Call forwarding question

[imoldernu]

This is a bit tricky...
First of all, I had Vonage VOIP... but while the price was right, and most calls came through clearly, there were some times when bits and pieces of conversation were dropped. So... why not give MagicJack a try.
Gawd! don't even think of it... Google "Magic Jack Beeps" and you'll see why.

So after transferring my home Voip phone to Magic Jack, I have now (after 4 hours in chat w/MJ changed my number back to Vonage.

Thus the question... How does call forwarding really work? Not the mechanics of setting it up on the phone, but what actually happens to the signal. So... one ring, the call forwarding comes in... Does the signal go through the home phone, and then to another home phone, (or in my case... a cell phone) .. or is the does the signal go directly from the caller's phone, to my cell phone.

Two reasons for asking...
1. If I am not at home for a period of time, the Vonage modem would be connected to my internet provider. I would prefer not to keep the phone connected, but let the modem respond and just forward the calls.
2. On some occasions, for no apparent reason, the Voip phone quality is poor, and automatic forwarding to the cell would be a good option, IF the caller's connection is direct to the cell.

Yeah... weird... why not do Comcast or AT&T wired... yeah... check the cost, and then the problem of moving to Florida for months at a time. Connect, Disconnect, Vacation Hold, Number forwarding... and Comcast in Illinois does not know that Comcast in Florida even exists.

I'm too old for this shtuff.

 

[ERD50]

... changed my number back to Vonage.

Thus the question... How does call forwarding really work? Not the mechanics of setting it up on the phone, but what actually happens to the signal. So... one ring, the call forwarding comes in... Does the signal go through the home phone, and then to another home phone, (or in my case... a cell phone) .. or is the does the signal go directly from the caller's phone, to my cell phone. ...

I'm almost 100% sure that the call-forward gets routed directly to the other phone. I don't think there is any way to 'go through' the 1st phone.

For example, my VOIP has a 'fail-over' number (I entered my cell #). If my VOIP converter in my home is unreachable (internet down, box not working), it forwards to my cell. So obviously, it ca't be 'going through' my home phone - it's not working!

Which leads to part II ...

1. If I am not at home for a period of time, the Vonage modem would be connected to my internet provider. I would prefer not to keep the phone connected, but let the modem respond and just forward the calls.

Even better, disconnect/unplug Vonage, and then your fail-over # will just ring instead.

I went to vonage, their term for this is 'Network Availability Number':

7) Will I still receive calls if my power or Internet service goes out?

Yes. All you have to do is set up a Network Availability Number when you sign up. Then, during a power outage, your calls will be forwarded to the mobile phone number or landline you provided.

2. On some occasions, for no apparent reason, the Voip phone quality is poor, and automatic forwarding to the cell would be a good option, IF the caller's connection is direct to the cell.

AFAIK, you need to hang up and try again, or hang up and call the other number.

Don't you just take your vonage box with you when you go from IL to FL? It should work the same wherever you have internet.

-ERD50

 

[Rustward]

I'm almost 100% sure that the call-forward gets routed directly to the other phone. I don't think there is any way to 'go through' the 1st phone.

No, doesn't "go through". Just a data point: I have an old Verizon land line that is normally forwarded to a VOIP number, and phones on that line ring once before getting forwarded. Don't know if this is typical behavior or not. When I forward the VOIP number, nothing attached to the VOIP device rings.

For 1: See if Vonage will allow you to initiate forwarding using a web application. Ooma does. As ERD50 says, you should be able to take your Vonage appliance with you when you travel (but then you won't need to forward).

For 2: That seems like a feature that would determine the quality of the call and selectively forward. You are probably not going to get that at "popular" consumer prices.

 

[imoldernu]

Thank you for the replies. Looks to me that that reaffirms what I suspected. I believe that the forwarding can be done using the *72 key option. Though that option is not available on my Net10 cell, the Vonage site does explain that this is available with them.

As to the Illinois/Florida carrywith... we've been doing that for many years, as do many of my snowbird friends.
We all marvel at the fact that Comcast never got its' act together enough to be one company.

For more than 10 years, we would sign on to Comcast as a new customer for $19.95/mo. , and then cancel at the end of 6 months... when we'd go to Florida. Then.. sign on again as a new customer in Florida... @ $19.95. (had to have not been a Comcast customer for less than 140 days. That doesn't work any more, but it took the company 10 years to realize what was happening.)

Still no reciprosity... and the Illinois customer service people don't even have the telephone numbers of the Florida Comcast Company.

Small wonder the company has risen to the acme of unpopularity as the worst customer service company in the country... and the world. Gotta be best at something.
.........
and as long as I'm in a bit**ing mood... about MagicJack Plus... That experience with the phone, and with the only way you can contact them (online chat) was the worst experience I have had with any company. I'm tenuous, and don't give up easily, but the absolute idiocy of the so-called techs... not just one but... yeah... my dumb... six different "specialists" and technological "reviews"... and giving my name, number, address, pin and secret question at least three times in every call.

All topped off by the final insult after being charged to change my number in the first place... and despite the money back guarantee... HAH!... The final straw... Refusal to release the number back unless I paid $32.24.
Never... never... again. I'll take a root canal without anaesthesia before I go back.

EOR... (end of rant).

 

[calmloki]

Ooma - no issues. We have call forwarding, which we set up online, and their "premium" service, which gave us a second line we use with a dedicated fax #. This morning as I was on the wireless phone another call came in and SO's cell phone rang - instant forward to her cell. We have TWC down south and haul the Ooma box N&S - no issues at all, except I think TWC may give Comcast a run for the money in the hated experience category.