8x8 Packet8 Broadband VoIP Service with DTA-310 Phone Adapter
By: 8X8, Inc. Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 70
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 On: 2008-01-11
We use these phones in our offices and they are by far the worst phones I have ever used in my entire life. The sound quality is terrible and we have multiple dropped calls daily. AVOID THIS PHONE! You are better off buying from Dollar General or Family Dollar for your next phone.
On: 2007-09-24
I have been with Vonage for 2 years and Sun Rocket for 9 months. Recently I signed up with Packet 8. There website is pretty bad. If you change any features eg call forwarding or caller ID, nothing happens. Email notification does not carry voice mail. Some of the numbers can not be dialed with Packet 8. If you complain there is no response or no action. I am surprised that they are still in business.
 On: 2007-07-04
I was surprised by some of the negative feedback. Ive been using Packet 8 since Nov 06 and it has been nothing short of excellent. It was very easy to hook up and has worked flawlessly. The sound quality is great. Its very cheap at $20 / month. I liked it so much I dont have a land line anymore.
On: 2007-01-06
I heard all these horror stories on faxing over VOIP so I never tried it. Well to my amazement Packet 8 sent so far 2 for 2 faxes....1st time 100% ok. Now these are SENT faxes. Im not concerned with receiving faxes as there are other alternatives that are even better. For example one can get a dedicated free incoming fax from EFAX which deposits it into your e-mail. In my opinion this is much better anyway as now a permanent record exists of the original.
The other advantage of Packet 8 over VOnage is no annoying clicks of 1 sec drops. I have 2 friends who have Vonage and each time I talk to them there is an annoying drop-out of about 1 to 2 secs evey say 2 minutes. Not so with Packet 8.
Others have reported dropped calls with Packet 8. Only occasionlly do I experience this...but its only after say a 3 hour call. Most time no sweat. I use the 3 way calling a lot too.
Packet 8 line is ALWAYS UP. Its more reliable than my cell phone. As long as the cable is up so is Packet 8. In fact it has become the defacto way to tell if I have data service. If I got PAcket 8 dial tone its up.
Its easy to set up. Plug in an eternet connection. Plug in the phone connection. Answer the e-mail you get. BINGO...You got dial tone! Easier than a land line setup. The phone companies should be running real scared.
THe only downfall of Packet 8 is the box will not support multiple extentions. So you cant have two phones plugged into same box. THis was stupid of PAcket 8. But the work around is easy: Go to Sams Hohouse CLub and get a cordless 4 wireless phone...you know...the ones with 4 handsets. Now you got it covered. Works great.
On: 2006-12-15
I have been a Packet8 subscriber for over three years. Packet8 provides terrific value, and I never had any problems that their technical support staff wasnt willing and able to quickly address.
Note that many complaints with VoIP providers--and Packet8 is no exception--are due to the the customers ISP, broadband speed, etc.
Packet8 just started hitting customers with a lot of extra fees, taxes, etc., bringing that nice $20 monthly plan up to almost $30.
Disclosure: Just this month switched to Sunrocket for their annual plan at $199 (which Packet8 matches), but more so to get a free hardware upgrade. (Sunrocket offers a phone adapter with built-in router.)
 On: 2006-01-23
Ive used this service for almost 8 months now. A lot of times, theres a feedback on the line (I can hear my own voice). My friends and family also tell me that they can hear static on the line when theyre talking to me - at first I dismissed it as their phones but given enough complaints and that when Im on my cell phone that doesnt happen Im convinced its the service.
I also think they deserve a low score because when compared to their competitors they dont have the same number of features even though they cost about the same.
 On: 2005-12-13
I am one of the person who bought VOIP in its early days. I am having packet8 for almost 2 years now. When I first decided to get VOIP I wen for callvantage(AT&T), thinking that it was a big company and will have good service. I got my adapter and it was nightmare to make it work and the call quality was very bad. I returned it and bought Packet8 after reading reviews on dslreport.com, at that time packet8 had better reviews than vonage.
I was pleasently surprised by the installation and quality of voice. I would recommend this for non critical use. I have mentioned below quite a few cons which are basically features which are provided by rivals and packet8.
Pros:
1. Simple Installation.
2. Good voice quality.
3. Has features such as Voicemail, call forwarding, number blocking...etc
4. Just(...)per month including E911.
5. Best part is it just works out of the box.
cons:
1.No Fax service.
2.No email alert for voicemail.
3.No way to listen to voicemail from website.
4.website looks amature.
5.No service down notification, you have to go and check support page for that.
Hope you find this review helpful.
Thanks
On: 2005-10-30
Congress passed legislation requiring VOIP providers to offer 911 (Emergency) services to VOIP customers. Packet8 hit me with a $9.95 "upgrade fee" to start the 911 service and a new $1.50/month "E911" charge.
I was willing to pay the $1.50/month if they would meet me halfway and waive the startup charge. I called Packet8 to see if I could somehow get the $9.95 fee waived, but they wouldnt budge. Im stuck with a $59 disconnect fee if I dont complete the mandatory upgrade.
The Packet8 phone service is reliable but if they are going to be adding fees and charges, traditional phone lines become a more attractive option.
The decision to go with Packet8 is yours.
On: 2005-08-28
I have read the reviews here and think that a couple of things should be put in perspective. I have had Packet 8 for nearly a year now and am very happy with the service. I have had problems with echos and bad connections but it was not Packet 8s problem it was my ISP who had upgraded a piece of equipment causing bandwidth problems. For an avg of $22 per month I am extremely happy with this service. If you want to compare horror stories for disconnection fees: SBC charged me $200 to cancel my broadband and phone service with them with a phone bill on avg of $153 per month...Packet 8 is bliss compared to being pummeled by those who think they have a monopoly.
On: 2005-08-26
I started my service in December 2004 and at first I was happy with the service for the price. Unfortunately, I have been experiencing major communication issues (delay, echo, ...) with some numbers. This situation got worst over the last 2 months and their technical service asked me to change my settings (in fact they asked me to put my phone adapter on my router DMZ) with no improvement. Their final solution was to call the local TELCO where I am experiencing major issues and ask them to change something in their router!!!!
On the top of that, they spend most of their limited engineering resources to develop new hardware to sell you (they have been very proud to release their 160$ Uniden system with no discount for their existing customers who paid their equipment). Since I am with them, they have not improved their service or added any feature. When I signed up, I asked about voice mail forwarding to an email address and they told me they were working on it and they were not able to give a release date. I asked the same question recently and got the same answer ... Their web site sucks and they have not improved it at all in the last 9 months: instead they have created a separate user community web site (go figure).
So I called today to cancel my service and move over to another company (in the last year, the VOIP offering has grown like crazy) but I was told that I would have to pay 60$ of cancellation fee !!!! I told them that I was not supposed to have a contract and I have paid the full price for my phone adapter (DTA-310) but apparently, there was some fine prints in their terms and conditions stating that if I cancel within 12 months, I have to pay some cancellation fees. There is 3 months left before I reach the 12 months mark, which is equivalent to the cancellation fees: I will wait but after that I am gone.
Bottom line, Packet8 seems to focus on what makes them different from the others: their video phone. If you are not planning to use this technology, check for another company where you will find better deals, more features and I am sure a better customer service.
On: 2005-08-25
SUMMARY: VOIP is great for second lines, but not your primary line. At just $19.99 per month, Packet8 is cheap, but the audio quality is poor and customer service is terrible. If you want better quality, Vonage has much better sound quality and marginally better customer service for $29.99 per month.
[...]
REVIEW: There are a number of companies that offer the ability to use your broadband internet connection to give you a telephone jack that you can plug your regular phone into. This technology is known as Voice Over IP, or VOIP for short. When you sign up, you get an adaptor you hook up to your internet connection and to a regular telephone. When it works properly, you can pick-up your phone and make calls just like you normally might, but the call gets routed over the internet.
A lot has been said about using VOIP as your primary phone line, but Id sum it up this way: Dont use VOIP as your primary phone line. VOIP lines can go down for many reasons, including power failures, internet outages, or VOIP network problems. But, if you want a feature-laden second-line, VOIP is the only way to go.
