| Pages:
1
2 |
CaboMagic
Super Nomad
Posts: 1109
Registered: 4-30-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
Vonage + Cell Phone Question
Good day greetings
Weve used Vonage in USA and Cabo since 2003 when they began installing dsl lines in CSL. Most of the time its great - but sometimes voices are
garbled and/or interrupted .. everythird word gets chopped .. this applies to what callers from the USA calling to Cabo hear .. its never garbled the
other way around ..
Does anyone know why it now costs so much more dialing Mexican cell phones than landlines from USA? Used to be 9cents/minute now AT&T is 25cents
Verizon is the same .. checked MagicJack and its 30cents/min. Vonage 25cents/min.
Landlines much much less .. is it purely economics?
Thanks in advance .. Lori
|
|
|
CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
|
|
It's just old Slim trying to milk as much out of the public as possible...... as if he didn't have enough money already (Oh, that's right, Bill
Gates just surpassed him again as the rilchest man in the world)
CaboRon
|
|
|
stanburn
Nomad
Posts: 145
Registered: 10-4-2007
Location: Santiago, Colima, MX
Member Is Offline
|
|
Last year they changed the method of charging for cel phone calls. The person calling the cel phone now pays. It used to be that the person
receiving the call paid.
|
|
|
CaboMagic
Super Nomad
Posts: 1109
Registered: 4-30-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks ..
CaboRon - Im asking "why" USA callers pay MORE (Edit) to call cell phones now .. Are you suggesting that Carlos makes money on
incoming calls?
stanburn - yes thats what I said - I am asking if anyone knows why?
Its cheaper to call across the Atlantic than it is to call Cabo .. Also cheaper to call Mainland Mexico ..
Any ideas appreciated. .. LG
[Edited on 1-24-2008 by CaboMagic]
|
|
|
CaboMagic
Super Nomad
Posts: 1109
Registered: 4-30-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
Hi Larry thanks for your reply too .. As I understand it, in the US both caller and callee 'pay' .. Are you saying then that US phone companies pay
Telcel for calls made to cellular? I know our telcel phones do not get charged airtime for incoming from USA ..?
I wanted to understand why it went up so dramatically considering the provider from USA always charged for the call .. with tripled cost had 'hoped'
there was a reasonable explanation ..
I probably have better chances understanding what makes Ugly Americans tick <smile> .. have sure seen more than our share of them .. I know
different thread! Best fishes naturally ~ Lori
|
|
|
bajadedom
Nomad
Posts: 124
Registered: 12-12-2007
Location: Oregon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Ready for a change of latitude...
|
|
Dump the Cell Phone - Skype to Skype - I believe anywhere is ZERO cost...just need to be close enough w/ your notebook to a dsl Wi Fi user w/o
security and it really is FREE ! This has worked for me on business in US 50 states and TJ - Loreto so far in Baja and BCS
|
|
|
CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
|
|
Yes,
I also use Skype and am very happy with the arrangement.
CaboRon
|
|
|
Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
|
|
we dumped vonage...
it worked WAY better early last year
just got worse wnd worse
like lori said the USA side got lousy reception
we ALWAYS heard the receiver perfectly but they couldn't hear us
lots of hang ups
we have switched to yahoo messanger 8.1
works like skype but less hidden software on the computer
(i hate spyware)
.01 to USA
anywhere any number
you can also get a phone number for about $4 USA a month
we havent tried that yet
bad thing is that the computer needs to be turned on and
being totally solar powered here
we NEED to conserve power ALL the time
oh yea...you NEED a headset with microphone
|
|
|
CaboMagic
Super Nomad
Posts: 1109
Registered: 4-30-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thank you for input ..
We cant do without cells .. everyone of our staff & crews has one .. For us constant communication is key.
The vonage will be ok for now - tho I suspect there will a replacement coming from Telmex eventually. We just put up with the occassional garbling ..
I remember 'the old days' when only one person in Cabo had a house phone who I would call. His was the 18th phone number assigned in town!! His wife
would call him on the handheld. He would then call around on the handheld and/or send one of the young dock boys around on a bicycle to find Tommy
for me!
Another aspect of life that has really changed.
Thanks for the ideas and answers .. Best fishes to all .. Lori
|
|
|
prt328
Junior Nomad
Posts: 51
Registered: 2-13-2007
Member Is Offline
|
|
As a Vonage user I've noticed a direct relationship between the garbles and download activity. In other words, if the computer is doing "nothing" the
lines are clear; if you surf while talking it gets garbled. There's only so much bandwidth with Telmex DSL lines.
|
|
|
stanburn
Nomad
Posts: 145
Registered: 10-4-2007
Location: Santiago, Colima, MX
Member Is Offline
|
|
Nextel has become very popular over here in Manzanillo. I remember (from 3 years ago) that Nextel also existed in the LA area. I don't know how
compatible the networks are and if you can do the walkie talkie thing from one Nextel phone in the US to a Nextel phone in Mexico.
