[Hidden-tech] Phone Service Alternatives?

[Robert Heller]

At Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:23:39 -0500 Reva Reck <reva at revareck.com> wrote:

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> I think there's a lot to be said for keeping a true copper landline, 
> especially if you live in a remote area. You can get their cheapest plan 
> - one where you pay for every call - for very little money, and then use 
> something like magicJack or whatever for most of your actual phone 
> calls. I think people should think about being without power, possibly 
> in a situation where roads are impassable, and having no way to make a 
> phone call. For those of us who don't get cell service at our homes, 
> that's a prettty scary scenario. Even if you do get cell service at your 
> home, will the cell tower you get your signal from be operational if 
> there are widespread power outages?

Actually, I think Verizon no longer bothers to maintain any sort of
long-term backup power for the copper phone system -- any long term
power failure generally takes the phone server down too.  It might be
delayed for 10-12 hours or something.  Last year's ice storm did NOT
knock the main phone lines down in Wendell, but phone service was
down until *power* was restored in Orange (the location of the CO for
Wendell). People with generators and satelite internet were able to stay
on-line and in communication.  Wendell's emergency planning is working
on the assumption that phone service will be out in the event of any
major emergency.


> 
> /Reva Reck/
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> /reva//@//revareck.com/
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> Robert Heller wrote:
> >    ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
> >    ** If you did, we all thank you.
> >
> >
> > At Tue, 5 Jan 2010 12:08:47 -0500 Frank Aronson <fsaronson at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >   
> >> Keep in mind that both MagicJack and Phone Power are both VoIP and are not
> >> true landlines.  The great advantage to Phone Power is that it doesn't
> >> require a "server" (a computer to run the software) as its all contained in
> >> the "free" adapter (a la Vonage).  I assume it also works a bit better than
> >> MagicJack and the cost is lower than Vonage (right now you can get a
> >> residential line for $8.33/year with a two year commitment).
> >>
> >> The only *true* landline you're going to find is Verizon.  We have Comcast,
> >> but if you lose power, you're pretty much down (yes, there's a battery
> >> backup, but it doesn't last forever).  The old copper lines will still
> >> provide power to your wired phone even if you can't see the buttons in the
> >> dark!
> >>     
> >
> > It should also be noted: Verizon wants to get out of the copper landline
> > business.  Verizon is also *barely* maintaining the copper landline
> > infrastructure, which in rural areas can be pretty bad (there are people
> > who lose phone service when it rains because the phone cables fill up
> > with water).  Oh, Verizon charges something like $60/month for service
> > that is equivalent to Vonage (eg nationwide long distance, voicemail,
> > etc.). Not really the best deal available (probably the *worst* deal
> > available). 
> >
> >   
> >> Frank
> >>
> >>     
> >
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