The technology is a fantastic idea and is loaded with great features, including the ability to get a telephone number in just about any area code, even if it is nowhere near where you live. Most VOIP providers give you the ability to have more than one number (in different area codes if you want) ring to the same line. They also provide caller ID, call-waiting, call-waiting caller ID, three way calling, call forwarding (including forwarding to multiple numbers at the same time), voicemail, and, some include the ability to transfer calls. These features are usually free, along with unlimited local and long distance calling. You can also take the adaptor with you when you travel and plug it into any internet connection (such as at a hotel) anywhere in the world, and use your phone to call anywhere in the U.S. for free.
Ive tried Packet8 (this one) as well as Vonage.
Because the quality of the audio is very important to me, I was very disappointed with Packet8s performance. The voice quality sounds noticeably computerized. I also use Vonage, which charges more per month, but has audio quality which matches a traditional telephone line. Vonage also has the ability to reduce the sound quality if you want to reduce the bandwidth required, while Packet8 offers no option to increase the sound quality.
I also found that Packet8s support was terrible. I wanted to find out if the sound quality I was experiencing was the result of a defect or just a characteristic of the service. So, I called Packet8s "24-hour" support line. Although I placed my call at 1:30 a.m. and several times later in the morning and the following afternoon, I always reached an answering service who could do nothing other than take a message and promise a return call. The return call never came. In my view, a 24-hour answering service does not qualify as "24-hour" support, even if the calls had been returned.
I also sent several e-mails complaining about the sound quality, and the only response that I got asked me to send another e-mail if I wanted support. I did, but it was never returned.
I finally called Packet8s main number and asked to speak to a manager. The switchboard operator transferred me to a line that nobody answered. When I called back, she transferred me to a voicemail. When I called back again, she transferred me to a very rude person who insisted upon finding all of my e-mails before he would help me. When I suggested that he help me first, and find the e-mails later, he hung up on me.
I called again and the operator transferred me to the director of technical supports voicemail, where I left a message promising to cancel my service if I didnt get a return call. Five minutes later, I got a call from a senior technical support representative who said that he was asked to call me by the director of technical support. He called me on my regular phone line from a Packet8 line in their headquarters. The call had the same mechanized quality that my Packet8 line had, which led me to conclude the audio problems are normal.
All that said, if you wont need support, and you dont mind the digitized sound quality of Packet8, you cant beat the price. If you want better quality, Vonage (which you can buy at Amazon.com) offers better quality at a higher price.
On: 2005-08-03
The overall service is great, I have even been calling India several times. The only problem seems to be that their LNP process (by which you get your existing local number ported) is pretty slow and their customer service gives no response to emails.
On: 2005-07-28
Service is good. Customer service is what I expect (unfortunately). They are short and to the point and cant help you if its not on the script.
Beware! Even if you buy the Packet8 box retail they will hit you with a big Disconnection Fee after the trial period if you cancel within 12 months. Read the Terms and Conditions on their web site!
On: 2005-07-26
No problems at all.
In 2 minutes I could setup and stated making calls.
Cheap international rates too, especially to India.
The sound quality is excellent.
On: 2005-06-17
The service itself is a little below expectation. Esp when
making intl calls, often broken up, or need to call couple
times in order to connect. The customer service is really
bad. The CSR is so rude that I cant even finish describing
the issue. And when requested to talk to a supervisor, hes
basically wont do it. After I insist and another long hold,
only then able to talk to a not-so-helpful supervisor. And they
actually delete your account from their system when you cancel
the service. Now they need to charge me
for the disconnect fee, but since they have deleted the account,
they cannot charge my credit card (they only tell me AFTER taking
my credit card information!). And now they need me to send in a
check. And no detail on what to write on the check, what
should be the payable to, what number to write etc, nothing.
A very bad business model, plus not-so-good technology, and
very bad customer service. I should sell my 8x8 stock.
On: 2005-06-13
(...)
Packet8
Plan: Freedom Unlimited
Features included:
Unlimited Minutes
FAX
Local Number Porting
Personalized Voicemail
Caller ID (Number only)
Caller ID Blocking
Call Waiting
Call Waiting ID
Call Forwarding
3-way Conferencing
Call Return
Online Management & Billing
Choose Your Own Area Code
Call Waiting Disable
Do Not Disturb
Anonymous Call Blocking
Distinctive Ringing for Virtual Numbers
Intro:
Packet8 is one of the leading VOIP companies. They have one of the largest selections of rate centers, and were among the first to offer E911. They offer a phone number in whatever area code you would like, provided that it is available, and offer additional"virtual numbers" in other area codes, for $5 a month. The features included with this plan are very similar to other offers, but Packet8s price is still cheaper than the rest.
My Experience:
When a member of my family had to move to another state for months, I realized that the phone bill was going to go up. I started looking at alternative options, I decided I either could use calling cards, at a few cents a minute, or I could run up my phone bill. I decided that neither was a good option, so I was going to have to be content with speaking to them a few times a week. When I was browsing some broadband forums, I stumbled accross VOIP forums, and after a little bit of reasreach, I found that I could get unlimited long distance and all of the feautures I had never had for only $20.00 a month! I think this is an exceptional deal.
I placed my order for the DTA from Amazon.com on a Friday evening, and it arrived Tuesday. Ordering from them gave two months free, and a $60 rebate, which will reduce the cost of my DTA to -$4.00. The DTA arrived in a well decorated box, that protected the DTA well. (...)
Once the main box is opened, there is smaller box inside, with all of the components wrapped in bubble wrap. (Not pictured, as these pictures were taken a few days after I had unpacked the equipment)
The items in the box included the DTA, a phone cord, power cord, power adapter, ethernet cable, startup note, tips sheet, and an invoice.
After I took the DTA out of the box, and plugged in the power, the power light immediately turned on. I next plugged the ethernet cable into a free port of my router, and the Link light tuned on .I then connected a phone, and picked up, to find a dial tone. When a number was dialed, a packet8 recording telling you the URL to activate your service was heard. I went to the web address supplied in the recording, which matched the instructions on the sheet, and was told to enter my MAC address that was found on the bottom of the DTA. When I entered my MAC address, it returned an error which is shown below.
I tried three times, and each time the same error came up. I then placed a call to packet8 support, who answered after a few rings. I had no hold time at all. They confirmed my MAC address, and changed something in their system. I then tried again, and was put through. The problem, so far as I can tell, was caused by me buying it through Amazon, and the DTA must not have been registered properly in their system. After I had filled out the required billing information, I paid an activation fee, and printed my account details. I then picked up the phone, and placed a long distance call with perfect quality. I felt that the quality was almost as good as my land line, if not better. I did not have to configure anything special on my router, the DTA was truly "plug and play". The phone light turns on steady when the phone is in use, and flashes while it is ringing.
After making several calls over a few days, I am almost satisfied with the Packet8 service. There are however some issues. One day, I placed a long distance call, and suffered horrible quality, and lost the call. When I checked the call log, I had 12% packet loss. However this was not Packet8s fault, as it was my internet connection. After a quick reboot of modem and router, everything was working perfectly again. In normal calls, I lose about .2% packets, but this may or may not have something to do with Packet8. This does not cause any quality problems though. The voicemail works reasonably well, except for the timestamp is sometimes off. I do wish we had the name on the Caller-ID, as we currently only have the number. After I was satisfied with the service, I went outside and unplugged my land line from the box, and marked it clearly. (Well, clearly as the 10 year old child I let do it could)
Then I connected my DTA to the wall outlet, and all phones were powered. I am able to hear people clearly with four phones up, which is all I have use for at this time. As for the quality, long distance calls sound much better, and local calls are loud and clear, people say they notice an increase in quality. The quality is much better than cellphones, and I can confirm it sounds better than my old landline.
My only real problems with the service, so far, is the fact that 911 will not work perfect, and if I lose power, or my internet breaks, I will not have phone service to call and have it fixed. Out of the 7,000 min. I have used so far, less than 50 have had a problem, which is equal to less than 1 percent. I love that the billing is done online, and they just bill my credit card each month. When a visitor used the phone, and forgot to dial one, it was billed as an international call, but when I called Packet8, they credited my account quickly. I havent had any major outage problems as of yet, just waiting to see when new featues are coming out.
The picture below shows you the Packet8 billing interface, which lets you view your bills for each month, and what you have ordered in the past.
Below is a shot of the call log. Very handy to see who called where, when, and for how long.
Next we have a picture of the settings that you can change in our account.
(...)
