can't help thinking that if e911 was fully operational, even more people would drop pots like a bag of moldy tangerines. | |
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rec9140
Provoice just DO it
join:2003-07-29
Mulberry, FL
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? said by morbo :
i can't help thinking that if e911 was fully operational, even more people would drop pots like a bag of moldy tangerines.
If you have VOIP and your carrier sets up things they can offer E911 service.
The problem arises from the very nature of VOIP. I could be anywhere on the planet that has a internet connection capable of supporting the VOIP link.
So how to determine where I am and route to the correct PSAP if in the US, and if not to route to the correct agency. With out a bunch of rules that would make VOIP useless for those of us not using it for POTS replacement theres not a reliable way to do this for VOIP like cellular and GPS and/or triangulation which are not 100% accurate.
VOIP presents challenges that while large, are not insurmountable with out a making it useful for those using it for POTS replacement, and those using it for out of area DID's, etc..
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Lorem ipsum ei pro stet equidem labores, at enim animal expetenda nec. Ea vix argumentum dissentiunt, usu esse ridens ex. | |
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wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·RoadRunner Cable
 ·BroadVoice
| said by fiberguy :How much does that savings add up if you weren't able to get someone to your home in an emergency.. and you loose them? How much was that savings worth to you then? Let me add to that. I have a Broadvoice $5.95 per month account that I use as in my house. Although that price may be low, I pay for all calls above the 200 or so free minutes they give me per month. All in all the bill comes out to around $15 or $20 per month which isnt bad. HOWEVER, I would never, ever, ever have my primary/only phone be any VoIP provider, period. As you mention, dialing 911 (and having them answer, know who you are, and actually show up) is more important to me then saving a few bucks every month. Even if you have had no issues with a VoIP provider doesnt mean that 911 will work properly, nor does it mean your service will work all the time. For this very reason I also have a POTS line in my house just for emergencies like 911 or power outages. How much do I pay for my basic POTS line with no features you ask? $45 per month, and its worth every penny. VoIP is just a fun toy for me, not a real service. I would caution anyone who is thinking otherwise to think again.
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я люблю Денди! | |
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La Luna
Surviving Ashraful
Premium
join:2001-07-12
Warwick, NY
clubs:
·Optimum Online
·Vonage
| said by fiberguy :It amazes me how people love their VoIP service at $24 a month or $199 for two years. They love to save all this money and claim that other VoIP and POTS services are too expensive (usually $15 more a month)... However, they remain shocked or angered when their companies are starting to fold. This should be a lesson to people that phone service just can't be sold for $24 a month or less. Enjoy the savings now and just be ready to come back to the real world of telephone service. This is what a savings of $15 gets people... no dial tome. My attitude is eat out at McDonalds one less time and put that towards reliable phone service from a company you know will be there tomorrow. Undercutting the competition will/can only last for so long. There's also one other thing these guys forget.. in order to undercut AND stay in business for long, they need to also offer a service that is equal or superior to the very people they are trying to undercut - so far, they haven't. ... Line 'em up! Who's next? A landline for "$15" more a month?? LOL, what world would that be in? Bare bones local telco landline here is $40 a month BEFORE anything is added on, like taxes, fees (which brings it up to about $60), and oh yeah, actual CALLS. Yep, that's a real bargain. Double what I'm paying for Vonage unlimited calling (including Europe) without even picking up the phone. Yes, I'd love to go back to those $200 and up monthly phone bills just for calling "long distance" to the next town over. 
If telcos actually were competitive with (not to mention truthful about) their REAL WORLD pricing, they might actually lure a few people back from VoIP. Until then, assuming a good, solid cable/dsl connection, good service with a RELIABLE VoIP company (not a private player and month to month only) will always win out. If something should happen to Vonage down the road, I'll be switching to my ISP's VoIP service.
It will be a cold day in hell before I pay a telco's exorbitant rates again.
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~~"As long as America is an infidel enemy, terrorizing it is a duty." Sayed Imam Abdul-Aziz el-Sheriff~~
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bmfan
Premium
join:2005-03-15
Saint Helen, MI
1 edit | Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? hmm my phone service is 13 dollars a month.. including my dsl and all the fees its 43 dollars a month | |
| | | | | dogo88
join:2001-09-24
Old Bridge, NJ | I don't know what part of NJ you live in but i only pay about $60 for unlimited POTS. A simple, no frills, line is much less. Last time I looked(less than a year ago) a no frills line is less that $30 a month. | |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? said by dogo88 :I don't know what part of NJ you live in but i only pay about $60 for unlimited POTS. A simple, no frills, line is much less. Last time I looked(less than a year ago) a no frills line is less that $30 a month. I pay $40/mo for unlimited minutes local, state and long distance calling in US from Verizon. And they now have that same pkg for $30/mo with fewer add-ons(only 3 allowed).
