"jJim McLaughlin" wrote in message



Even with "unlimited" long distance from Comcast here on their VOIP
service,
my total phone bills for local and long distance never approach the $ 48
plus a
month that Comcast wants as their "real" price for VOIP.

Seems to be a diffrence between digital phone and VOIP
By using known VoIP services you are using your current internet
connection to place a call over the internet using the internet
signal/bandwidth to transmit your call. This in turn can cause call quality
issues such as echo, crackling and voice hesitations. With MetroCast Digital
Phone service, your phone conversations will not be impacted by applications
which require the internet. By using a standard known as Quality of Service
(QOS) in the telecom industry, MetroCast is able to provide you with
reliable and quality Digital telephone service.



I'd have to spend more than $ 23.00 on long distance at $ 0.025 /
minute --
more than 900 minutes - ~ 15 hours on long distance for VOIP to
make mere economic sense.

And with Comcast, I can't reach local police, fire and medical emergency
service on 911.

In most places now, you can reach them and they get the caller ID same a
dial tone.
This is from our local cable company
Safety and security is top priority and with Digital Phone service, you are
provided enhanced 911 service which sends your telephone number and address
information to a local 911 dispatcher if 911 is dialed from your home. If
there is a power outage, MetroCast Digital phone service and E911 access
will still be available due to a battery back up in the modem which is
installed in your home. Please keep in mind that cordless phones which plug
into an electrical outlet will not function during a power outage. Be sure
to have at least one corded phone in your home in case of a power outage.



*If there is a network outage or a downed cable line in your area, Digital
Phone service and E911 service may be interrupted until the necessary
repairs can be made. This is the same with your current telephone provider
today if your telephone drop was to be compromised in any way or there was a
system related problem in your provider's network.



I don't see any economic benefit (Comcast is more expesive than my
current set up)
or technological benefit (no phone in a power outage, and we get lots of
power
outages from November through March) or service benefit (no 911 service on
Comcast) to Comcast VOIP.

Other areas of the country may have a different calculus, and other
folks may have
different calling patterns, but for me VOIP makes no sense.


I'll wait until it is actually here to decide, but I pay a lot for overall
phone service. Sure, the $99 is a come on, but I know one guy that is
saving about $75 a month on his phone with intrastate long distance charges.
That will vary, as does cable services selected etc. I won't consider a
change for $10 a month, but certainly will for $50+.