On: 2005-06-11
I signed up for Packet 8 after reviewing the services online and finding pretty good reviews for this service and the price. I also liked that they had the enhanced 911 service. What a mistake! After I activated my account the company sent me an email to tell me that E911 was NOT available in my area after they said it was when I checked online. 3 days after I activated I still didnt have service. Family and friends were calling on my cell phone to tell me that the message said I had a disconnected phone. When it was working, the service would drop out in the middle of conversation. I do NOT recommend this service. When I called the cancel, I waited about 10 mins and got a rep. He was very nice and helpful and didnt make me feel bad for canceling. I have now signed up with Optimum Voice and love it! Its worth every extra penny.
On: 2005-06-09
OK- so on April 20th- we trotted out & bought the packet8 set up. We followed the set up step by step... and waited. And waited. Its nice that they gave us 2 free months of service - because our local number STILL hasnt been set up. They havent contacted us- or returned our email(s) to them. When I check out account on their site- all I see is "Pending" for the number porting...
Today I contacted them & was told there is some form they need- and the set up process *should* have prompted us to complete it. SO I was annoyed- but wait for it..... this form is nowhere to be found on their site. They couldnt find - I couldnt find it. It was like some kind of joke. And the whole time all I got from their customer support is " I understand" NO- you DONT! I am still paying for my home phone and in a couple of weeks- will be paying for theirs as well!
When I mentioned that we had emailed 3 weeks ago & hadnt gotten a response- my thinking here was this could have been resolved 3 weeks ago.. she couldnt find any email... and said to me " Well, Im not saying youre lying.. but we dont have this email..." Uhhh- YEAH- I think you ARE saying Im lying- despite having a printed out copy of the email in my hand!
And this is just to get us set up- just to give them our business! I cant imagine when we have a real problem with the phone- god help us!
ANYWAY- If you are prepared for headache after headache- have at it. If I had been more aware of their heinous customer service- I would have thought twice!
Youve been warned... ;)
***** UPDATE June 24th****
The drama from above continued for a few more days until I sent a scathing letter to the CEO, the President & Vice President. I also sent it to their sales manager. Funny enough- I got a few phone calls. All of a sudden they want to help fix my problem- and GEE- all it took was letters to your CEO? Great- because I have nothing but endless time on my hands for that kind of nonsense! So the first person I spoke with tells me he will *expedite* my LNP process- which was a surprise- bc I had been told a week earlier that it was already expedited. Well, as it turns out- they got my fax of this letter of authorization- but had a hard time reading the signature. The account noumber was clear- but not the signature- and NO- they DID NOT CONTACT ME. They let me think for a full week that this was being *expedited* .. It wasnt until some goon called & tried to calm me as a result of my letters did I find out they hadnt done a thing. This really upset me- bc it was just one thing after another wilh these people. It seemed like every thing that needed to be done by them got fed up. So- I explained that what would make me happy was for them to cancel the service, and to refund the set up fee - and to not charge the cancelation fee. To my surprise- they did. I guess they figured the last thing they need on their hands is a pissed off woman with a big mouth!
And it was funny- the next day- I got a call from yet another person who was forwarded my letter- and gee- he really wanted to *expedite* my LNP transfer. Good lord- dont these people have any way to communicate with each other. This guy had left me a voice mail- I didnt want him to think I was blowing him off- so I called him back to tell him thanks but no thanks- weve already canceled- and guess what- it took 5 tries before the call went thru! HA! Their own phones stink. Not what you want in a phone company!
SO that night-I signed up for Vonage. Yes- its 5 bucks a month more- but heres the deal. I signed upon the 18th of june. We recieved no les than 3 emails that NIGHT explaining how the LNP transfer works- and each one of them had a link to their electronic letter of authorization! Holy COW! This is the letter we couldnt weasle out of 8x8 for over a month- and here we had it from vonage within minutes (and an online version nonethe less)! It was pretty late that night & I was beat- so I went to bed without filing out the loa. The next morning- I had another email from them with the letter on it- telling me how it all works. I really cant believe the difference. SO I filled it out online- and my number should be ported very soon.
In the mean time- we have the box set up- and even though we have a dif number- our home number shows up on caller ids - so our friends & family actually answer when we call. AND- you can do a million different things with it- I can transfer a call to my cell phone- or any other phone- while I am on a call (great if you are running out the door-but still wanted to grab that call!)! I can set it up so if our internet service goes out- all calls will go to my cell phone- or any other number I choose. They have 911- INCLUDED. And a groovy little application that dials numbers from my outlook contacts. I just click on a contact in outlook, click the vonage button- my home phone rings & it dials! how cool is that= its better than speed-dial!
Oh- and I have called their cust service twice- never waited more than 10 seconds per call- got SMART friendly people each time. What a shock.
All this for a measly 5 bucks more (24.99 verus 8x8s 19.99)! (Thats for the unlimited- you can do 500 min for 15 bucks)
I wish I had know what a huge diffenence there is between these two companies- I honestly thought they were identical in services- but I WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG.
On: 2005-06-05
Tech service reps diplay little or no technical knowledge and seem to rely totally on a script. If the question asked isnt on the script, even simplistic questions, the answer is unavailable. Email questions are unanswered.
On: 2005-05-25
never buy this product. the connection is very bad. feels like you are talking over a one-way walky-talkie. the customer service is worst. they charge 60$ disconnection fee too. this is their unique way of retaining customers :-)
On: 2005-05-24
If called from packet8 clarity was so so bad that the other person could not hear it .If called to Packet8 phone it was going going to Bellsouth customer who has the same phone number as the one packet 8 gave me.So Called the Customer Service they told that they cant do much about the clarity because I have a LAN Connection so called them to cancel my service and returned the equipment within 10 days they gave me cancellation number but forgot to note it down. After 3 months my credit card was billed I called them they told my phone service was never cancelled which was a big lie they told they will charge 59 dollars for not cancelling after the initial one month. I called customer service but they didnt help much .I think they just looting money from people for bad service and based on wrong reasons . I would never ever buy packet8 service or advice nobody unless they want to get ripped of
Rip off Rip off -Rip Off -Rip Off -Rip off
On: 2005-05-20
I have been using packet8 since Mid march over a Comcast Highspeed cable connection.
I found it is a very poor quality service.
1) Calls getting droped is very common
2) Most of time I call some one , i had to try multiple times to get connected
3) Lot of times , I had to drop the call and call other party from my cell phone because the other side couldnt hear any thing i speak
tried to attend an interview on this line yesterday and it droped the call 3 times in 45 mins. Many times voice was getting interrupted and both party couldnt hear any thing.
I got really frustrated and called them to cancel it today. Now they showing me a small section in "terms & conditions" saying i have a 12 months contract and need to pay $59 to disconnect! No where in the order page or during signup it displays this contract info. Very crooked bussiness practice.. stay away from packet 8
Comcast internet connection is really good and stable. never had a problem with it..
On: 2005-05-12
Ive had Packet8 for about three months now. I had a few problems initially, which I later learned were attributable to a faulty Linksys router. Once my router had received the appropriate firmware upgrades, Packet8 has worked flawlessly.
Another nice feature is call forwarding which, unlike most other companies, causes the phone to ring at both your home phone number and the number to which you forward it, and a connection is made with whoever picks up first. The only problem is if you try calling home from the same phone calls are forwarded to.
On the downside, Packet8 doesnt work well with TiVo; in fact, Ive yet to get it to work at all. Also, you are required to dial 1+area code before all calls, including local ones. All in all, though, its a great deal if you have cable Internet, a not so great one if you have a DSL connection that requires you to keep a regular phone line.
On: 2005-05-10
I wish Id never heard of packet 8! In the days following our cancellation with packet 8 back to qwest, packet 8 took back our phone number three times! Once while I was in the middle of a business call. Ive spend hours and hours-- mostly on hold trying to get them to stop taking our number back without authorization. To no avail. And this was after they had neglected to tell us (and we asked several times before we chose to sign up) that they did not support wireless internet. Hmmm... Its been a nightmare that wont go away.
On: 2005-05-08
After using Packet8 for over 6 months now, I am completly happy with the service and have saved a ton of money on my phone bill. After the first two months, I requested they port my landline phone #, that process went flawlessly and I dropped my SBS service completely. The porting process takes approximatley 5 weeks.
