At 15 May 2008 14:53:50 -0400 The Ghost of General Lee wrote:

> >I've been using Voicestick (www.voicestick.com) for awhile. Their VP
hangs
> >around the dslreports.com VoIP forums and is very candid about the
biz...

> I think I had previously checked them out, but dismissed them because
> they didn't offer simultaneous/sequential ringing of alternate
> numbers. As I have my home phone set up now, if someone calls me, it
> rings 4 times here, then rolls over to my cell (Call Forward No
> Answer). It also rings over instantly if my land line is busy (Call
> Forward Busy Line). I'm not a fan of call waiting. I also have
> anonymous call reject on my land line, which VS doesn't appear to
> provide. It keeps a lot of "unknown" numbers from ringing my cell.
> This way, I have a single number for people to contact me. I *HATE*
> giving out my cell number to anyone, because they'd invariably call
> both numbers, leaving me duplicate messages. I'd like to find a
> provider that offers both ACR and alternate number ringing.

Voicestick is actually upgrading their servers and software. You might
want to go to the VoIP tech chat forum at dslreports.com and ask Bruce
Nicklin (the VS VP) if they'll be implementing those features- he's been
asking users there what features they want to see added to the new system.
If you can't find a suitable thread to ask in, just create a thread with
his name in it (i.e. "a few questions for Bruce") and he'll be sure to see
it. Either way, the gang over there at dslreports is pretty knowledgable
and might be able to steer you to a provider with all the features you
need.

> I already have a GC number, but it's being used for another purpose at
> this time, in conjunction with a MagicJack number I have. And as you
> may know, GC is still in beta, and they have temporarily stopped
> accepting new subscribers. They even removed the invitation button
> from the account management area. And we don't know yet when GC will
> come out of beta or what their terms will be once they do.


True. I'd forgotten they removed the invite button (I was going to offer
you one if you needed it- my sole invite I've every used was to another
frequent poster here!)


> Other than the alternate number ringing and ACR, I could give a rat's
> ass about stuff like video calling. No one I communicate with does
> it, so it's a non-issue with me.

Agreed- I don't have the Gizmo software installed on any of my PCs.

> The only provider I've found thus
> far with all the features I need is Vonage. But to paraphrase what
> someone (possibly you) recently wrote, Vonage isn't a low cost land
> line replacement as much as they are a high cost VOIP provider.


Yeah, but perhaps that's their niche- offerALL the possible features at one
(high) price point! ;-)

Good luck!