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | dogo88
join:2001-09-24
Old Bridge, NJ
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? Vonage may be wonderful for you and that's ok. Me on the other hand want a reliable, always on system that I can hear the other person on the line clearly. I've always gotten that from my POTS service. Downtime over the past 30+ years is maybe once or twice.
Vonage service around here is not on the same level and I'm willing to pay more for what I feel is better service. Plus try to leave Vonage. The stories are legend on this board. | |
| | | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| I LOVE the entertainment this forum provides me when people come here and try to have a world wide / national discussion and then use local world examples.
YOU LIVE IN SOME OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PARTS OF THE WORLD!!
Did I say that loud enough?? Much of the country can get a land line for about $15 or so a month.. some will pay less, some will pay more.
Why bother...
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-serving, the lazy, and I’m told it’s a woman’s prerogative..." | |
| | | | | | | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? Rant?? who's ranting? And if you don't like it, don't read it. I'd say the truth hurts.
It's easy to armchair quarterback.. so I invite you do run your own business and then say how easy it is.. and how caller ID is .05 cents to offer. You clearly have no clue what you are talking about, so I'll forgive you.
One thing for sure.. I was raised properly.. I don't need to make a point by using a potty mouth either.
Seriously.. you need to calm down.
Also, do some research before you open your mouth next time, please. I am no fan of the phone company.. but further of a fan of the VoIP provider.
They have NO over sight and NO regulation and NOTHING stops them from holding you hostage without warning. Get it?? Let's regulate VoIP providers and see just how long your $25 phone service stays that price. Vonage is already creeping up because they too are passing along fees.
Really.. come back with a better part to the debate and don't just rant.
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-serving, the lazy, and I’m told it’s a woman’s prerogative..." | |
| | | | | | Big Dawg 23
join:2002-03-27
Northfield, MN
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? Qwest in MN offers basic for $14.76 + taxes. They want $34.99 for Local, 5 cent LD and 10 Features. Additional $25 for unlimited long distance. How does that compare to my ATT Call Vantage @ $29.99 Unlimited? It doesn't. I have the same features and service for a better price. I have had fewer service calls with Charter and At&t Call Vantage then my Qwest landline. I selected AT&T over Vonage over any other VOIP solely on the good chance Banko starts to happen. So far I made the right choice. | |
| | | | wierdo
join:2001-02-16
Tulsa, OK
·Future Nine Corpor..
·Teliax VOIP
| said by fiberguy :It amazes me how people love their VoIP service at $24 a month or $199 for two years. They love to save all this money and claim that other VoIP and POTS services are too expensive (usually $15 more a month)... However, they remain shocked or angered when their companies are starting to fold. This should be a lesson to people that phone service just can't be sold for $24 a month or less. Enjoy the savings now and just be ready to come back to the real world of telephone service. This is what a savings of $15 gets people... no dial tome. Nah..reliable phone service can be sold for less than $24 a month (one CLEC around here does $19.99 a month, and that's paying SBC's UNE charge), but $8 a month is not sustainable, at least not without a market much larger than currently exists.
That's the problem. Not the price, but the market. $8 a month isn't selling at a loss, it's just not paying for overhead when you only have 200,000 customers. The hardware and origination/termination fees can probably be covered for most users for that price. Only the extremely high volume customers would cause a net operating loss.
When you throw in marketing, sales, and administration, it gets dicey at that price. I think $15 a month is a lot more sustainable, but again, isn't enough to pay the overhead without a fairly large customer base.
A large customer base also allows for better pricing with the providers that most of these companies rely on. While I can go out and get a pretty good deal from the likes of VoicePulse Connect, Voxee, or any other bottom dollar termination provider, that's still more than triple what Cingular was paying WilTel to terminate their long distance several years ago. If you don't mind contracting for a few million minutes a month, they don't mind having incredibly thin margins on the per minute price.
There are a lot of companies out there who don't cater mainly to the uneducated consumer. Those are the companies that I expect to stick around. | |
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mammasix
Premium
join:2004-01-10
Frederick, MD
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? I have a stripped down landline for my security system...guess how much this little piece of technology costs me? 25 per month. I can only get calls in, any calls out are charged per call.
