Comments on: Dear Qwest http://pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/ Linux. GNU. Freedom. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:59:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4-alpha By: phoenyx http://pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-58106 phoenyx Wed, 20 Jun 2007 19:01:43 +0000 http://www.pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-58106 Sadly, Qwest is the only alternative to Comcast for high-speed internet in a lot of places in Utah and I'm not much of a fan of either. /me dreams of moving to a UTOPIA area someday Sadly, Qwest is the only alternative to Comcast for high-speed internet in a lot of places in Utah and I’m not much of a fan of either.

/me dreams of moving to a UTOPIA area someday

]]> By: Steve Spigarelli http://pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-58077 Steve Spigarelli Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:55:39 +0000 http://www.pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-58077 I've been meaning to write a similar post recently. I really wish providers would remove the silly long distance fees they charge. Eventually they might get smart and remove the fees that they don't need so they can compete with the new services that their consumers are switching to. I’ve been meaning to write a similar post recently. I really wish providers would remove the silly long distance fees they charge. Eventually they might get smart and remove the fees that they don’t need so they can compete with the new services that their consumers are switching to.

]]> By: Jerome http://pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57972 Jerome Tue, 19 Jun 2007 23:17:44 +0000 http://www.pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57972 Learned that Google Reader mobile uses IE/Win2k as browser id when rendering via their transcoded page rather than using Symbian's ;-) Learned that Google Reader mobile uses IE/Win2k as browser id when rendering via their transcoded page rather than using Symbian’s ;-)

]]> By: Jerome http://pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57966 Jerome Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:46:28 +0000 http://www.pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57966 Heh i'm pretty shocked that my mobile phone and S60 browser registered as IE and Win2k *death rattle* Heh i’m pretty shocked that my mobile phone and S60 browser registered as IE and Win2k *death rattle*

]]> By: Jerome http://pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57965 Jerome Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:44:13 +0000 http://www.pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57965 Consider the sipphone.com service. Highly recommended! I even use it to connect to my Nokia E61 over wifi along with some phones at home. And I'm not in the USA even! Consider the sipphone.com service. Highly recommended! I even use it to connect to my Nokia E61 over wifi along with some phones at home. And I’m not in the USA even!

]]> By: Aaron http://pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57920 Aaron Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:43:59 +0000 http://www.pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57920 @matt- I am using Comcast cable for my Internet. I've had it for years now. Including the TV, I'm paing $66 / month. I think for just Internet, they offer it for $45 / month. I know- pricey! I plan on changing ISPs as soon as Xmission becomes available in my area. @LaserJock- Such a great company, no? :) @matt- I am using Comcast cable for my Internet. I’ve had it for years now. Including the TV, I’m paing $66 / month. I think for just Internet, they offer it for $45 / month. I know- pricey! I plan on changing ISPs as soon as Xmission becomes available in my area.

@LaserJock- Such a great company, no? :)

]]> By: LaserJock http://pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57917 LaserJock Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:33:09 +0000 http://www.pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57917 Man, that certainly brought me back to the days growing up in Montana where Qwest was the *only* telephone provider. They would charge a $30 activation fee every time an elderly person would switch rooms in the nursing home. That's some spirit. What a stupid company. Man, that certainly brought me back to the days growing up in Montana where Qwest was the *only* telephone provider. They would charge a $30 activation fee every time an elderly person would switch rooms in the nursing home. That’s some spirit. What a stupid company.

]]> By: matt harrison http://pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57914 matt harrison Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:24:38 +0000 http://www.pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57914 What are you using for internet? I'm using Qwest for DSL (and phone). (Frankly the number additional of charges and taxes per month is outrageous). I think I looked into cable/voip but that combination didn't offer much advantage costwise over the qwest combo.... What are you using for internet? I’m using Qwest for DSL (and phone). (Frankly the number additional of charges and taxes per month is outrageous). I think I looked into cable/voip but that combination didn’t offer much advantage costwise over the qwest combo….

]]> By: Aaron http://pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57913 Aaron Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:19:53 +0000 http://www.pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57913 @Mike- I definitely agree that SIP is probably superior to Vonage. However, I've already made the switch, paid money for activation, and would pay money to cancel the account this early. I'll see how Vonage goes, and if I'm not impressed, SIP will be the way to go. For the time being, though, I'll be sticking with Vonage. @Tristan- Vonage also includes E911, which is a major advantage. However, I've already signed up with Vonage, so as I've mentioned to Mike, if it turns out that I don't like it, then I'll look into other options, such as SIP and SunRocket. Thanks for the info though. @Mike- I definitely agree that SIP is probably superior to Vonage. However, I’ve already made the switch, paid money for activation, and would pay money to cancel the account this early. I’ll see how Vonage goes, and if I’m not impressed, SIP will be the way to go. For the time being, though, I’ll be sticking with Vonage.