I have read some negative reviews here, and am totally surprised by them, everything has gone completley smoothly for me without any hitches or problems.
This service is great!
On: 2005-05-04
I signed up for this service on the one condition that my current phone number be transferred. "No problem," said the sales rep from Packet8. After several months of trying to switch our number over, Packet8 finally agreed they could not use our current phone number. Now they want to charge us a $60 for leaving the service "after 30 days."
If you want to work with a company that lies to you right off the bat, get your credit card out and call Packet8 immediately.
On: 2005-05-04
Ive used Packet8 for more than 10 months now. I dont know about the customer support complains. When I went to another city and needed to connect my packet8 device to my laptop which was in a wifi area, they just told me what to do! And I got voice over wireless IP too :)
Also, it got much cheaper than the time I bought mine. I got it for $50 plus just one free month. Now, through amazon, you can get $5 and two free months. I dont know about the voice quality of other providers, but this one is really good and much much better than my cell phone for example.
One thing I love is the set of "free" features they offer, waiting, forwarding, caller id and so on... When Im at the office, I just turn on call forwarding, which is in a different regional call area, and I get my calls as if Im home - and at NO additional cost. This feature is marvellous, although people who hate tele marketers would hate it!!!
The main disadvantage of course is that its totally dependent on your Internet connection, if youre downloading some stuff, voice would be a little slow. I know it can be solved through what people peaople call QoS or Quality of Service, but I dont know where and how to set it! For now, Im happy with what I have.
On: 2005-04-30
I made the sorry mistake of selecting packet8 over Vonage. The day I signed up I submitted the necessary paperwork to port my number over to the packet8 line. Well after about 8 weeks and I dont know how many phone calls to customer service and emails to their so called supervisor Mr. Humphers my number is still not ported over. The reason they never did it in the first place. I found this out when I decided to resubmit the paperwork to the porting department. They responded and told me they would port my number in 6 to 8 weeks. I responded to this with questions as to why my original request was not taken care of. That request was made about a week ago to every department and supervisor at packet8 that I could contact. I received NO RESPONSE...My recommendation is go with another carrier. At packet8 you have no one to speak with if you have a problem and no one gets back to you either. If you want to cancel the service there is a 59.00 disconnect fee and a 29.00 connect fee. Look elsewhere for your VOIP service these people are the worst.....
On: 2005-04-27
Packet8 technology has decent voice quality over the internet. The price is quite competitive and offers great features. However, the lack of customer service and support can be a deciding factor when choosing your Voip service provider. 8x8, Inc., as a company, does not align its customer service with its potential great product. In other words, what is the product when its company dont value its customers? Very poor and just unacceptable. Within 1 week of activation, my adapter became defective and had to wait 5-7 business days for a replacement unit - that is if you are lucky to get an RMA#. I had to spend countless times over the phone to get an RMA#... what a headache. In addition, there are some 800#, 866# and 888# that do not dial successfully using Packet8 service. I am still within my trial period and am looking elsewhere to bring my business to a company that will appreciate it. I had spent way too much time over the phone with customer service to find a lack for support. Maybe one day, 8x8, Inc. will get their act together - Packet8 does have a potential to be a great product... Unfortunately, I would recommend others to proceed with caution.
On: 2005-04-10
Hi, I signed up for the service in Dec.17, and same day I also requested for LNP( number porting to my existing number). Packet8 not able to port my number for last 3.5 months, they made me continue to pay to my old provider for this 3.5 months.I called about 10 times, every time I got different story, today I cancelled the service, they charged me 59$ as cancellation fee, I dont how they can justify this, they made almost 300$ damage.
So, try to keep away from this service.
On: 2005-04-01
I have packet 8 line for a month and a half.
For those of you who is complaining about customer service
why dont you try BroadVoice.com. That what I would call
BAD BAD BAD customer service. My brother spend 20 days with
them on the phone just to get dial tone. After his experiance Ive ordered packet8.
I could not notice any major delays in the customer service.
Well, I havent tried at 1:30 am but I would not loose my sleep
to call any customer service at 1:30am doesnt matter how bad or good they are.
Now the real problems with packets8 are:
1)CallerID doesnt work the way is suppose to be working.
You will never see the name of the calling person,only number
even if this number is stored in your phone.
2)You alway need to call 10 digits numbers , even for the
local calls which is REALLY annoying.
On: 2005-03-17
Ive subscribed to Packet8 for over 1 year and love it. We mainly use the phone to call family in Europe. The voice quality is the same as BellSouth or AT&T, but the phone bill is a lot cheaper. Ive recommended the service to family and friends.
On: 2005-02-27
This product never worked correctly for me. I contacted packet8s customer service two times via email and never received a response. So, since the product was basically free after rebate I decided just to cancel the service. The TOS when I purchased the product stated that retail customers would not be charged a disconnect fee (they have since changed). After being placed on hold for 22 minutes when I attempted to end the VOIP service the customer service rep (Mario) told me I had to pay a disconnect fee. I explained that the TOS when I purchased the product said that there was no disconnect fee for retail customers and that the disconnect fee was only for those that bought directly through packet8. I told him I had a copy of the TOS and would fax it to him. He said that the no disconnection fee was fasle advirtising via amazon and was not his companies problem. I explained that it was the TOS from his companies website; after whcich he said that he would wait to receive the fax and show his supervisor before taking any action. Two minutes later I had an email and a charge on my credit card for the disconnect fee. I have still had no response to my fax, but have disputed the charge to my credit card. I would use caution when dealing with this company. As always buyer beware.
On: 2005-02-24
Ive had Packet8 for almost two years now. I find some of these really bad reviews a bit bewildering. In two years, Ive had to re-boot my router once after we had a brownout. Thats it. No problems with the DTA, no problems with Packet8. I cant comment on the customer service because Ive never needed them. I do know that a few weeks back they did an upgrade to the system that, even thought they did it in the middle of the night, caused some lingering problems, which in turn caused a spike in customer service calls. I suspect many of the complaints about lousy customer service stem from this episode. There were temporarily more calls than they could keep up with.
Regarding the porting of numbers, realize that this is not totally in Packet8s hands. It requires cooperation from your current phone provider, who understandably is not in a big hurry to assist the competition. Level3 is also in the mix. Packet8 can only do so much to accelerate the process.
As far as voice quality, mine has been impeccable. No noticeable delay, much better than a cell phone, and much louder and clearer than my POTS line. When I first got the service, I had Sprint Broadband Wireless, and the latency was horrible. But ever since I switched to SBC DSL, the quality has been great. No complaints whatsoever. If your voice quality is poor, the problem is most likely your broadband connection rather than a problem with Packet8. Switching to another VoIP provider wont solve the problem.
If you read the many, many reviews and discussions at DSLreports.com (these are very unforgiving, hard-core tech-types), youll see that Packet8 compares quite favorably with all the others, and in most cases, seems to beat Vonage for quality and customer service. Ive not tried Vonage, so I have no first-hand experience. I just know they cost $5 more per month than Packet8.
Vonage has cobbled together a network based on technology developed by others. Relatively little if any of the technology has been developed in-house. Packet8, on the other hand, has always been a technology company. They own all of the technology end-to-end. Whats this mean to a subscriber? Probably not much in the short run. But owning the technology puts Packet8 in a far better position to be responsive to customer needs. They dont have to depend on others, who might have other fish to fry, to implement new features and capabilities. One case in point, I believe, is E911. As of right now, Packet8 is the only VoIP company that offers real 911 calling, meaning that if you call 911 with Packet8, it doesnt look any different to the 911 operator than if you called on a regular phone. Your address pops right up. And theyve been offering this for a good 6 months. If you have any other provider and you need to call 911, youd better be able to talk coherently, because theyre gonna want your address. Vonage has been "working on" E911 since they started, but as of now, they still dont offer it. I believe (and this is my speculation) that the main reason is that they have little control over the implementation process. For this reason, I think that over the longer haul, the feature wars will be won by those that control the technology.
In any case, the only reason to go over to VoIP right now is to save money on your phone bill. Go with the cheapest provider.
On: 2005-02-20
I have had both packet8 and Vonage for almost a year now. Packet8s voice quality is much worse than that of Vonage. Packet8s voice quality compares to that of a cell phone call. Sometime just OK, sometimes bad, never great or even good for that matter. Vonages voice quality is almost always crystal clear. Plus, faxes go through Vonages lines without any problems. Vonage also has more features. Packet8s customer service wait time is long. Packet8s line would accasionally goes out without a dial tone for whatever reason. You disconnect everything including power and reconnect, it comes back on. Its like rebooting your Windows operating on your PC. My Vonage line never had any such problem.
