Questions & Answers
VOIP???

Q. I see and hear all these ads for Vonage, AT&T and Shaw Digital and even Skype.  What is this all about?

A.  The first part of the answer has to deal with VOIP cuz that's really what this is all about.  What is VOIP?  "Voice Over Internet Protocol" is what the acronym means.  The big "they" out there have found efficient ways to digitize your voice and move it around on the internet.  Actually the Telco's started doing this some years ago - that's why phone calls got so much less expensive.  Now the internet is making "less expensive" - Really CHEAP! 

A.  With Vonage and Shaw you get a "little black box" (brown or blue - as a rule) that takes your telephone conversation digitizes it and sends it over the internet into the Telco system.  The Telco system then moves it to destination inside its system. All this is very "transparent" to the end user.   You really don't have to know any of this stuff to enjoy the benefits of VOIP!  Just for the record I have in the past 6 years not found one reason not to use VOIP.  It just plain works and COSTS LESS!

Q.  Is Shaw Digital Phone better than Vonage or AT&T?

A.  In my experience Shaw is by far the best.  Especially for those less technically inclined.  Shaw take care of everything from start to finish and you the "user" will never notice the difference.  Until that is -
*  You experience a problem  - Shaw actually employs real people to answer your calls and answer your questions.  Try calling Shaw customer support @ (403)750-6990.  Then try calling TELUS @ 611.  Experience the difference.  BTW once you actually have Shaw installed the help line is 611 again.
There is only one small problem you need to be aware of with Shaw.  They have installers and they have "INSTALLERS".    Unless the installation is done very professionally "in your humble opinion" do not settle for it.  Call and speak with the customer service manager and insist that it be done right!  (I mean professional looking with the cables all neatly tied down and the VOIP device straight and tidy). They are not paid by the hour but by the number of installs they get done.  Sometimes they they are a little "untidy" so do not settle for it.

Q. What about my alarm system.  I heard this is a problem with VOIP.

A. You heard wrong.  Again Shaw can take care of the connection modification without any problem.  If you use one of the other box devices you will likely have to hire a tech to make the necessary adjustments.

Q.  What the heck is Skype

A.  Skype is a great product that a good number of snowbirds have adopted as a simple way to have phone service while vacationing for the winter.  Skype is a software product that enables you to talk to telephones around the world via your computer.  Its simple cheap and reliable.  You do need a good HS internet connection and you are in business.  One of the super neat features they offer is $2.95 / month unlimited long distance for Canada and the US.  You will need a headset for your computer or you can also purchase a simple but special portable phone that plugs into your HS router and you have your Skype on a normal cordless phone.  Skype also allows you to exchange video within your calls.  That is you can experience live video and - for example see the grandkids while you chat with them.  Of course this make for great fun and a real connection.  All you need is a simple camera that attaches to the usb port on your computer.  You might need a small bit of geek assist for this.

A.  Vonage & AT & T  are both great in their own way.  They are portable - Shaw is not.  You can take your system with you when you head south for the winter.  Even when you go to Maui for a vacation.  All you need is a HS internet connection and you have a very inexpensive local telephone service.
Despite what you may have heard Vonage has improved tremendously over the years and their customer service is now excellent (at least in my opinion).  I have been with them for 5 years now and do not have any problems.  We actually have both systems and use Vonage for my second line.

Q.   I have recently seen ads for a product called Magic Jack.  Just what is this and is it legit.

A.   It is a small device about the size of about 25 business cards stacked together.  One end plugs into your computer and the other end has a hole in it that you plug your standard telephone into.  It automatically installs its own software onto your computer and "voila" you have a personal telephone system.  It really is as simple as that.  (if it works out of the box)  They do not provide Canadian numbers as yet but they do cover most of the U.S. and the features they promote seem to work.  I have friends that have purchased this gadget on my recommendation and it works great.  It almost seems too good to be true but its cheap enough to take the risk.  I mean $20 per year for unlimited long distance anywhere in North America (from anywhere in the world).  That also means that if you are sitting in a Condo in Australia or England or wherever and you plug your Magic Jack device into a HS internet connection - you have all the same features as if you were at home.  Yes you can call your neighbour in Canada or the US virtually for  FREE.  Take a look at it by clicking here. 

There have not been many good comments on the web blogs and forums about Magic Jack.  It seems that if you buy it and it does not work then you may as well just chalk it up to experience as the battle for a refund as per their wonderful free trial/refund policy gets pretty ugly.  If you are a curious geek then go for it.  If you want to wait a while until it is a proven product and a household name then by all means that might just be for the best.  And no you cannot do fax  (who cares any more) and/or tie it into your alarm system.  For $20 per year - guess what?  there is little or no telephone support.

PS.  Yes I have one and yes it works just great!

Please do not consider this an endorsement of this product as I know nothing about the company and very little about the actual product other than it does work.  

Even if you don't have any geek genes in your body you should be able to use Magic Jack out of the box.

enuf said about this subject.

Bill

Send your questions to bill@geezeraid.com

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