@Tristan- Vonage also includes E911, which is a major advantage. However, I’ve already signed up with Vonage, so as I’ve mentioned to Mike, if it turns out that I don’t like it, then I’ll look into other options, such as SIP and SunRocket. Thanks for the info though.

]]> By: Tristan Rhodes http://pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57894 Tristan Rhodes Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:58:29 +0000 http://www.pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57894 Aaron, I recommend SunRocket.com for full-service VOIP for less than $17/month. This service does include E911, which I feel is very important. If you decide to go with SunRocket, let me give you my number to use as a referral, so I will get $25. Tristan Aaron,

I recommend SunRocket.com for full-service VOIP for less than $17/month. This service does include E911, which I feel is very important. If you decide to go with SunRocket, let me give you my number to use as a referral, so I will get $25.

Tristan

]]> By: Mike http://pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57889 Mike Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:40:23 +0000 http://www.pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57889 I wanted to add that I avoid services like Vonage and Packet8 because they are not using open protocols that can be leveraged by anyone (SIP is an open / standard protocol). Instead they use proprietary protocols, and leverage cost that way. With Vonage you still end up paying over $20 / month (add in taxes and what-not), and you have only a minimal number of features. Total agreement regarding Qwest: for the 5 years I had them back in the 90's, while they were the only local carrier, I only had problems with them. Never any satisfactory servicing, and their support / phone department was the last place on earth I wanted to call. I'd rather call the IRS! Good move :). I wanted to add that I avoid services like Vonage and Packet8 because they are not using open protocols that can be leveraged by anyone (SIP is an open / standard protocol). Instead they use proprietary protocols, and leverage cost that way. With Vonage you still end up paying over $20 / month (add in taxes and what-not), and you have only a minimal number of features.

Total agreement regarding Qwest: for the 5 years I had them back in the 90′s, while they were the only local carrier, I only had problems with them. Never any satisfactory servicing, and their support / phone department was the last place on earth I wanted to call. I’d rather call the IRS! Good move :) .

]]> By: Mike http://pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57887 Mike Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:28:46 +0000 http://www.pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57887 Hey Aaron, Take a look at SipPhone.com, before you switch to Vonage. It gives me all the features I need, at a fraction of the cost of Vonage. In addition, if you are like me and enjoy playing with technology, you can set up your own home PBX and have as many voice mail boxes, extension numbers, as you could dream of (using TrixBox). I know that Vonage charges a fixed monthly fee. However, with SipPhone you have no fixed fees. Each call within the US is $0.01 per minute (calls to other SIP (as in protocol) phones are free. Internation rates are extremely competitive. There is one yearly charge for your phone number, so that you can be called from normal phone users (land and cell phones), which is $35 per year. My average calling costs are about $5 per month. That breaks down to under $10 per month for unlimited features (limited only by the features of TrixBox). Please feel free to contact if you have questions. The only draw-back with SipPhones is that they still do not have 911 service (all you need is a regular phone plugged into you non-activated land line. They are required to keep 911 service on all phone lines, regardless of activation). Cheers! Mike Hey Aaron,

Take a look at SipPhone.com, before you switch to Vonage. It gives me all the features I need, at a fraction of the cost of Vonage. In addition, if you are like me and enjoy playing with technology, you can set up your own home PBX and have as many voice mail boxes, extension numbers, as you could dream of (using TrixBox).
I know that Vonage charges a fixed monthly fee. However, with SipPhone you have no fixed fees. Each call within the US is $0.01 per minute (calls to other SIP (as in protocol) phones are free. Internation rates are extremely competitive. There is one yearly charge for your phone number, so that you can be called from normal phone users (land and cell phones), which is $35 per year. My average calling costs are about $5 per month. That breaks down to under $10 per month for unlimited features (limited only by the features of TrixBox).

Please feel free to contact if you have questions.

The only draw-back with SipPhones is that they still do not have 911 service (all you need is a regular phone plugged into you non-activated land line. They are required to keep 911 service on all phone lines, regardless of activation).

Cheers!
Mike

]]> By: Christer Edwards http://pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57886 Christer Edwards Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:27:46 +0000 http://www.pthree.org/2007/06/19/dear-qwest/#comment-57886 I thought "Spirit of Service" was in reference to their service being dead and gone and only the spirit remained. Qworst sucks. I thought “Spirit of Service” was in reference to their service being dead and gone and only the spirit remained. Qworst sucks.

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