But Packet8 is cheap and does have the lowest price on the block. Vonage costs $5 more at $25/month and charges additional $1.50 Regulatory Recovery Fee. Plus Vonage always charges you $39.99 "disconnect fee" unless you return your unit with "original packaging" and "a valid return authorization number obtained" for a credit of disconnect fee. So with Vonage, if you throw out your original packaging boxes after two years, you are still socked with $39.99 "disconnect fee". Ever wonder why so many phone companies are so sleazy and so alike?
On: 2005-02-15
first the positives...packet 8 sets up and installs very easilly. i loved calling the phone company and cancelling. that saved me about 500 bucks a year for something that i never used anyway-especially now with cell phones. But after talking to people with some competitors and extensive research, I went with packet 8 and have been very happy, its only 20 bucks a month with no taxes and no additional BS charges. (This was the best deal of any of the other competitors when I signed up)
The negatives...., first you need a router. (No problem for me, because I already had one for the firewall etc) and a good router with firewall may be 60 bucks or so. Second, if you have DSL, you still need to keep a phone line for the DSL line. So whats the use of a VOIP line if you have to have a regular line anyway? Its only worth while if you want to make free long distance calls, want a video phone, or just want an extra line for the kids.
I love my packet 8, but its not for everyone. In the end though, I would get packet 8 before any of the other guys, they are good growing company with good customer service. Not much to loose, the set up is basically free and its only 20 a month.
 On: 2005-02-09
The service itself is pretty good. Sound quality and uptime all good.
Just so you know, if you have any problems, technical, billing or otherwise, their customer service is horrible. Expect to jump through some hoops.
Two other things that bothered me. I was forced to a one year contract with the service.
Also, if you forward your calls to another number, the caller ID does not forward so you dont know who is calling. This worked back when I got it in Feb 2004 but about 6 months into the service they changed something and as of today, the number does not forward.
On: 2005-02-08
Picked up the DTA-310 from Amazon...went to activate online but could not access. Called customer service. Wait time less than three minutes. Took two people to figure out what to do but then set up in no time. Went with a temporary number, but now have gone on site to request transfer of my land line number. No problems with call quality. Using a V tech wireless. Only glitch may be the need to dial area code even when dialing local, but speed dial my most common numbers. So far so good!
by: mjtenney On: 2005-02-07
This service will save you big money. Occasional glitch..but well worth the minor fuss (which is usually resetting your router and/or cable/dsl modem by simply unplugging it and plugging it back in)
Voice quality is very good. 4/5
Service is very good. 4/5
Price is unbeatable. 5/5
Risk Free trial. YOU WONT BE SENDING THIS BACK.
On: 2005-02-04
I bought this with a 2 month Free Trial and authorized Packet8 for LNP (to transfer my existing home phone#) by sending all the required documents.Now, this is the 3rd month and still they are not able to transfer my existing phone# to packet8. Neither I can cancel Packet8 at this point as they will charge $60 cancellation fee Nor I can continue as I will end up paying 2 phone bills every month (to Packet8 and Current provider).I called them several times.Their LNP Department seems to be most in-efficient and customer service is very bad. Phone service quality is good though. I have my friends who were able to tranfer their existing number with Vonage in just 1-2 weeks. Dont ever choose packet8 if you want to tranfer your existing#. Otherwise, it is good.
On: 2005-02-03
Ive switched my phone service over to Packet8 and been using it for about 3 month now.
Although I would hesitate recommending this service for business use, I believe its best suitable for residential customers who can given the saving, put up with less than 100% uptime.
Pros:
1. Setup was a breeze! It was also very easy to access and configure settings. I found it to be pretty much plug-n-play.
2. Number transfer "LNP" took 10 days to complete.
3. Domestic sound quality is good - comparable to regular phone line
4. International calls sound quality is pretty good as well - much better than most calling cards that Ive used in the past and no additional numbers to dial.
Cons:
1. For some reason Im not able to call some 1-866#s - calls just would not go thru.
2. If you have KaZaa/eMule or some other type of P2P filesharing youll experience all kinds of quality issues making/receiving calls. KaZaa/eMule generated excessive amount of chatter/jitter on my connection rendering my Packet8 service completely useless, even though I have cable with 4Mbps down and 384Kbps up. Just have to make sure P2P filesharing is completely OFF when Packet8 phone is in use.
On: 2005-01-31
It took over 2 months to change my land line number to my Packet8 phone. Cellular phones are the only service where the number will get moved within a few days. The other services are allowed to take up to 30 days to move the number over. To add to that, Packet8 didnt do a thing for 3 weeks after receiving my FAX to move the number. So the process took over 2 months, and the only reason it didnt take longer is because I spoke to two different managers about the problem so they pushed things through.
For the first month (the free trial month where you can still back-out) everything worked perfectly. Now I find that the service doesnt work at times on the weekend. Packet 8 hasnt helped me with this problem. I have sent a few emails to them and they have ignored me.
My friend that has Vonage wasnt happy with their customer service, but it seems better than Packet8s. Also, his number was changed over almost 4 weeks faster than mine!
When Packet 8 is working, it is great, but if you want a phone that is always working, you should go with Vonage since my friend hasnt had ONE problem with it. Vonage is bigger and better prepared. In another year Packet 8 should be good. But they arent right now.
On: 2005-01-29
The quality of the service was good during the first month after that every day I had one or other problem with the service when called them they are saying they cannot give any guarantee that it can not repeat regularly (in their words, it can happen every day...its not in our hands)..to cancel the service its costing me 59$...*******PLEASE DO NOT BUY THEIR SERVICE*************
On: 2005-01-27
Technology may be good but there service is not good.
Packet8 - Number transfer "LNP" will take forever. For me, it passed 2+ months and still have not got my old number, means end up in having two phone lines and two bills.
I have checked with my friends about the other services (AT&T and Vonage) and their customer service is much better and they can transfer your old phone number in 10days.
Packet8 Customer service is really bad. Please dont go with them.
.
On: 2005-01-27
I am a customer since Dec 2004. It was great until last couple of weeks.... i am having problems with making calls. There is dial tone but cant make or receive calls. The customer service wait time is usually 10-15 minutes. Most of the time, they dont have a clue on why its happening, though they know that its a problem customers are facing. Once they mentioned that some server was shut down by someone without notification. What kind of employees would do that ?
I am going to see how it goes for another couple of weeks and then think of switching to some other provider.
On: 2005-01-11
The price is good -- used to be the best but now others are close to matching the price.
The quality was usually pretty good, but sometimes there were problems. Still I was a big fan - until I hit my first customer service problem. They shutdown my account (expired credit card) but wanted to charge me for service during the 9 days they didnt provide any service! (The problem originally looked like a tech support problem not a billing glitch). Complaining to customer service was implacable.
The bottom line is -- theyre not a phone company. They make their own rules, and they dont care what you think. And theres a 1 year service contract, so they surcharge you $60 if you get pissed and want to go to someone else.
On: 2005-01-11
I bought the phone from Amazon and was told that I can get 2 month free trial without risk. After two months bad experience with the phone, I decided to quit. I tried different ways as instructed by the technic support, including reset the router, change to static IP, etc... Still can not work. So I called to cancel the service, and they asked for $59.95 early termination fee...So I either need to pay this uncalled termination fee or bear this bad quality phone?
On: 2005-01-01
Still nothing happened since I signed up TWO MONTHS ago. The local number portability is a joke with Packe8. I doubt that my number will ever get ported over. If you want to keep your old number, you are out of luck with them. NO LNP FOR US. NO STAR FOR PACKET8.
On: 2004-11-30
I just started using my Packet 8 service and love it. The unlimited long distance is great. I cant find enough people to call. I bought the system to replace my second phone line at home, you cant beat the $19.95/mo price for service, for all the same features from my local phone company it would easily run me $40/mo.
Also I saved $5 on my activation fee using the coupon code SaveMe5. Give it a try, you wont be unhappy.