On the other hand I have a VoIP line that costs me 19 a month and I have unlimited calling and full features.
I don't know where you guys live, but in MD, Verizon is a parasite. Before VoIP, we were paying around 80 per month for phone service. | |
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schipperke
join:1999-11-29
Potomac, MD
·PHONE POWER
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? Maybe these VOIP companies getting a couple hundred bucks upfront, are really Hedge Funds using the VOIP business as a front
Anyway, if SR did have in excess of 200,000 subscribers, that is some serious revenue per year, lets say over $40M. I still think they were banking on being bought, but why would any larger VOIP company want them when they are already commanding a higher fee? Why would I want to buy a competitor with lower margins than I'm getting? | |
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kyler13
Is your fiber grounded?
join:2006-12-12
Arnold, MD
| said by Rick :Far be it for me to be AT&T's biggest fan (lol)...but I do have to hand it to them for their VOIP pricing now. 20~25.00 per month unlimited is DAMN good pricing for their callvantage service. And,at least there's much more financial stability behind this company. Doesn't VALUE..also equate to stability in the company you deal with? And, shouldn't being at least a little bit REALISTIC guide your buying habits? I looked long and hard at CallVantage, but being a FIOS customer, I would be stuck with putting the ATA in front of my router. That seems to work well, but since the ATA architecture is 10baseT, I would be throwing away a third of my download speed. At least this was the issue back in January. No thanks. What you lose with bigger, more stable providers is flexbility and features. I would call AT&T the next best choice. You'll have to drag me back to landline kicking and screaming. An even larger price increase for marginal increase in stability and major decrease in features? Again, no thanks. | |
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Rick
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-06
Waterbury, CT
clubs:
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? If that is in fact the case with the hardware, I agree it could be a problem for some with fios and some cable co's speeds.
How about Verizon's voicewing? Have you looked into that?
My comments really shouldn't be misconstrued as an endorsement for AT^T callvantage...but rather what this competition has done for both these telcos in terms of their pricing, which certainly is very competitive these days and in line even with where vonage is priced at now.
As you point out however..that doesn't make it right for everyone.
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The Coyote captured the RR! Roadrunner Rick is now Comcastic! | |
| | | | | | | | axus
join:2001-06-18
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
| You're going to look back on your post one day and laugh. Those people getting cheap phone service will just go to another provider. Meanwhile prices everywhere come down due to the competition and the "reliable" phone companies get cheaper every day that competitors are present.
Maybe you said the same thing when ISPs started offering flat-rate pricing instead of per-hour? Of course most of the ISPs from that time are gone, but sensible pricing models did win out. It's possible to provide phone service for cheaper, it will just take some time to narrow down to the companies that can keep it going. | |
| | | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: Evolution of the VoIP market? Comparing AOL to a public utility is apples to oranges, but thanks.
The fact is that the part of the country that is chiming up here needs to remember that you all live in an expensive part of the country. It's expensive!! I know I will get lashed out for one this one, but its true: If you don't like these prices, then move to get relief. The cost to deliver anything to anyone in that area is always going to be higher than the rest of the country. It's certainly not a part of the country to live in if you don't make a good living, that's for sure. But, if it's not phone, it's going to be something else.
No, I am not any of those people you tried to use in your post - sorry. In fact, those days of per byte/hour broadband are on the horizon in case you haven't noticed. Give it a few years and broadband will be sold in tiers or caps with overage charges.
The FACT is, remains, that NOTHING is "free" or "Unlimited".. not even "unlimited long distance" .. read your agreement. Unlimited is equal to about 5000 minutes. You can't give the masses anything unlimited because some people will abuse it. When ever something unlimited is released, it pretty quickly goes back to being limited because, as you said, it's narrowed down to what the market can handle.
From your post, you make it sound like it's just a matter of time before you will get an unlimited service for a good price from that provider from god.. it's not going to happen and it won't happen anytime soon.
