Optimum Voice - Anyone have it? Pros/Cons?

I am considering optimum voice. We disconnected our home phone and have just been using our cell phones.

However, I think we need a home phone though, but I refuse to reconnect my phone with the phone co.

I have Optimum.

Pros:
conveinent
cheap
still works while online
nation-wide free long distance
no taxes or FCC charges

Cons:
if your cable or power go out you have no phone (usually this is temporary)
There is not yet a service for caller-id call waiting (although they are working on it for the Fall)
You must have an Opt-online modem ti use the service
If you make international calls, you must use a phone card (which I would do anyway b/c it is the cheapest way)
If you have cable & opt online already, each product us $29.99 per month


ETA: I switched b/c the old phone co. claims one fee then charges another. DH & I are home maybe 25 hours a week & we got charged all these extra fees & such....it made our phone bill go up $20 per month. (And it was NOT due to long-distance charges)

we have the whole Optimum package and I can honestly say it is 100 times better then Verizon!!!! We only pay 34.95 a month for the OV, which INCLUDES caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, and two other things i forget at the moment what they are! Between out cable, modem and phone bill, our monthly bill for ALL THREE is only around 160 a month....not bad considering that I'm on the phone with my NJ family and friends for hours at a time! ;) I really recommend it - we've been customers for over a year now (with OV) and I couldn't be happier with that flat monthly rate phone bill verizon was a bunch of crooks with all their taxes and fees - what a waste of money! FM me if you want to know anythnig else, but I erally love our Optimum service, and have recommened it to two other family members already!

LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

as far as the down side...even if your power goes out and you have a cordless..you still have no phone

I have both caller ID and call waiting on mine.

I have both, but do you get caller ID for the call beeping in? That is what I don't have.....maybe it is the type of phone I have

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Posted by HearzBellz

I have both, but do you get caller ID for the call beeping in? That is what I don't have.....maybe it is the type of phone I have

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AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...I misunderstood what you were saying!!

I will have to check that out....I never checked!

Do you use the voice mail that they have? I have to set ours up

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Posted by HearzBellz

I have both, but do you get caller ID for the call beeping in? That is what I don't have.....maybe it is the type of phone I have

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hey there - is your phone caller ID ready? that feature only works on phones with that option.

What a coincidence! We are getting this on Monday. I'm glad to hear the good reviews.

we were just talking about it the toerh day.......i think we may go for it!

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Posted by Lisa Rose

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Posted by HearzBellz

I have both, but do you get caller ID for the call beeping in? That is what I don't have.....maybe it is the type of phone I have

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AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...I misunderstood what you were saying!!

I will have to check that out....I never checked!

Do you use the voice mail that they have? I have to set ours up

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I am currently using the voicemail...it is just like on a cellphone. We are buying a new phone system (%rooms with an integrated digital ansewering machine) so I figured why not use their free voice mail until we got the new phone system.


ALSO: I wanted to update. The reason why I had no cable was b/c when the tenant in the downstairs apartment moved out Cablevision disconnected the main line to the house instead of just his line.....

I am thinking about getting it for Danielle and I when we move in.

Questions:
Do you think it is better than IDT? I see their commercials all the time.

Can you tell the difference in the quality of the call? Is there static or does it sound better because it is supposed to be digital? It is supposed to be digital right? Or am i Confused.

How long does it take to set up a new phone line? Would I have to wait hours, days or weeks? Just want to know....Cause I am moving in at the beginning of August and I want to be able to have a phone, since my cell phone doesnt work in the apartment (Its a Basement)
Thanks,
Scott

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Posted by Danielle&Scott

I am thinking about getting it for Danielle and I when we move in.

Questions:
Do you think it is better than IDT? I see their commercials all the time.

Can you tell the difference in the quality of the call? Is there static or does it sound better because it is supposed to be digital? It is supposed to be digital right? Or am i Confused.

How long does it take to set up a new phone line? Would I have to wait hours, days or weeks? Just want to know....Cause I am moving in at the beginning of August and I want to be able to have a phone, since my cell phone doesnt work in the apartment (Its a Basement)
Thanks,
Scott

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OK:
1 - I do not know about IDT, so I cannot answer tht honestly.
2- the qulity is exactly the same is not a bit clearer on OptVioce.
3- we got an installation 4 days after we made the appoiintment. They did it at the same tme as the OptOnline setup.
4- If you call to set up an appointment just tell the rep what day you are moving in....they can make an appointment for you in advance.
IF YOU RENT..... they will ask you for proof of your ddress, so be prepared to send/fax a copy of your lease stating what day your lease began & the new address, etc.

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Posted by Danielle&Scott

I am thinking about getting it for Danielle and I when we move in.

Questions:
Do you think it is better than IDT? I see their commercials all the time.

Can you tell the difference in the quality of the call? Is there static or does it sound better because it is supposed to be digital? It is supposed to be digital right? Or am i Confused.

How long does it take to set up a new phone line? Would I have to wait hours, days or weeks? Just want to know....Cause I am moving in at the beginning of August and I want to be able to have a phone, since my cell phone doesnt work in the apartment (Its a Basement)
Thanks,
Scott

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I can not compare it to IDT...I had a regular phone line before but I see no difference in quality or sound of the Opt phone service compared to regular phone line.

As far as setup is concerend, I would call them and find out. I was one of the first people in my area to get it so I didnt wait that long but they shoule be able to tell you better.

YOu are a cable customer already right? You need to have Optonline in order to get this service.

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Posted by kel2004

What a coincidence! We are getting this on Monday. I'm glad to hear the good reviews.

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Always here to help!

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Posted by Lisa Rose

LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

as far as the down side...even if your power goes out and you have a cordless..you still have no phone

I have both caller ID and call waiting on mine.

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If you have a corded phone you will be able to use it during a power outage..

DH works for Verizon so we will never have Optimum Voice...my Aunt had it and I guess where she is she has alot of cable outages so she got rid of the Optimum Voice.

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Posted by palebride

do you have to get a new phone number for it?

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Yes.