Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

Jerry@Ajijic

Aug 13, 2003, 7:48 AM

Post #1 of 20 (1427 views)

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Vonage telephone system

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Has anyone other than David at lakeside put this system in? We certainly do not want to bother him now but we are interested in a cheaper way to call our daughter in Canada We do not know much about computers so would need a helping hand to install anything. Thanks

johanson / Moderator

Aug 13, 2003, 10:35 AM

Post #2 of 20 (1404 views)

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Re: [Jerry@Ajijic] Vonage telephone system

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Yes. In the last several weeks two families in Joco, using Lagunanet WiFi hooked up to Vonage. Who are they? I don't know. I was talking to the Lagunanet owner, Rod Collins on the phone from my cottage up North when he mentioned that fact to me.

Rod likes vonage but made the comment that the monthly rates are a little high. He suggested people also look at "packet8" because the monthly rates are a little lower.

By the way several months ago soon after David installed his vonage, I asked him what he thought of it. His comments were, that he loved the unit, that the hardware costs were kind of high and that software setup was difficult. But that because of the high volume of calls the investment was more than worth it

I have never used either system. I simply use a call-back service, because I don't make or receive that many international calls. But if you plan to be on the phone quite a bit, I'm told that these VoIP units are the way to go.

Remember that you need a broadband connection to use vonage (I presume you need one with packet8 as well). So before you to out and buy the hardware, check with your ISP to see whether or not broadband is available at your site.

(This post was edited by johanson on Aug 13, 2003, 10:38 AM)

N2Futur

Aug 13, 2003, 2:01 PM

Post #3 of 20 (1395 views)

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Suggestion: Try Windows Netmeeting-IT'S FREE!

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Have you thought about giving Windows Netmeeting a try? Several years ago I bought a PC camera, installed it on top of of my monitor. My sister in Germany has a similar set-up. You will also need a headset and a microphone or a headset/micro combo, they're inexpensive. I call my sister/parents on a set time every Sunday via Netmeeting with the added bonus of being able to see each other via the cameras (you can do it without camera, too). And the best thing of all is, IT IS TOTALLY FREE!!!! There are no charges for your phonecall. I believe you can also use Netmeeting to dial up a telephone, never tried it, as everyone I call with Netmeeting has a camera setup like mine. Netmeeting should be part of the Windows package on your computer.

Try this website for more information http://www.microsoft.com/windows/netmeeting/. If you need help, I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Elke
___________________________
"When choosing between two evils, I always like to pick the one I never tried before." - Mae West

(This post was edited by N2Futur on Aug 13, 2003, 2:39 PM)

esperanza

Aug 13, 2003, 2:32 PM

Post #4 of 20 (1391 views)

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Re: [N2Futur] Suggestion: Try Windows Netmeeting-IT'S FREE!

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Amen. I use it to talk to my daughter and 5 1/2-year-old grandson~he thinks it's very cool to see Grandma in Mexico, and needless to say, Grandma in Mexico thinks seeing him is hot stuff. He gets to show me his drawings and all the newest faces he's learned how to make, and blow me kisses. What more could a Grandma want? I also have other friends who use it and we all think it adds a very special dimension to our keeping in touch. What a joy.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Brian

Aug 13, 2003, 9:02 PM

Post #5 of 20 (1378 views)

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Re: [Jerry@Ajijic] Vonage telephone system

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Jerry

We have been using Vonage for about 3 months and are very satisfied. The call quality is vastly superior to the computer-based solutions such as net2phone etc. The Vonage phone isn't actually connected to the computer. This means you can make and receive calls when the computer is shutdown. Vonage also has some other very nice features such as voicemail, call forwarding etc. We travel a lot so when we get a voicemail while away from home, the system sends us an email notification with a link to the webpage. Click the link and, voila, the voicemail message is played on the computer speaker. So far the only drawback to the Vonage system that really matters is that it depends upon an always-on broadband connection. Unlike with a conventional phone, during a power outage the Vonage system will not work. We initially started out on the $40 per month plan but soon found out that the $25 plan met out needs. I spend a lot of time calling US 800 numbers but these are totally free and not charged against the 500 minute limit. Calls made from within Mexico are also cheaper than those made via Telmex. With Vonage, calls from SMA to Mexico City and Guadalajara are only 6 cents per minute. If you would like, send me a private message with your phone number and I will call you back so you can judge the call quality. What's in it for me? Well, if you decide to subscribe, there is a referral system in which both of us would receive a free month of service. Such a deal.