If you have staff and crew and must have cell phones, this might be an option.
Me I don't have crew and staff, only cats. They can't punch the buttons with their little paws.
|
|
|
CaboMagic
Super Nomad
Posts: 1109
Registered: 4-30-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
prt328 thanks for your input - our office has its own dsl line and as a test we have had all computers turned off to see if that affects/effects the
garbling .. odd but it did not .. this week its been clear and perfect so the wind must have changed direction!
Thanks for the heads up stanburn .. Nextel walkietalkie function does not work USA to Mexico or Mexico to USA .. but in checking into this I
discovered the following which effectively answered my original question - so thanks for your direction ..
Hope this also serves to satisfy others curiousity to 'why'. and the "mobile termination fee" referred to is eighteen cents per minute .. so the nine
cents per minute for the call plus this odd fee makes it 27 cents per minute .. Toodles and thanks again .. Lori
Rates effective as of October 1, 2007. Due to increased costs imposed by some overseas telephone companies, calls to international wireless phone
numbers (including cellular and pager numbers) may incur a per-minute mobile termination fee, which varies by country. Many countries assign a
specific dialing code to wireless devices that identifies them as wireless. The mobile termination fee will be charged based on those digits dialed
immediately after the country code. The mobile termination fee plus your international rate will be shown on your invoice as one combined per-minute
rate. This information may change from time-to-time. Be sure to check the codes and rates periodically for current information.
|
|
|
CaboMagic
Super Nomad
Posts: 1109
Registered: 4-30-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
Larry - 'odd' to me is now caller pays for everything - thanks - Lori
|
|
|
CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by CaboMagic
Thanks ..
CaboRon - Im asking "why" USA callers pay MORE (Edit) to call cell phones now .. Are you suggesting that Carlos makes money on
incoming calls?
stanburn - yes thats what I said - I am asking if anyone knows why?
Its cheaper to call across the Atlantic than it is to call Cabo .. Also cheaper to call Mainland Mexico ..
Any ideas appreciated. .. LG
[Edited on 1-24-2008 by CaboMagic] |
If the call comes over Slim's towers on thru his lines, there is an access fee charged to the calling parties.
CaboRon
|
|
|
CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by stanburn
Nextel has become very popular over here in Manzanillo. I remember (from 3 years ago) that Nextel also existed in the LA area. I don't know how
compatible the networks are and if you can do the walkie talkie thing from one Nextel phone in the US to a Nextel phone in Mexico.
If you have staff and crew and must have cell phones, this might be an option.
Me I don't have crew and staff, only cats. They can't punch the buttons with their little paws. |
The last time I was is Las Vegas, my driver said he speaks on the walki-talki Nextel to his family in Cancon for no charge. He bought phones for
them in the us.
CaboRon
|
|
|
CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by CaboMagic
Larry - 'odd' to me is now caller pays for everything - thanks - Lori |
In Europe it has been that way as long as there have been cell phones. You don't get quite as put out when soneone calls and talks too long. 
CaboRon
|
|
|
bajadedom
Nomad
Posts: 124
Registered: 12-12-2007
Location: Oregon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Ready for a change of latitude...
|
|
Hire someone to manage your business while you are gone, leave the cells home, and enjoy yourself in Baja....why else come?? My favorite part of being
here is the pace of living.....
|
|
|
CaboMagic
Super Nomad
Posts: 1109
Registered: 4-30-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
May 2008 update
Big thanks stanburn ..
It took lots of 'doing' and 're-doing' and we have everyone on nextel service.
For the first two billing cycles everything went as promised, then, suddenly we had an humongous $$$$ bill for Nextel Direct Connect. When we asked
USA Sprint/Nextel about this, the helpful customer service person said "Oh well, only the border cities are included" .. took some escalating but we
finally got it handled.
For anyone that has USA and Mexico business interests, its a cost effective and efficient means to be in constant contact.
Hope this helps someone. Lori
|
|
|
bajabound2005
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2760
Registered: 10-15-2005
Location: Punta Banda, BCN
Member Is Offline
Mood: words cannot describe...
|
|
Nextel used to have a "daily charge" for the walkie talkie feature in Mexico (US to Mexico and vice versa). I think it was $1.50 a day if you used
the feature. That covered the whole day whether you used it once or 1000 times. Don't know what the current sitch is.
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
|
|
|
bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: hubimos llegado
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by CaboMagic
Weve used Vonage in USA and Cabo since 2003 when they began installing dsl lines in CSL. Most of the time its great - but sometimes voices are
garbled and/or interrupted .. everythird word gets chopped .. this applies to what callers from the USA calling to Cabo hear .. its never garbled the
other way around ..
|
Had the same problem. What worked for me was closing down any open connections that are using your broadband connection, including email.
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
