Best Home Phone Company? (not VOIP)

[zoolander]

Teksavvy, Wintel (Costco), Primus, Rogers, Bell, etc...

[Emancipated]

I think Rogers started offering phones over their coaxial lines now. I don't know the quality though versus bell RJ11.

[zoolander]

Anyone use Teksavvy's?
$21.48/mon
0.029c/min North America long distance
extra features $3/each (call display, call waiting, etc)
Includes Touch Tone Fee
Includes 911 Fee
Includes 900/976 Blocking
Includes Collect Call Blocking
Includes Unlimited Local Calling

$25 activation fee.

No contract (http://www.teksavvy.com/en/nhomephone2.asp?ID=7&mID=1) (info link)

[nites]

Try magic jack for calls to US and Canada. They seem to be pretty good. It is used via internet connection. Also Acanac has some pretty good deals.

[sketchED]

Primus, Triple value bundle $59.99 (Home phone 9 features, UL North American long distance & High speed internet) on a 2 year contract

[brunes]

Er... just FYI every company you listed except Bell *IS* VOIP.

VOIP doesn't mean whatever you think it means. The I in VOIP does not stand for Internet it stands for "IP".

Also just another FYI Bell and all NA telcos use VOIP or some other digital mechanism internally to route all your calls anyway, so technically there is no such thing as a 100% true non-VOIP telco anymore.

We use Vonage - dirt cheap, 100% reliable, beats the pants off everyone you listed.

[zoolander]

So when companies advertise "Home Phone Service", do they still mean the line is operable during a blackout, and it is still a direct 911 router that does not require registration?
I was under the impression "Home Phone" also conveyed using your existing landline hardware.

Doesn't VoIP officially stand for Voice over Internet Protocol?
Are these VoIP issues relevant?
* Available bandwidth
* Network Latency
* Packet loss
* Jitter
* Echo
* Security
* Reliability
* In rare cases, decoding of pulse dialing

[SimSV]

Er... just FYI every company you listed except Bell *IS* VOIP.

VOIP doesn't mean whatever you think it means. The I in VOIP does not stand for Internet it stands for "IP".

Also just another FYI Bell and all NA telcos use VOIP or some other digital mechanism internally to route all your calls anyway, so technically there is no such thing as a 100% true non-VOIP telco anymore.

We use Vonage - dirt cheap, 100% reliable, beats the pants off everyone you listed.

Er... the I in "IP" stands for Internet

Teksavvy and Primus both offer landline, the very same landline that Bell is using. They also have VoIP service for cheaper. Rogers also has landline, but they use their cable network, completely separate from Internet.

I am in the process of switching to Teksavvy from Bell. No comment on how good it is yet but I know it is not VoIP.

[Cas77]

I am in the process of switching to Teksavvy from Bell. No comment on how good it is yet but I know it is not VoIP.

I did that switch earlier this week. Can't say much about the service yet...but the switch itself was seamless.

[DragonZealot]

For POTS basic (no call display, nothing) I have yet to find a better plan than Bell.

$25.16 tax in for TO.

[Cas77]

For POTS basic (no call display, nothing) I have yet to find a better plan than Bell.

$25.16 tax in for TO.

24.27 tax in w/Teksavvy

[zoolander]

Er... the I in "IP" stands for Internet

Teksavvy and Primus both offer landline, the very same landline that Bell is using. They also have VoIP service for cheaper. Rogers also has landline, but they use their cable network, completely separate from Internet.

I am in the process of switching to Teksavvy from Bell. No comment on how good it is yet but I know it is not VoIP.

That's what I thought.

I'm not really concerned with the digital mechanism or technical details Brunes mentioned that is occurring within the company.
Moreso, I am interested in a cheaper alternative using my existing landline hardware and the advantages of having a landline without the common problems inherent in true VoIP.

[DragonZealot]

24.27 tax in w/Teksavvy

The exchange that I am on (416-284) costs $22.28 on Teksavvy. I tried many 416 exchanges and they all came up $22.28. This brings the total to $25.18 tax in which is more expensive than Bell.

Teksavvy basic POTS line starts from $21.48 + taxes but I don't know which exchange can use this price.

There is also a $25 Activation Fee.

I'll pass Teksavvy for now :arrowu:

[mudman24]

For a basic line I pay $18.46 with Bell

[DragonZealot]

For a basic line I pay $18.46 with Bell

You talked to their retention department and got this.

[zoolander]

For a basic line I pay $18.46 with Bell

My Bell bill:
Residence line $18.48
City calling area expansion 0.30
Call display $8.95
Call display rate increase 0.86
911 0.19
Touch-tone $2.80
=$31.58+tax

I'm going to try Bell's retention dept first but...
Teksavvy=$21.48+$3 Call display=$24.48+tax

[fastlayne]

My Bell bill:
Residence line $18.48
City calling area expansion 0.30
Call display $8.95
Call display rate increase 0.86
911 0.19
Touch-tone $2.80
=$31.58+tax

I'm going to try Bell's retention dept first but...
Teksavvy=$21.48+$3 Call display=$24.48+tax

Wow, call display is a whopping 50% of the monthly line cost.

Bell can maintain a copper pair to my door for $18.48, but a software feature is $9. No wonder I don't subscribe to any of the "features".

I remember when you could bundle 4 or 5 features for $5/month (not including the invisible answering machine). And don't get me started on the "touch-tone" fee.

[Tha_Doggg]

I'm with Bell as well (basic service no call display or anything). $21.47 + tax. I want to get Call Display but it's such a ripoff through Bell. TekSavvy is a bit better but there is an activation fee and if I'm not mistaken if you move they charge you some more again.

[zoolander]

link Costco (Wintel) (http://www.win-tel.ca/costco/index_en.html#1) doesn't serve my area yet...

$25.95+0.40 911= $26.30+tax, includes one calling feature.

1st month free+$15 sign up bonus.

Executive members get 60 minutes/month free long distance anytime within N.A.