"Calif Bill" wrote in message
...

"John H." wrote in message
...
On Fri, 7 Dec 2007 18:45:19 -0800, "Calif Bill"

wrote:


"John H." wrote in message
...
On Fri, 7 Dec 2007 18:14:25 -0800, "Calif Bill"

wrote:


"John H." wrote in message
om...
On Fri, 7 Dec 2007 12:01:17 -0800, "Calif Bill"

wrote:


wrote in message
...
On Dec 6, 7:12 pm, BAR wrote:
JimH wrote:
"Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote in
message
...
JimH wrote:

The actual phone service is not bad. It all depends on the
quality
of
your internet service. When speeds drop in my area (Time
Warner
sucks)
then the voice quality degrades to unacceptable.

Vonage needs to improve tech support and stop routing these
calls
through
India.
You are correct. I am also concerned that the infringement
lawsuit
might
be the death of them, so I am glad others are getting into the
VOIP
market
at competitive prices.

Indeed.

I could care less if Vonage goes under as there are plenty of
other
options
available.

In the end I could do without any sort of home based phone
service
and
it
may eventually get to the point with us relying only our cell
phones.

Bad move. Keep the land-line for emergencies. It only costs about
$10
a
month.



Maybe we are just stuck in our old habits................after
all,
how
does
the younger generation living on their own survive with *only* a
cell
phone?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

What emergency would a land line handle that a cell phone won't?

When AC power is down. Landline phones run off large battery banks.
One
of
the reasons that you should have at least one, old fashioned non
wireless
phone in the house. If the power goes out, ou can not call for help
of
service.


Use a cell phone!
--
John H

During some of the fires we have, the cellphone towers get isolated and
no
cell. During the earthquakes the cell either goes out or gets
overloaded.
And we have several seasons here in California. Mudslide, fire, riot,
earthquake.


Those same things could easily take out a land line.
--
John H

Lot less likely. Lots of things take out the AC. And the main feed line
to
the VOIP goes, or a feeder circuit to the cable line goes and you are
dead.


If everything in the world crashes, but does not take out the telephone
land line, then you are correct. That amounts to about $60/month
insurance
(by paying Ma Bell) against that kind of catastrophe. That's too high.
--
John H

My phone runs about $20 a month. Earthlink will supply me unlimited
calling, and DSL for $50 a month. $60 for a wired line seems very high.

Maybe includes long distance charges. My local service here in Florida
(Embarq) without long distance is about 26 bux a month including tax.

As an ATT retiree I get a perk that pays all but about $50 a year for
unlimited domestic long distance. Don't use much as most all calls are on
my cell phone that includes LD.

Actually the local service is only $16 a month if I count the $5 per
Dishnetwork receiver (2) I'd have to pay if they are not connected to a
phone line.