On: 2004-11-29
I just started using my Packet 8 service and love it. The unlimited long distance is great. I cant find enough people to call. I bought the system to replace my second phone line at home, you cant beat the $19.95/mo price for service, for all the same features from my local phone company it would easily run me $40/mo.
Also I saved $5 on my activation fee using the coupon code SaveMe5. Give it a try, you wont be unhappy.
On: 2004-11-25
I have sent all the documents required to process rebate but still they rejected due to missing receipts. Terrible....
Customer service is not good. You will have to wait for long time to talk to them.
Portability of phone number takes 4-6 with them. Usually it takes couple of days with other companies but with Packet8, it takes for ever. Till that time we will end up paying for both.
I suggest you take a look at vonage or some other rated broadband phone service.
On: 2004-11-15
Ive had Packet8 service for a year and a half now. I know many folks want to know how does this thing last over the long run. Well for me, its nearly perfect.
First thing you need to know is that this phone is dependant on electricity reaching this device as well as an internet connection. That means if you have a power outage, you have no phoneline. Something to consider. Also if your internet connection goes out frequently, so will your phone. If you have a power outage, you need to power cycle this device along with your modem and router in order to get back on the phone. Ive learned this the hard way over time.
Also, if youre looking to totally dump MaBell and $30+ monthly fees for voicemail, 3 way calling, caller ID, call waiting, etc (in my area, those basic features ran me 50+ a month) I highly recommend a CABLE internet connection. Reason being is that most times if you disconnect your phone line completely from MaBell, youll lose your DSL. Least in this area thats the way it goes. To go totally without MaBell, use a cable internet connection. And now theyre offering a 2nd number or "virtual number" for 4.95 a month with no setup fee until January. Good deal for college parents or people with family in another state. Just get a packet8 virtual number in their hometown and have them enjoy calling you as a local number. Easy!
Another thing, this service does NOT support 411 or 311 calling AT ALL yet. They promise to have the feature in the future, but how long is unknown. This means to most people keeping a list of local non emergency direct switchboard numbers and using the internet as a phone book. Tedious, yes. But I havent found 311 and 411 access to be worth over 40 dollars a month to me just for the right to use them.
Unlike other broadband phones, Packet8 offers true 911 access. Your home is connected by address to the dispatch. Most other companies only offer a pseudo 911 that you have to tell the police or hospital or fire department your exact address. If its an emergency, do you really want to be hanging around your house to give and verify all of this information?
Another thing is system stability. MOST times their network is stable. I get one outage for about 4 hours a month. NOT the end of the world for most, but it can be annoying. Sound quality is good unless youre downloading 15 movies online and chewing up your bandwidth then youll experience echoing and periods where you cannot hear the other person. Stop the download and youll be fine. Just dont tear up the pipe and youll be fine. For most this is not an issue.
Updates are rather simple, you go to their website, you download an application and it patches the device, simple! A manual install is also available that includes a diagnosis mode.
Ive been nothing short of thrilled with their service and the price is definitely right!
On: 2004-11-10
This product usually works, but you might want to know a few things.
1. Packet8s website technical support has been broken for more than six months. In particular, if you use the online form to submit a question and want a response by email, your submission goes to the wrong email address and is rejected.
I am taking another star off for this today, because I have advised 8x8 of this problem multiple times. Ive emailed the technical support folks (at the correct address) and the president of 8x8 about the problem, but no one appears to take the matter seriously. By "seriously", I mean fix the problem or at least acknowledge my correspondence.
If you need to contact technical support by email, I suggest you try "technicalsupport@packet8.net" and "rt@packet8.net" instead of the address which has bounced for half a year, "tech-support@packet8.net".
2. Make sure you have the latest firmware for your DTA-310. I had reliability problems using this product for the my first six months of ownership. Reliability had been about 95% and not better. Sometimes I couldnt call out, sometimes others couldnt call in, and sometimes the conversation ended abruptly. We were on the brink of having to get a regular phone line, and even use it for long distance calls. A recent firmware upgrade appears to have resolved these issues.
3. I live in Clovis, New Mexico and I cant get a "local" number. Ive had to add a toll-free number with another provider so that my neighbors dont have to call me long distance. Of course that means when they do call me, I am the one who is paying long distance -- to talk across the street! Fortunately, toll-free numbers are very competitively priced. Shop very carefully if you need to do this.
4. The DTA-310 has no concept of "local". There is no seven digit dialing (except for voice mail access & customer support); you have to enter all 10 digits even within your area code.
5. Realize that your $19.95 per month is taxable. I pay $20.55.
6. You have to pay for 911 service if you want it. I refuse to; instead I post emergency phone numbers by the phone.
7. It has been difficult telephoning rural areas. We have family living in remote parts of Wisconsin, and frequently we get the "fast busy" (all trunks busy) signal in lieu of our relatives. Traditional long distance carriers have not been so problematic. I dont know if this is still an issue; we havent tried to call them much in the past six weeks -- they flew here to visit us.
8. For those who hope to use this device in a hotel room, another comment. I stayed at a Hampton Inn in August and the hotel chain had a hokey authentication mechanism which prevented my DTA-310 from working. The fault is on the hotels side, but nonetheless I could not use my phone.
M.A.
On: 2004-11-05
The 8x8 Packet8 Broadband VoIP Service with DTA-310 Phone Adapter is one great innovation! Hey, you have to be brain-dead not to utilize this product! Buy it here, with Super Saver Shipping, and it is FREE!! In case you did not see that important word...**FREE**...Plus... 8X8 is offering free activation and 2 months **FREE** *There is that word again* service!! After the 2 months **FREE** the service is only $19.95!! My Verizon bill is $30 a month just for local calling. This Packet 8 includes ALL LONG DISTANCE to the USA & Canada..plus to any other Packet 8 subscriber in the world!! PLUS+++++ all the features the Big Bells charge you for..like...caller ID..call waiting..call forwording...call blocking...voice mail...3 way calling...The best part was even a techno-dummy like me can hook it up without instructions! A trip to 8X8s website, and one phone call sets it all up...10-15 minutes..and...GREAT SOUNDING SERVICE...CHRYSTAL CLEAR CALLING!! Do you think I was impressed with my purchase today when I hooked it up????? You better believe it! I was saving big bucks with a Sams Club phone card @ .034 Min...BUT...this beats it all!! Local...LD...UNLIMITED...$19.95...Save yourself some BIG BUCKS and enjoy a great sounding phone system by purchasing 8x8 Packet8 Broadband VoIP Service with DTA-310 Phone Adapter...You will not be sorry!
On: 2004-11-05
I have just installed and activated the service over my DSL line. The call quality is excellent. The main feature I like is the montht to month commitment.
The only problem I have faced a few times is that the call goes through, but I cannot hear the opposite party, however they hear me. This has happened only a few times.
I would recommend this service.
Sunil
On: 2004-11-04
The 8x8 Packet8 Broadband VoIP Service with DTA-310 Phone Adapter is one great innovation! Hey, you have to be brain-dead not to utilize this product! Buy it here, with Super Saver Shipping, and it is FREE!! In case you did not see that important word...**FREE**...Plus... 8X8 is offering free activation and 2 months **FREE** *There is that word again* service!! After the 2 months **FREE** the service is only $19.95!! My Verizon bill is $30 a month just for local calling. This Packet 8 includes ALL LONG DISTANCE to the USA & Canada..plus to any other Packet 8 subscriber in the world!! PLUS+++++ all the features the Big Bells charge you for..like...caller ID..call waiting..call forwording...call blocking...voice mail...3 way calling...The best part was even a techno-dummy like me can hook it up without instructions! A trip to 8X8s website, and one phone call sets it all up...10-15 minutes..and...GREAT SOUNDING SERVICE...CHRYSTAL CLEAR CALLING!! Do you think I was impressed with my purchase today when I hooked it up????? You better believe it! I was saving big bucks with a Sams Club phone card @ .034 Min...BUT...this beats it all!! Local...LD...UNLIMITED...$19.95...Save yourself some BIG BUCKS and enjoy a great sounding phone system by purchasing 8x8 Packet8 Broadband VoIP Service with DTA-310 Phone Adapter...You will not be sorry!
On: 2004-11-04
I have just installed and activated the service over my DSL line. The call quality is excellent. The main feature I like is the montht to month commitment.
The only problem I have faced a few times is that the call goes through, but I cannot hear the opposite party, however they hear me. This has happened only a few times.