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-serving, the lazy, and I’m told it’s a woman’s prerogative..." | |
| | NewMariner
join:2005-06-24
| said by AnonShawUser :I can't help but wonder if the seeming crumble of the VoIP market might just be due to standard issue market demand. If a company isn't making a profit, it can't stay in business. So, they need to find a way to make a profit. This would mean they need to get more subscribers. In a saturated market, such as VoIP has become over the past few years(I actually remember having a conversation with someone who said VoIP would never become popular at all. Especially not when standard land lines are available), it might be that everything just needs to shift and larger companies move in to grow. Those who can adapt, do. Those who cannot, die. But for a company to jumpstart voip, it would have to be a dedicated company that offers internet and voip. They also would have to be large enough to compete with the Cablecos and Telcos. The only company that is really in a position to do this is the CableCos, yet the dont have a foothold enough in the voip market to bring voip mainstream. Then theres the little problem of emergency situations where you cant dial out if you have no electricity.
I like the idea of voip, however it just hasnt exceeded a basic pots line. Most people(I say MOST People in terms of the Nation not the dslreports.com membership as they are not in the majority like they think they are,) want a cheap dependable service. You wont find many of the 300 million people in the country that even knows what VOIP is.. | |
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See 9 replies to this post | |
Jim Gurd
Premium
join:2000-07-08
Plymouth, MI | Allo? Never heard of 'em. | |
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Panther
@bellsouth.net | but I thought... But, I thought that it was all "Ma Bell's" fault! | |
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Snowman034
@rr.com | ALLO They were a sub of Sunrocket | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD |  Crickets Chirping...
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Only SHATNER is Kirk. | |
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MysticGogeta
The Robot Devil
Premium
join:2005-03-14
League City, TX
clubs: | Re: Crickets Chirping... I've heard nothing what the hell is allo I thought it was some diet pill lol
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Team Discovery-Join the fight | |
| rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO
| Patent Disputes? Obviously a company that isn't making money won't stay in business but are any VOIP providers in trouble because of patent disputes?
The Verizon vs. Vonage battle was widely publicized but I wonder how many letters were mailed by Verizon and/or others who claim to hold VOIP patents? How many might choose to cut and run rather than fight? Packet8 claims to use it's own patented technologies and we all know Vonage is still fighting their dispute (right?).
I'm also left considering the package deals now offered by cable and traditional telcos. The price of copper-based dial tone + LD has dropped significantly. No doubt due to pressure from VOIP and cable operators. The Vonage plan I have used to cost $34.99 and due to market pressures, it's now $24.99. Now with a few of the traditional, bullshit FCC's hog-trough fees it has climbed back to ~$30 mark. | |
| 
dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ | allo? who?
never heard of them. | |
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jack b
Gone Fishing
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod
clubs:
·Comcast
| Re: allo? A little history: 'Allo' was one of the greetings Thomas Edison toyed with using for answering the early telephone,(a technology he perfected by inventing the carbon microphone) before settling on 'hello'.
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~Help Find a Cure for Cancer~
~Proud Member of Team Discovery ~ | |
| | | bfhaith
join:2004-06-07
Auburn, NY
| The root of the problem may be placed at the ISP's feet. I had Vonage for years with satisfactory results. However, there were many times I had quality issues due to my connection (first Comcast, then Adelphia, the Time Warner). I had Comcast in PA then moved to NY, where Adelphia was about to be consumed by Time Warner.
I had issues with all three companies with line quality. I would sound garbled to someone or visa versa. Either way, it was unacceptable.
VOIP companies are dependent on the ISPs. Until the ISPs offer reliable "as advertised" service, VOIP will be a pipe dream. | |
| | | 
TK Junk Mail
Go ahead, make my day
join:2006-07-30
Ocean Gate, NJ
1 edit | Re: allo? said by jack b :A little history: 'Allo' was one of the greetings Thomas Edison toyed with using for answering the early telephone,(a technology he perfected by inventing the carbon microphone) before settling on 'hello'. I saw on TV a long time ago that "hoy hoy" was a greeting Bell considered:
»www.bizjournals.com/wichita/stor···ts.html:
• For some unknown reason, Bell wanted callers to answer the phone by saying "hoy, hoy." Thankfully, Thomas Edison wanted, and got, the choice of a simple "hello." (And a couple of years ago, it was changed to "whassup?")
»www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=HOY+HOY+PHONE | |
| 
jgkolt
Premium
join:2004-02-21
Lakewood, OH
clubs:
1 edit | allo a sunrocket reseller basically? Is this true? Did allo use sunrockets lines?
I am glad there is finally competition in the phone market. Look at all of the new technology that has become due to the competition. The smaller fish will fry and sadly sunrocket was one of them. they may not have been the smallest due to subscriber count but maybe the best run companys run by business men not technicians will prevail. I know people will get made about that statement but there needs to be a balance for a business to thrive. Don't look at profit as wrong but the business is to be considered a going concern and not a pet project to make money off of one idea.
