<font color="#3333ff"><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Yes, you can do without a land line. You can use VoIP via DSL, but that kind of defeats the purpose to get rid of landline, though you can have basic service. </font></font><div>
<font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><div><font color="#3333ff"><font face="verdana,sans-serif">There are many options out there other than Magic Jack. The only difference being e911. Some of them support it, others don't.<br clear="all">
</font></font><div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">I am in Columbia/Ellicott City border and I get (via cable) up 15 Mbps down and 4 Mbps up. (in bits per second) </span></div>
<div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Choices:</span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">1. Magic Jack</span></div>
<div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">2. Skype</span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif">3. Obihai</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif">4. SIP phone</font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif">5. Ooma</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif">Each of them has its own quirks. </font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif"> - Magic Jack requires that you have a PC running all the time.</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif"><br>
</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif"> - Skype requires that you buy a Skype desktop phone (approx $100) Their rates are $6 per month for number and unlimited calling within US and Canada. No e911. Needs an adapter to work with normal phones.</font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif"> - Obihai ($50 @ Amazon.com) uses Google Voice for all calling and call receiving. GV is free for all numbers within US, so if you are calling within US, you are covered. Their international rates are better than Skype's. No e911. Works with normal phones out of the box.</font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif"> - SIP phone requires you to run a server at home and get a service from 3rd party, which is too much hassle.</font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif"> - Ooma initial cost is steep ($200 to $300), but once you have bought the unit, calls within US are free. Of course you get a bill for about $2 to $4 per month or per year I am not sure, it is something to do with taxes.</font></div>
<div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">If your end goal is to save money in the long run, I would suggest you explore Obihai, Skype and Ooma.</span></div>
<div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Obihai is available on Amazon. Ooma is available in Costco and online.</span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br>
</span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">I have Skype for out going calls only, so I pay about $3 per month. I use Skype (android app) on my mobile/tablet too. If I am at home, I receive my incoming calls (google voice number) either on my computer or on my tablet. If I am out, I get my calls on my mobile.</span></div>
<div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">I work from home 3 days a week, so paying for my cable internet is not an extra for me.</span></div>
<div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Verizon offers FIOS without phone service. If you can get FIOS where you live, it will be ideal, as FIOS is way better with respect to speed and channel selection than Comcast Cable.</span></div>
<div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Good Luck.</span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333ff" face="verdana, sans-serif"><br>
</font></div><div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">-GGR</span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">--</span><br style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">
<span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Rajiv G Gunja</span><br style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Blog: <a href="http://ossrocks.blogspot.com" target="_blank">http://ossrocks.blogspot.com</a></span><br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Sep 12, 2011 at 23:45, Walt Smith <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:waltechmail@yahoo.com">waltechmail@yahoo.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<br>
hi,<br>
<br>
I know there's been discussion in the past on "higher"<br>
Internet speeds slightly beyond dialup- which I still<br>
have. So, I'm asking for an update. I don't perceive<br>
I really need beyond 750k-1 meg (I doubt anyone would<br>
ever get the one meg) bits.<br>
<br>
I was wondering what the consensus was on attempting to<br>
get something like DSL ( only dsl ) and using something<br>
like "magicJack" for viop phone service ? ( asking a magic question<br>
3 times, cajoling, begging, threatening to disconnect etc... )<br>
<br>
I know that for some time, the advertised price ( approx $19.95 )<br>
for dsl is when you already have an analog line. So the ~$19<br>
is above the ~$25-$30 a person is paying for analog. ( as Ver eye zone<br>
obviously wants to keep a cudtomer in lock ).<br>
<br>
So, is it possible to get JUST dsl? and if so, does you-know-who<br>
block the service ports ( or other technical blocking )<br>
for something like magicJack ?<br>
<br>
thx,<br>
<br>
W..........<br>
<br>
Celebrating over 13,000 emails in my Yahoo Inbox !<br>
<br>
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</blockquote></div><br></div></div></div>