I would recommend this service.
Sunil
On: 2004-11-04
Took 5 minutes to hook up to my phone, another 10 minutes to sign in on their website and take care of the account info. Very clear voice transmission - I love it - and the fact I can call anywhere in the country for just $20 bucks per month. I have already called relatives and friends in Florida, New York, and California. Its great!!!!!
On: 2004-11-03
Took 5 minutes to hook up to my phone, another 10 minutes to sign in on their website and take care of the account info. Very clear voice transmission - I love it - and the fact I can call anywhere in the country for just $20 bucks per month. I have already called relatives and friends in Florida, New York, and California. Its great!!!!!
On: 2004-10-27
This technology is great. I was asked by my employer to review all available VOIP technologies. After 3 months of testing Packet 8 was the best overall. That convinced me to ditch SBC and switch to Packet 8. I have this service for 1 year now and I could not be happier. I call Europe a lot and European package for $49 is great. Im saving $100 each month with much better quality.
On: 2004-10-18
Quality is great! Packet8 staff is helpful when you call them with questions!
I used the coupon "AHA" when I signed up and it saved me a few bucks on sign up fees!
On: 2004-10-07
I have had packet8 for about 4 months. In my opinion, the sound quality is comparable to SBC for domestic. The best part-international call quality is better than my land line. The price for international call is cheaper than AT&T international plan but comparable to most calling cards (like www.phonecardsforsale.com.) In addition, I found that it is easier to connect to international numbers than the calling cards.
Occasionally (like once a month), my DSL goes down but I set my packet8 call to ring both the home phone and cell phone so that I dont miss any call.
I did not choose the E911 option but I set my home speed dial to local San Jose emergency numbers. Also, I found out later that my disconnected land line still have dial tone left for regular 911.
On: 2004-10-04
I purchased the packet8 service to replace my local and long distance service with Verizon. It works great and is saving us alot of money on both local and long distance service. I chose packet8 because it was the only Voip service that could give me a local number and because they are the lowest cost for startup and monthly charges.
I have also tried Vonage and have found that Packet8 and Vonage have good voice quality. People at the other end of the connection cant tell the difference between the Packet8 connection and a regular phone.
On: 2004-10-01
I have compared few other VOIP providers, found this to be competetive interms of
Cost
Voice Quality (from friends who use VOIP phones)
video phone option and bought it.
Im quite happy with the service paying much much less than PSTN service.
On: 2004-09-30
Traditional phone companies are worried, and this device is why. Take this device, plug it into your broadband network via an ethernet cable, do a little bit of easy setup and...you have phone service. Once through the setup, you have a small box with a standard phone jack on it. Plus ANY standard phone into the jack and it will act just as you expect, just as if youd plugged it into a standard phone jack in the wall. The difference is that your calls are routed through your broadband connection. The price is currently $20/month for unlimited continental US service, which beats any traditional phone service offer. You can also place international calls for a LOT less than with a standard phone service. (They even offer unlimited calling to certain foreign countries for a low price).
OK, heres a rundown of the big questions you may have (and that I had):
1) How is the sound quality? Quality is very good. It is MUCH better than a cell phone (ANY cell phone). It is not quite as good as the VERY BEST traditional land-line phone, but it is as good or better than the land-line service that many people have. It is much better than acceptable.
2) What do you you need to use it? You need a broadband connection (cable or DSL). If you dont have cable or DSL, dont buy this. It will be a paperweight.
3) Is it a good deal? Right now, Amazon is offering this device with a rebate that makes it free, plus two months free service. (...)
4) Can I use the DTA-310 without a PC attached? Yes.
5) How is this any better than net-phones they sell where you just plug it into your PC and talk for free--no monthly charges?
A) Those devices require a PC to work; B) Those devices only work between two parties that BOTH have the device attached to their PC; C) Call quality for those devices is typically inferior. The beauty of the DTA-310, and the reason you are paying a monthly service charge, is that your call goes from your adapter to a REAL PHONE COMPANY SWITCHING CENTER, and then out to the person on the other end. This means you can call ANY number, including cell phones. It means the person you call does not need to have one of these devices, or even know that you are using the device. It also means you get "real" normal quality phone connections.
6) Will my DTA-310 only work at my home? No, it can be taken with you anywhere theres a broadband connection. It identifies itself to the network based on a unique ID chip in the box. That ID is sent to the "home office" and once confirmed (automatically), youre set to call. This means you can use the box in your hotel room (if broadband equipped), your friends house, etc. Imagine unlimted long distance calls from your hotel room!
7) Will this device work with phone connected devices other than phones (e.g. FAX machines, Replay/Tivo, etc.)? No, not officially. These devices are not at present supported. However, I have found that they will work, but connections are intermittant. You would not want to trust an important FAX to a FAX machine connected to one of of these boxes. However, if you are patient, you can usually get a FAX to go through eventually.
In all, this is a great device. I expect that there will eventually be a lot of competition in this sector. But right now, there is not, and the deal that Amazon is offering on this particular unit makes it (IMHO) the best deal out there. Try it for 3 months (...)after rebate (as described above). By then, youll either be in love, or you can dump the service and probably sell off your used DTA-310 box to more than cover (...) your have spent!
On: 2004-09-29
Traditional phone companies are worried, and this device is why. Take this device, plug it into your broadband network via an ethernet cable, do a little bit of easy setup and...you have phone service. Once through the setup, you have a small box with a standard phone jack on it. Plus ANY standard phone into the jack and it will act just as you expect, just as if youd plugged it into a standard phone jack in the wall. The difference is that your calls are routed through your broadband connection. The price is currently $20/month for unlimited continental US service, which beats any traditional phone service offer. You can also place international calls for a LOT less than with a standard phone service. (They even offer unlimited calling to certain foreign countries for a low price).
OK, heres a rundown of the big questions you may have (and that I had):
1) How is the sound quality? Quality is very good. It is MUCH better than a cell phone (ANY cell phone). It is not quite as good as the VERY BEST traditional land-line phone, but it is as good or better than the land-line service that many people have. It is much better than acceptable.
2) What do you you need to use it? You need a broadband connection (cable or DSL). If you dont have cable or DSL, dont buy this. It will be a paperweight.
3) Is it a good deal? Right now, Amazon is offering this device with a rebate that makes it free, plus two months free service. (...)
4) Can I use the DTA-310 without a PC attached? Yes.
5) How is this any better than net-phones they sell where you just plug it into your PC and talk for free--no monthly charges?
A) Those devices require a PC to work; B) Those devices only work between two parties that BOTH have the device attached to their PC; C) Call quality for those devices is typically inferior. The beauty of the DTA-310, and the reason you are paying a monthly service charge, is that your call goes from your adapter to a REAL PHONE COMPANY SWITCHING CENTER, and then out to the person on the other end. This means you can call ANY number, including cell phones. It means the person you call does not need to have one of these devices, or even know that you are using the device. It also means you get "real" normal quality phone connections.
6) Will my DTA-310 only work at my home? No, it can be taken with you anywhere theres a broadband connection. It identifies itself to the network based on a unique ID chip in the box. That ID is sent to the "home office" and once confirmed (automatically), youre set to call. This means you can use the box in your hotel room (if broadband equipped), your friends house, etc. Imagine unlimted long distance calls from your hotel room!
7) Will this device work with phone connected devices other than phones (e.g. FAX machines, Replay/Tivo, etc.)? No, not officially. These devices are not at present supported. However, I have found that they will work, but connections are intermittant. You would not want to trust an important FAX to a FAX machine connected to one of of these boxes. However, if you are patient, you can usually get a FAX to go through eventually.
In all, this is a great device. I expect that there will eventually be a lot of competition in this sector. But right now, there is not, and the deal that Amazon is offering on this particular unit makes it (IMHO) the best deal out there. Try it for 3 months (...)after rebate (as described above). By then, youll either be in love, or you can dump the service and probably sell off your used DTA-310 box to more than cover (...) your have spent!
On: 2004-09-29
Im from Florida and this was my best investment in the recent months. I bought this packet8 VOIP package prior to the hurricanes to try it out and see if I would be able to save on long distance. When the hurricanes hit, my telephone service went down. However, I was able to use VOIP. The signal is very clear with no delays. The best part, FREE LONG Distance. I cant wait to see my phone bill.