Brian

Carianna

Feb 5, 2004, 3:23 PM

Post #6 of 20 (1279 views)

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I'll second that emotion

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I've had similar experiences with our vonage line tied in with our DSL cable. Occasionally the sound is a little funny. But mostly it works great. I love being able to set a home vonage number that's in the same town as my parents. That means that I can call them and they can call me at NO CHARGE. It's a local call. So that takes care of a lot of my long distance minutes and I find the additional 500 minutes you get for the $25/month is plenty. I also agree on the toll free number calling ability. I have probably used that 75 times at least in the past 8 months and I let all my neighbors come over and use it to when they want to do something like make a plane reservation or book a hotel in the US.

JimOfMex

Aug 24, 2004, 1:34 PM

Post #7 of 20 (1160 views)

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Re: [Carianna] I'll second that emotion

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I appreciate all of this information. I'm attempting to decide if Vonage is right for me. I have Infinitum already. Being able to use my cordless phone is a requirement. If I'm forced to stay in one spot while on the phone, I just don't call. Vonage allows me to use my cordless phone, but I'm confused by the discussions of cost. Even after visiting the Vonage site, it isn't clear to me.

If I make exactly 500 minutes of calls to the USA from Ajijic in one month, will Vonage bill me exactly $14.99 and nothing more except for taxes?

Also, someone living in Mexico mentioned having a local number in Washington state. The implication was that this saved money. Can someone please take a stab at explaining this?

Muchas Gracias por Todo,
Jim

Carianna

Aug 24, 2004, 2:19 PM

Post #8 of 20 (1152 views)

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the way it works

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For $14.95/month you get 500 minutes of free long distance calling to the US or Canada. Toll free numbers in the states can be called free. Calls to other international destinations are cheap -- like 6 cents/minute meaning I can call Playa del Carmen from Cozumel cheaper using my vonage line than using my local telmex number.

You can set you basic number -- the one on which people call YOU via vonage -- as any place you want. This has the advantage of letting people call you in Mexico at the cost it would cost to call to, say, California from Minneapolis. To give you an example, my phone is set to an area code and number in California despite the fact that I'm answering and calling out from this phone in Cozumel.

I set it to this number because its near enough to my parents to be a free call. This means that they can call me anytime they want in Mexico and its the same for them as if they picked up the phone and dialed the video store down the street from them. I can also call THEM and it doesn't count in my 500 minutes per month.

For an additional $5/month you can add a toll free number with 30 free minutes per month of call in time. You can also set up additional local numbers for $5/month. So let's say you have a brother in Seattle and a sister in Omaha and you talk to them a lot. Set the first one up as your home phone and you both get unlimited calls back and forth as part of the package. Set the second sibling up for an additional $5/month and they can call YOU free. But if you call THEM, it counts as part of your 500 minute package.

We love ours and have been using it about a year and a half with our Prodigy Infinitum connection.

JimOfMex

Aug 24, 2004, 5:01 PM

Post #9 of 20 (1140 views)

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Re: [Carianna] the way it works

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Thanks, Carianna. You rule. It is clear that Vonage is my best option.

Now, one more question. I have a boyfriend here in the same pueblo, Ajijic, who has only a cell phone. I'm told that Telmex charges me 50 cents everytime I call him. Can I avoid this charge by using Vonage? Again, I didn't understand the discussions about this I found on Mexconnect.

Cynthia7

Aug 24, 2004, 6:34 PM

Post #10 of 20 (1131 views)

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Re: [JimOfMex] the way it works

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Packet8.net works like Vonnage but is $19.95 a month for unlimited calls to US or Canada. You can buy Vonnage equipment at Best Buy or Circuit City. Calls on the phone cost 6 -10 minute in Mexico. There was an article last week in Wall Street Journal about VOIP (voice over internet phone} and there use in Mexico. It is titled "VOIP is on hold in Mexico". Telmex balks at allowing cable firms to enter its phone turf..It says Telmex signed up 110,000 for Prodigy Infinium from April to June bringing broadband clients to 339,000 or1.5% of Mexican households. There is one phone for every 6 households and excludes large parts of the country. After 100 calls you are charged about 13 cents a call. They charge about 20 cents a minute to call cellphones. It appears to me that Mexico is ripe for VOIP phones.

