Feedback on Broadvoice

October 17, 2005 10:34 AM

Anyone use Broadvoice? What do you think of it?

I've read nothing but bad things on the web about Broadvoice, but I'm hoping they've changed. Have they had any major breakdowns lately? I've read that they went down for an entire month at some point. Any billing issues? I've read that they sometimes continue billing people after they cancel. Is Broadvox the same thing? Any other dirt-cheap VOIP providers? I have my own hardware (unlocked PAP2).

posted by exhilaration to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

I have broadvoice, and though it was a little twitchy back in the spring, it's been fine for several months.

I haven't had any billing issues, but then I haven't ever canceled the service.

VOIP service, however, never sounds as good as an actual land-line, although your mileage may vary.
posted by bshort at 11:21 AM on October 17, 2005

I recently switched to SunRocket from Vonage. Their best deal is $200 for a full year of phone service (unlimited calling in the US and Canada), plus they throw in a two-handset Uniden cordless phone. Unlike Vonage's pricing, SunRocket's includes all taxes, which means you get unlimited calling for about the same price Vonage charges for 500 minutes (under $17 a month). They have some other nice features -- for example, their voicemail service can IM you or SMS you when you get a new message, and the base service includes two phone numbers which can be in different area codes if you like, so you're a local call for family in another state or whatever. Vonage charges $5 a month for a second number. They ported my number over from Vonage in about two weeks -- that went very smoothly.

They had some growing pains right before I signed up, but they claim to have doubled capacity, and I have not had any trouble with their service since.

Of course they have a referral program, so if you decide to try SunRocket (they have a 30-day refund period) drop me an e-mail and I'll give you my phone number for that.
posted by kindall at 11:58 AM on October 17, 2005

It's really pretty important for it to come with E911 (which in case you don't know is the service which gives your exact location, which almost all normal phone service has) IMO; SunRocket has it, Packet8 has it for a small additional fee, soon to be included by default if not already. SunRocket is $16.66 a month when you prepay a year, and Packet8 is $20/mo.

And Broadvox is a different company.
posted by abcde at 6:39 PM on October 17, 2005