On: 2004-09-28
Have used Packet8 since December of 2003. After 30 days I dropped the verizon land line and use Packet8 only. The service is run through road runner cable. Set up was easy. It took about 5 minutes. In March 2004 there was a marked improvement in voice quality. Is much better than cell voice quality. I use the service w/ (2) 5.8 ghz Uniden phones. I have had 2-3 periods of down time. None lasting over an hour. People on the other end of a landline call cannot tell the call originates/terminates over broadband. I do a lot of uploading/downloading while on the phone. There is no degradation in quality. Included features work well. I have been able to fax although P8 says they dont support it at this time. I have never had to contact tech support.
On: 2004-09-28
Not only do I use this at home, but I travel a lot and use it in my hotel room (usually if the hotel has free broadband internet it works best - some pay internet services block VOIP phones). This gives my family a local number to call, and me the advantage of being able to call anywhere in the US W/O long distance charges, or using my cell phone, which is spotty in some larger hotels. I have used this service for over 6 months now, and it is easy to set up, and works great.
On: 2004-09-28
This was by far the easiest device I have installed. I took about 3 minutes to connect the phone and cable lines (ok, 10 minutes as I found I needed a dig out a new power strip). I hooked the phone line from the DTA into my standard two-line desk phone and can switch between lines as needed and since both will ring and light up the line button, I will never miss a call.
I have had Packet8 for about two months now and the calls are clear, but a bit of latency in the initial part of the call (maybe Im just slow to say hello back). There has been no down time or dropped calls. When calling another packet8 phone the latency is gone and the quality improves beyond standard phone service. I love all the free features with the service...call waiting, conference calling, caller ID... The price trumps all the other VOIP services I have researched At $19.95 month for unlimited US and Canada, it far cheaper and better quality than any of the cable of telephone company VOIP offerings and Packet8 doesnt lock you into their service with any term or cancellation fees. They must have a lot of confidence that they can deliver a high quality service. I look forward to signing up for the videophone service (extra $15.00 per month and your parents can see AND talk to the kiddies), until then, happy dialing.
On: 2004-09-28
Im from Florida and this was my best investment in the recent months. I bought this packet8 VOIP package prior to the hurricanes to try it out and see if I would be able to save on long distance. When the hurricanes hit, my telephone service went down. However, I was able to use VOIP. The signal is very clear with no delays. The best part, FREE LONG Distance. I cant wait to see my phone bill.
On: 2004-09-27
Have used Packet8 since December of 2003. After 30 days I dropped the verizon land line and use Packet8 only. The service is run through road runner cable. Set up was easy. It took about 5 minutes. In March 2004 there was a marked improvement in voice quality. Is much better than cell voice quality. I use the service w/ (2) 5.8 ghz Uniden phones. I have had 2-3 periods of down time. None lasting over an hour. People on the other end of a landline call cannot tell the call originates/terminates over broadband. I do a lot of uploading/downloading while on the phone. There is no degradation in quality. Included features work well. I have been able to fax although P8 says they dont support it at this time. I have never had to contact tech support.
On: 2004-09-27
This was by far the easiest device I have installed. I took about 3 minutes to connect the phone and cable lines (ok, 10 minutes as I found I needed a dig out a new power strip). I hooked the phone line from the DTA into my standard two-line desk phone and can switch between lines as needed and since both will ring and light up the line button, I will never miss a call.
I have had Packet8 for about two months now and the calls are clear, but a bit of latency in the initial part of the call (maybe Im just slow to say hello back). There has been no down time or dropped calls. When calling another packet8 phone the latency is gone and the quality improves beyond standard phone service. I love all the free features with the service...call waiting, conference calling, caller ID... The price trumps all the other VOIP services I have researched At $19.95 month for unlimited US and Canada, it far cheaper and better quality than any of the cable of telephone company VOIP offerings and Packet8 doesnt lock you into their service with any term or cancellation fees. They must have a lot of confidence that they can deliver a high quality service. I look forward to signing up for the videophone service (extra $15.00 per month and your parents can see AND talk to the kiddies), until then, happy dialing.
On: 2004-09-27
Ive had Packet8 phone service since October of 2003. I am amazed by the voice quality of the calls. It is better than my old traditional phone service. It has proven to be very reliable as well. They have continuously added more features and have worked to make their network more stable via a partnership with Level3 communications. They have more area codes than either Vonage or AT&T and they are the only VoIP provder that has true E911 service. Vonage and AT&T route 911 calls to a non-emergency number while Packet8 routs the calls to the actual 911 call center. They give the 911 operator all of the information that they traditionally have as well, such as name, address, etc., so it functions just like regular 911 service. Packet8 also works over dialup internet connections. They are the only one who can relibily do this. They have the cheapest international rates over most calls. When I first signed up, I did experience some dropped calls and static and echo. They have been working continuously to improve their reliability and quality and have since become almost perfect. Sometimes I still may get a silent spot during a call but it has only happened while I was doing some heavy downloading on the internet at the same time. I havent had any problems while not downloading.
Also, I like that my phone bill is $20.55/month and never changes, yet they keep adding features. A couple of months ago they added call-waiting disable, do not disturb, call-return, anonymous call blocking and limited fax support. They currently have caller-id with number only. They will be adding name soon. Also caller-id does show the id of the caller on call waiting. They also added auto firmware upgrade support. So now basically they have eliminated the need for any technical knowledge for maintaining the service. Now it updates itself.
When you buy it, all you do is plug it in to your broadband connection and plug in any phone that you want to use. In 3 seconds you will get a dialtone. Dial any number and a voice prompt will ask for the activation number that they e-mail you. Enter it in and thats it.
On: 2004-09-27
Packet8 - "phone over the internet" - is not your computers telephony with crackling sounds and complicated set ups. I have been using it over 15 months and can attest its reliable service with a clear sound. Essentially in all aspects it works just like a regular phone. In fact it is so good that I gave up my traditional land line, and with it - annoying telemarketing calls. This is because packet8 does not list my number in any phone directories for telemarketers to get it. If there is a problem with a sound, it is most likely not packet8, but your internet connection. Once I had to replace my cable companys modem, because it worked intermittently and was interrupting my conversations and online browsing. This, however, means that no internet - no phone. But with a cell phone as a back up - all reasons to damp that expensive land line. And I do mean expensive. Consider this: Packet8 gives unlimited calls in US, caller ID and call forwarding all for 20 bucks/month; it gives rock bottom international rates, like 2-3 cents to Europe and unlike calling cards does require any pins or extra numbers to dial. Moreover, because of current regulations, there are no huge tele-taxes like there are on regular land phones. In my opinion, packet8 provides the best price/quality ratio among all "voice over the internet" providers. In short, I highly recommend this reliable phone service, but initially advise to keep your existing phone line before you get used to a new telephony.
On: 2004-09-24
Full Feature set, excellent relability. Originally I signed up with Vonage, however when I saw $19.95 unlimited price for Packet8, I boxed up my Vonage ATA and signed up with P8. I now have 2 P8 Accounts. Both running over the same 3000/768 DSL connection. Both accounts work great. I very rarely have any problems with the service, other than a very occasional outage, which is usually rectified very quickly. I have, for all intents and purposes, forgotten that I am on anything other than a regular phone line. I highly recommend them over their contemporary competition.
On: 2004-09-23
I took mine to China, plugged it into the hotel room broadband connection and it worked perfectly. I was able to make and receive phone calls very easily with no international dialing - call any number in USA and Canada for free ($20/month). Packet8 gives you a phone number in an area code of your choice. You plug the adapter into your broadband connection and you have a phone socket which gives you dial tone. Its easy, works perfectly and very inexpensive. I have no idea what the first reviewer was talking about saying the quality was poor - thats ridiculous - PAcket8 is the only company to get a Gold award for quality from dslresults.com... thanks! p.s. These things are so useful - Ive bought 3 already... one for home, one for the office and one for a friend.
On: 2004-09-23
This product is fantastic. Setup was fast and easy and the call quality is excellent. For $20 a month you get unlimited calling in the US and Canada. That saves me about $30.00 a month over my traditional phone line.
After doing some research on other VOIP providers I decided to go with Packet 8 because of their gold BBR award from dslreports.com. Vonage received a silver BBR award and I think ATTs Call Vantage is to expensive.
Ive called customer service once since having the product and the call was answered quickly and the rep was knowledgeable.
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