JimOfMex

Aug 26, 2004, 7:42 AM

Post #11 of 20 (1092 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] the way it works

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Thanks for the Packet8 info. I've decided to go with Vonage, but I immediately ran into a problem that I haven't seen discussed. I live in Ajijic. The address page of the Vonage web site only allows for the entry of addresses in the USA. I looked at the Vonage help page and sent a query to via email to their support desk. I do not know when to expect a reply from them.

Does anyone know if the Vonage broadband-to-telepone adapter must be bought at a store (probably in Guadalajara) rather than having it delivered by mail?

Rolly

Aug 26, 2004, 9:03 AM

Post #12 of 20 (1081 views)

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Re: [JimOfMex] the way it works

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When you say "delivered by mail," do you mean ordered from the USA? If so, the duty charges will be a killer. Buy locally if possible.

Rolly Pirate

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On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Cynthia7

Aug 26, 2004, 3:23 PM

Post #13 of 20 (1060 views)

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Re: [JimOfMex] the way it works

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You can buy it in a store in the US but I feel sure you can't buy it in the US. Everyone I know has it sent to a US address and they bring it to Mexico and have it installed to high speed. You will designate a city in the US where your local phone number will be. You might have the "connection" sent to a mail box courier but most people either bring it or have a friend bring it.

Cynthia7

Aug 26, 2004, 7:26 PM

Post #14 of 20 (1045 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] the way it works

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Sorry -I boo booed! I meant you can't buy it in a store in Mexico.

elprofe

Aug 27, 2004, 6:01 PM

Post #15 of 20 (1015 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] the way it works

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Check out the current issue of Time mag. Good article on Vonage and the competition on the way

Cynthia7

Aug 27, 2004, 7:33 PM

Post #16 of 20 (1007 views)

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Re: [elprofe] the way it works

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Very interesting...Thanks for the tip. Jeffrey Citron is amazing!

satman

Aug 29, 2004, 9:21 PM

Post #17 of 20 (969 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] the way it works

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After reading through the Vonage website, I find that they will ship you the equipment for free. Why waste the money to buy one at Best Buy? I also don't understand why someone said earlier that the startup/ hardware costs were expensive. My understanding is that there is no contract or credit check. You just order the analog to digital adapter; sign up for the service; and choose your monthly plan. As long as you have a billable US address and a US based credit card, I see no up-front costs for anything. Perhaps, someone can correct any ovesights on my part.
SATMAN

"Some will bitch about a dollar, while there are those without a dime."

El Gringo Nuevo

Aug 29, 2004, 9:37 PM

Post #18 of 20 (966 views)

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Re: [satman] the way it works

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29.99 activation fee in the states.

satman

Aug 29, 2004, 9:47 PM

Post #19 of 20 (963 views)

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Re: [El Gringo Nuevo] the way it works

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Thanks. I missed that part. Still, that is not a major expense. Are there any exhorbitant fees for some secret peice of equipment that I don't know about? Or is the a/d adapter all that you need? Anyone?
SATMAN

"Some will bitch about a dollar, while there are those without a dime."

Cynthia7

Aug 30, 2004, 7:12 AM

Post #20 of 20 (944 views)

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Re: [satman] the way it works

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I don't know how it works if you get the adapter at Best Buy. I suspect you pay the activation fee and do not have to wait several weeks for the adapter to be sent. Vonnage then may re emberse them. I do know Vonnage costs $10.00 more a month for unlimited US and Canada than Packet 8. Both Vonnage and Packet8 have activation fees. I have not checked out Lingo. All of them offer coupons, months free, etc. if you snoop around the internet. I am familiar with Packet 8 and it works well for us. My friends with Vonnage like it lots. I like the $120 a year I save by having Packet 8.