Home phone for $10? Help.

Iwish · 06-26-2008, 03:08 PM

I was just in the T-Mobile office and saw a new promotion they are having. They told me it just started yesterday and here's what it is.

You buy a wireless router, it must be theirs, for $50. With that you can get up to 2 numbers, even port in your current phone number, and you can call unlimited including long distance in the US. There is a 2 year contract required but your total cost is only $10 (plus taxes I'm sure). I feel like I am missing something so I am hoping those of you out there that may know more about this can help steer me in the right direction.

This is not using a cell phone but rather your cordless phone at home. You can have the regular line and an additional line for business or whatever and you also get all the calling options you would normally get. Call forwarding, conference calling, etc.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Ron

StickFish · 06-26-2008, 03:20 PM

it is basically called voice over IP. Lots of companies offer it at various cost levels. I tried it with packet8 and it wasn't reliable enough for me - so back to wired phones I went.

Jeremy · 06-26-2008, 03:22 PM

What does the wireless router connect to? I am assuming its VOIP or voice over internet through your already existing internet connection. I am pretty sure you can do the same thing without paying T-mobile, $50 for the router or the $10 search for VOIP in google

Iwish · 06-26-2008, 03:28 PM

Yes, this is VOIP. It would use the existing hi speed connection. From what I understand, this is what would replace Comcast or Qwest. Are you saying I can talk on my home phone, not my cell or computer phone, but my cordless handset for free? Please help me understand this.

Iwish · 06-26-2008, 03:28 PM

I know I have SKYPE at home and I can use other things for free calling anywhere but to actually use my home phone, that's what I'm looking for.

wthr4d · 06-26-2008, 03:54 PM

The router allows you to use a regular home phone (connected to it) to place your VOIP calls. Are they providing the internet service(ISP) and the router?

Paul

Iwish · 06-26-2008, 04:21 PM

So, I have a router for my Comcast service. Paul, your saying I should be able to hook up a land line phone into the router and call anywhere in the US for free as much as I want? What about people wanting to call me? Do I get a phone number for that? Is that included in my monthly bill that I already pay for high speed? If that's the case, then why does Comcast charge $33 for phone, $33 for cable and $33 for internet? Why wouldn't they just charge for the cable and internet?

The router they provide just hooks up to the DSL service I already have. I have to continue to pay for the DSL service. I would just be replacing the home phone line which may cost $33 (I currently don't have a home phone anymore) with a new $10 fee saving me $23 per month.

What am I missing?

wthr4d · 06-26-2008, 05:08 PM

the way I understand it, for VOIP you need three things: a VOIP router, internet service and a VOIP provider. the first two are obvious, the third is the "guys" who provide the interface, the actual phone number and the hardware behind the scenes.

you may switch from comcast/Qwest VOIP to Tmobile and save $23 but things to consider are how the switch will affect your current internet/VOIP/TV/etc bundle pricing and what kind of service will you be getting? we are talking about a 2 year contract and I doubt there is a clause that says if they give you lousy service you can back out without penalty. Id ask some more questions and run all this by the Tmobile guy as well.

paul

Iwish · 06-26-2008, 06:33 PM

The one thing is I don't have a home phone currently so it would just be renewing my contract. I ported my home number to T-mobile about 6 months ago. I just added 2 new lines so the contract was extended last month for 2 years. I have been with the same carrier for over 10 years so I'm not too concerned about the contract. They do have a 14 day trial period so I can opt out if the service isn't what I feel it should be. The way I see it, I pay $9.99 for the home number now and it goes to one of my cell phones. I just couldn't "give it up" yet so I ported it into my cell carrier. So really, I'm not talking about any extra money for me just a 2 year extension and that's not that big of a deal.

My concern is one subject that Stickfish brought up. VOIP? Is it reliable? What concerns should I have about service? Will it slow everything else down? I know they say if it's too good to be true...

Thanks for everything so far.