Either way i have soo many unused minutes on my cell phone and i use skype on the computer with too many minutes to spare i dont need it right now. but if i did all i hear is good things about viatalk (and sunrocket from people i know that use it, not just billyjoe574 or whatever here on the net).
Without voip competition i doubt the telco all in one prices would be there nor would cable be trying to compete as much to get in the action.
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www.LakeSemaJ.com | |
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jgkolt
Premium
join:2004-02-21
Lakewood, OH
clubs:
1 edit | Conversation with Allo Customer support: Moments ago Chat InformationPlease wait for a site operator to respond.
Chat InformationYou are now chatting with 'Michelle'
Michelle: How may I help you today?
you: Hello.
Michelle: hi
you: I must ask is it true what i read that allo is ceasing service
Michelle: Yes, thats true.
Michelle: It was a business decision taken by the management.
you: Well i have not heard of you guys until now but it will be sad to see you and sunrocket go
you: your micropbx looks very simple and easy to use that i am surpised is not mor epopular
Michelle: We will still manufacture our Micro PBX
you: Were you guys connected with sunrocket's service, rumors are going around regarding that
Michelle: If you want to purchase we will send it to you.
Michelle: No, we are not related to sunrocket.
Michelle: Both are different companies.
you: Will you guys continue to sell the pbx's after the voip service closes
Michelle: yes.
you: Well thank-you for the information as i will pass it on to the net. And good luck everyone that worked there and thier familys
Michelle: Thank you very much.
Michelle: You have a great evening.
you: God Bless and Good Night
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www.LakeSemaJ.com | |
| | tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Floral Park, NY
| interconnect fees The voip industry is realizing that like it or not, to connect with POTS lines costs REAL MONEY... peering with other voip companies costs next to nothing, so if VOIP doesn't get economies of scale (majority of market) it is SCREWED and will crumble in on itself based upon it's one REDEEMING feature: being largely cheaper and it's regulatory status of not required to collect taxes & fees (for the most part).
The so-called unlimited plans are based upon a $20-25 service fee per month assuming the majority of the minutes outgoing and incoming will be from POTS phone lines. Telcos are in the unique position of determining whether VOIP can succeed long-term.. this is of course more true of 3rd party voip companies as compared with cable voip, but if the 3rd party VOIP companies are virtually wiped out, there may not be a hills worth of beans left between the remaining cable VOIP and telco POTS pricing, and the sad thing about it is.. state and federal governments won't do a thing to prevent the small carriers from going out of business (because they don't profit in the form of taxes/surcharges levied against service).
VOIP companies need to fight back by getting at LEAST as large pocketed as the smallest cable company to survive for the long-haul. Vonage was almost in the enviable position (until they got sued). | |
| 
cableties
Premium
join:2005-01-27 | He who controls the spice pipes, wins! | |
| 
prestonlewis
Premium,MVM
join:2003-04-13
Sacramento, CA
·VoiceStick
| This was discussed 2 years ago 2 years ago or so, members of various forums discussed the over 400 VOIP providers in the US alone (probably more VOIP carriers now). Many of these providers were garage operations or were forced to charges prices too low to generate profits, could not advertise, etc. Everyone knew a shakeout would happen. I must admit it took longer than I expected. Remember Broadvox? No one mentions them any longer and they were owned by a large corporation. Broadvoice? Another VOIP owned by a large company also has failed to make significant inroads into the market. Packet8 only survives by selling more stock to keep itself afloat. Even Vonage, the market leader has to spend millions on advertising to keep generating new customers because VOIP is often NOT out of box ease of use. At least culling out the weak will enable to fewer VOIP providers left to provide better service, hopefully, if the cable companies don't take over the phone market totally. For me, Vonage is reliable. Very reliable and at $24/month, much cheaper than Comcast. | |
| | 
NY Tel
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY
·VOIPo
| Re: This was discussed 2 years ago said by prestonlewis :2 years ago or so, members of various forums discussed the over 400 VOIP providers in the US alone (probably more VOIP carriers now). For me, Vonage is reliable. Very reliable and at $24/month, much cheaper than Comcast. ......And remember when I was eaten alive by this forum for praising AT&T CallVantage?...lol
A lot of those folks are not laughing now and are, in fact signing up with AT&T. | |
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VoIP Carrier Allo Also Folds
