Re: Fax
We've used Vonage for about 5 years... Right in the beginning, we used our old fax machine to send info back and forth... no trouble at all, though it seemed to work slower than over the landlines.
RE: Emergency callers
Picked up an emergency caller at a resale shop for $3. Works well. It's a pendant thingy, that communicates with a small box connected to the phone service. Works this way.
Pressing button on pendant triggers the box to sequentially call four different numbers, with a prerecorded 15 second message. "This Mr. Smith. I have a problem. My telephone # is 555-5555. When the call is received by relative or neighbor, they can respond and will be heard by the Mr. Smith, who can then call out with the nature of the problem... "I've fallen and I can't get up."
The messages will be sent sequentially over and over. Does not involve 911.
The Safety 1st Automatic Caller I have, is no longer manufactured, but there are equivalent systems available on line for $50 to $100.
In our home, built in 2000... in a senior community, we have pull-cords in most rooms including bathrooms... This is a hard wired service that connected to a central emergency center. The monthly service became so expensive $30/mo. that our residents opted out, though the service can be activated on an individual basis... an option if circumstances require.
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Re: OP... After ordering Magicjack, I looked up the process to port, or change to my current telephone number. From online discussions, it looks like a zoo. Going to the website, sends one on a wild goose chase that ends with no explanation except to direct a new customer (must already have a phone and be registered) to the process... Am mighty suspicious... but will come back and report as part of the experiment.
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We keep a charged old cell phone in both cars (no service) in case of a real emergency, and if we forget to bring a live phone with us. Dunno where the 911 call will go... gotta check on this.
edit to add:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_telephone_number#Emergency_numbers_and_mobile_telephones
and,,,
http://andreas.com/faq-cell911.html