People are jumping in joy for the ooma deal, but I think this is a better deal for people that just need a residential phone as a back up phone. I bought a Panasonic Globarange phone a few months ago, and have been a happy user since. They give a free local number too (in US, UK, and many countries). Free incoming calls too! The setup was easy too: you just plug it in, and it works! It also has two lines, 1 VOIP, and 1 regular line. And the best part is, they go for like $40 shipped now at Amazon. I sent one to my friend overseas, and now she has an US number too, and I get to call her anytime for free.
First time poster, please be gentle, but I am open for constructive criticisms.
UPDATE: Thanks GeorgeGarmin for reminding me to put a link: Amazon product link The lowest price on Amazon is actually $36.20 !
UPDATE2: Clarification: OK. Being a first time poster, I am not that clear on my post, sorry! First, you don't need a landline for this to work. You can use it as a landline, an VOIP phone, or both at the same time. Second, you don't need to subscribe to anything for this to work. You plug it in your network, then it will get a JOIP number. From that you go to joip.com and create your account. After selecting the per minute plan, you don't have to fill any money in your account, then you go to phone number management or something that, and it will let you add a local number for free. They let you pick your own area code too! (They actually give you a free local number in one of the following countries: US, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Ireland, Isreal, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK). They then will give you free incoming calls. Outgoing calls are cheap, and there are unlimited plans too (like Vonage). I only use it as a back up home phone because I mainly use my cell phone. For that purpose, and at a price of $40(instead of $200), it surely beats the ooma! And hey, if you don't like the VOIP, you can use it as a regular cordless phone too. (It's a Panasonic! and the voice quality is great!)
Message edited by: cklam on 2009-02-28 22:13:37 CST
* Next-generation hybrid (dual line) cordless telephone that combines a peer-to-peer Internet phone line with a traditional landline * Make free domestic and international calls between Globarange phones around the world for three years with joip service * Simple 1-2-3 set-up procedure has you up and running in 3 minutes, so you can start using it right away--all you need is a broadband connection * System can be expanded to include up to eight handsets * Note: This version of the Globarange phone (Model# BB-GT1500B/5.8GHz/120V 60Hz) is made for use in the United States
Globarange no longer provides free US phone no. They have started charging 6$ + tax, comes out to be about 8$ else you have to subscribe to package starting at 15$/month. To sum up, if you want just outgoing service then globarange offers 1.5c/min for US calls. If you want incoming then you have to pay at least about 8$/month.
UPDATE: Sound quality and phone is good. No issues. Customer service is below average. They do not publish customer service no. on their website either. Only way to get customer service phone no. is to buy a phone.
Message edited by: HaveMore on 2009-02-27 13:05:04 CST
Why the red, people? HaveMore, are you sure they don't give out a free US number anymore? Because I just set up the phone for my friend not too long ago(max 2 months). I chose the per minute plan for her, and then I got to pick a US number for her for free. I didn't even put in a credit card number.
Message edited by: cklam on 2009-02-27 13:27:20 CST
Being that it's a hybrid phone, looks like you have to have a traditional land line to plug into in addition to your router. If this suits your needs, then that's cool for you. I've been looking for a solution that will help me save money by getting rid of my landline completely. Ooma appears to fit that need. thanks for the post though.
OK. Being a first time poster, I am not that clear on my post, sorry! First, you don't need a landline for this to work. You can use it as a landline, an VOIP phone, or both at the same time. Second, you don't need to subscribe to anything for this to work. You plug it in your network, then it will get a JOIP number. From that you go to joip.com and create your account. After selecting the per minute plan, you don't have to fill any money in your account, then you go to phone number management or something that, and it will let you add a local number for free. They let you pick your own area code too! (They actually give you a free local number in one of the following countries: US, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Ireland, Isreal, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK). They then will give you free incoming calls. Outgoing calls are cheap, and there are unlimited plans too (like Vonage). I only use it as a back up home phone because I mainly use my cell phone. For that purpose, and at a price of $40(instead of $200), it surely beats the ooma! And hey, if you don't like the VOIP, you can use it as a regular cordless phone too. (It's a Panasonic! and the voice quality is great!)
How does it compare to Skype with a DPH 50u adapter? The adapters run about $10 now and if you disconnect the TELCO line into the house you can plug the adapter in a jack for the other jacks to become live.
I have Globarange and I liked their service till they started charging 6-8$ per month for phone no. This is something new, started from 2009 so you may not be aware of it. If you want dedicated phone no. then you have to pay 6-8$/month or sign up for one of their plans that start from 15$. Without dedicated phone no., no one can call you on Globarange phone using regular land line/cellphone.
With each phone they assign 10 digit globarange number called JOIP no. (something like machine no). With JOIP no.you can call anywhere in the world (but no incoming from land line/cellphone) e.g 1.5C/min for US, other rates are not very high for other country.
Exception: all calls from JOIP to JOIP are free so if you friend/family also has Globarange phone then you can dial their JOIP no. and it will be free.
My Skype DPH 50u adapter was fine until I upgraded to the new Skype 4.0, which seems like better software if you are using just from your computer, but it crashed the adapter to the point of going into the trash. Been waiting on the telo but this looks interesting.
EvilWizardGlick said:How does it compare to Skype with a DPH 50u adapter? The adapters run about $10 now and if you disconnect the TELCO line into the house you can plug the adapter in a jack for the other jacks to become live.
Well that D-link adapter need to connect to USB on a PC which need to power on all the time and it's only work on 32 bit OS only. I had and didn't use it I just use Skype on the GO to make call.
i've been thinking about switching to VoIP phone, but i want to keep my old number since it's important. could anyone tell me HOW and WHAT to get to do that?
Maybe no one cares about this post anymore, but it seems like the lowest price seller has been lowering his/her price right before the price hike tomorrow. (I updated the price on the post)
Sorry kevz83, I just saw the PM now. My friend and I are still using the US numbers for free without ever punching in a credit card number, but HaveMore is correct, my JOIP portal does say like a $6 fee now if I want to add another number (used to be $0.00 before). Since I did not activate new JOIP phones lately, I can't really tell is it really a) they charge a monthly fee now, and my friend and I got lucky, or b) they charge a montly fee for a second number. HaveMore, have they started charging you?
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