Sunrocket

[CCM]

Anyone else here use Sunrocket for their phone service?  It seems they are out of business. 

http://www.sunrocket.com/

Are you switching to one of their recommended carriers, Packet8 or Teleblend?  It looks like Teleblend was just started a few days ago and was setup to only take old Sunrocket customers, which makes me nervous to trust them.

I'm not sure what I'm switching to yet.  Interestingly enough, my phone service is still working, but I'm guessing it won't be for long.

Anyone here use Vonage?

Here's a copy of the email I received this morning:

Dear Customers,

After significant effort by the Company to avoid this result, SunRocket is in
the process of closing its operations and therefore will no longer be able to
provide you with the phone service that you have been accustomed to.  However,
this email provides you with an opportunity to sign up with select service
providers who we believe will offer outstanding replacement service

In order to assist you, we have entered into negotiations with a number of
service providers.  As a result of those negotiations, we have entered into
agreements with 8x8, Inc., provider of the Packet8 service, and Unified
Communications Corp., provider of Teleband service to offer you the best options
and we are proud to recommend the following alternatives to you.  Please make
your decision to move to a new service provides immediately as future service is
uncertain.


8x8/Packet8

The Packet8 Internet phone service incorporates patent protected technology from
8x8. Inc., a publicly traded company in business for more than 20 years. The service works in the same way as SunRocket.s and
offers a virtually identical feature set.

.   No Startup Costs
.   FREE activation
.   FREE equipment
.   FREE shipping
.   FREE first month of service
.   Quickly port your number at no charge

A Savings of over $100!

Copy and paste the following link into your Internet browser:
http://getpacket8.packet8.net/sunrocket/ or call 1-800-868-0068 and mention
special offer code SUNROCKET


Unified Communications Corp./TeleBlend

The TeleBlend Internet phone service incorporates patent-protected technology
from Unified Communications Corp., a privately held company in business to
provide outstanding customer service and telephony products. Teleblends has been
working behind the scenes already to restore and continue service for all Sun
Rocket customers The service works in the same way as SunRocket.s and offers an
identical feature set with our Unlimited Transfer Plan. 
.   No Startup Costs
.   FREE activation
.   USE your existing hardware
.   FREE and Quick transfer of your current number
.   No Need to port your number to another provider
.   UNLIMITED calling to the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico

Copy and paste the following link into your Internet browser:
http://www.myteleblend.net

It has been our pleasure to service you at SunRocket!

[AtomSmasher]

I've been using Vonage for almost a year now and haven't had any issues.

[CCM]

I checked the Vonage website and they are offering a deal for Sunrocket customers:

2 months free
free phone adapter
waived activation
free overnight shipping

I think I'm going to jump on it. 

[ChadTower]

IP phone is always tempting because of price but I'm not comfortable with the idea of my phone being tied to both electricity and broadband both being 100% stable.  Seems like the most emergent moments are going to be when both are gone.

[CCM]

I figure I have a cell phone for those moments.  I had Sunrocket for over a year and was actually very happy with the service.

[ChadTower]

That's the difference for me... I don't have a cell phone.  I have a hardwired landline in the house the old fashioned way.  One phone number and an answering machine.

[CCM]

Is it a rotary phone?  Or is it one of those new-fangled touch-tone phones?

[DrumAnBass]

I have used Packet8 for a while now; it is ok, but never really been thrilled with it. As soon as I start doing some serious downloading of any kind it becomes unusable (Time Warner RoadRunner cable). Tried to set priority to the Packet8 box in my router but still can't handle downloading and calls. Luckily I kept my regular analog phone line and use VOIP primarily for outgoing international calls.

I suspect the Linksys hardware Vonage offers might be better than the little crappy adaptor that Packet8 gave me.

Ironically I was actually thinking of switching to SunRocket last month when they offered the "buy one year get another free" deals....

[ChadTower]

The buttons even light up so I can see when the power goes out!

Cordless phones are useless when the power goes out, which makes it useless for calling the power company to tell them the power is out.

Then there is definitely the bandwidth issue.  I work from home fairly often over VPN... I suspect the connection may not be enough for both VPN traffic and VOIP.

[TOK]

That's the difference for me... I don't have a cell phone.  I have a hardwired landline in the house the old fashioned way.  One phone number and an answering machine.

You're afraid of loss of communication in an emergency, but don't have a cell phone?
What do you do when you have an emergency on the road, run home and call from the land line? 

[danny_galaga]

how come bones hasnt posted here?

[ChadTower]

What do you do when you have an emergency on the road, run home and call from the land line? 

People drove for nearly 100 years without cell phones.  I have never had a road emergency that required a phone in more than ten years of driving.

[TOK]

What do you do when you have an emergency on the road, run home and call from the land line? 

People drove for nearly 100 years without cell phones.  I have never had a road emergency that required a phone in more than ten years of driving.

People didn't have land lines for 10,000 years prior to that, but they didn't use it for justification not to have telephones when they were invented.

You brought emergency preparedness up, then shoot down your own logic. 

[boykster]

I rely on smoke signals when I have a problem...the fire department loves me 

[ChadTower]

People didn't have land lines for 10,000 years prior to that, but they didn't use it for justification not to have telephones when they were invented.

They didn't have cars for 10,000 years.  And I never said I don't have a telephone.  I don't have a cell phone and I don't need one.

You brought emergency preparedness up, then shoot down your own logic. 

Emergency preparedness is not "I'll call someone if something goes wrong".  Emergency preparedness is being able to handle your own emergency in most cases.  A good jack, a solid spare, a roadside emergency kit, a couple extra high failure parts, all in a bin in the trunk of the car.  Like I said, I've been driving a long time, never had an emergency that required a phone.

Besides, there are 100 other reasons I don't want a cell phone, none of them having to do with a roadside emergency.

[tommy]

I rely on smoke signals when I have a problem...the fire department loves me 

I still use the old 2 cans on a string method, it works better than you think and it's free.

[TOK]

People didn't have land lines for 10,000 years prior to that, but they didn't use it for justification not to have telephones when they were invented.

They didn't have cars for 10,000 years.  And I never said I don't have a telephone.  I don't have a cell phone and I don't need one.

You brought emergency preparedness up, then shoot down your own logic. 

Emergency preparedness is not "I'll call someone if something goes wrong".  Emergency preparedness is being able to handle your own emergency in most cases.  A good jack, a solid spare, a roadside emergency kit, a couple extra high failure parts, all in a bin in the trunk of the car.  Like I said, I've been driving a long time, never had an emergency that required a phone.

Besides, there are 100 other reasons I don't want a cell phone, none of them having to do with a roadside emergency.

All that frontier spirit, yet you're afraid not to have a land line if the power goes out?




OK, I'm just breaking balls. I'm afraid that sometimes this comes off as serious. 

[ChadTower]

Not afraid, but of all available services, landline is by far the most reliable and least dependent on anything else.

[jbox]

That's because the requirements specification for the old landlines are amazing. The Telco here in only supposed to get something like three seconds per year of downtime for your phone before they start coughing up penalties. Same in Europe, which is why all those phone companies got so damn big. 

[Jouster]

I got news for you guys...when the power goes out...it doesn't matter how long the battery lasts in your cell phone when the cell tower doesn't have power!

Been there, done that.

I keep matches around to send smoke signals.

Jouster

[ChadTower]

A car battery and a CB radio, baby.

This Tower always has power.

How much voltage comes in on the landline?  I wonder what you could MacGyver into powering off the phone line.

[Jouster]

That's an interesting thought...now what to put on the phone's power?  The frig?  The AC?  The TV and radio for news updates?  My money is on the arcade...to make the time go by quicker.

Jouster

[ChadTower]

I'm thinking that if the power DOES go out... your batteries and generator would only last so long, yes?  Well, if you can snag a small current at 5v off the phone line, at least you'd be able to power a small radio without problem.  Even better if it's 12v.

EDIT:  just looked it up... it's 50VDC.  I bet you couldn't get much current but 50VDC could be useful.

[TOK]

I think there is a small voltage normally ~12v, and up to 90v at ring. You won't power anything with it because there is hardly any amperage. My VOIP will run via battery for about 8 hours with no power, but it's likely the cable will be down before then... If the cell phone dies, I can use it/charge it in the car. If all the cars are somehow incapacitated, I have access to a generator.

At this point we're probably looking at a real poop-hits-the-fan moment... In that case, the guns always work. With them, you can get everything else you need. 

[ChadTower]

Yeah, amperage is the problem... but a small LED light would be doable, possibly, just enough to keep from having to use a battery or candle in that spot.

[Jouster]

Like I said earlier though, it doesn't matter if you have a car charger for your cell phone if the cell tower doesn't have power...there is no signal for your phone to connect to.

I never thought of that until driving through Orlando in '04 after Charlie went through...no signal at all, but I had a full battery.

Jouster