OBiTALK Community

General Support => On-Topic: Obihai and OBi Products => Topic started by: logicliker on April 15, 2014, 02:18:42 PM

Title: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: logicliker on April 15, 2014, 02:18:42 PM
I am currently using my Obi110, with my Google Voice account, and Google Voice phone number, and all Google Voice features (Voicemail text transcription, SMS email notifications, missed call email notification, etc.)

I'm looking for a service that will work with my Obi110 (i love this product), that offers stable phone service while allowing me to keep my Google Voice phone number, and Google Voice features all in tact. I'm also looking for the best value as well (the service that offers this package for the best price).

Thank you for any help that you may be able to provide. Your answers will help me, along with a lot of new visitors to this forum.

Thanks!
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: AlanB on April 15, 2014, 02:45:57 PM
There really is no Best Service.  This forum is full of recommendations.

CallCentric, Vestalink, Anveo, Phone Power, Local Phone, voip.ms, the list goes on and on.  For pure simplicity Vestalink may be the best choice.  CallCentric offers free incoming DIDs using a New York number, which work well although caller ID with name may be hit or miss.

I really suggest you read through some of the recent posts of the very same type or we'll be starting this topic over and over every day.  Then if you have questions once you've narrowed it down a little more ask away.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: logicliker on April 15, 2014, 03:02:38 PM
Will do, thanks for the reply.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: MikeHObi on April 15, 2014, 05:17:12 PM
The only real catch is that Google's provider has been experiencing call completion issues with some DID's from pretty much all providers.  it's hit or miss if you get a number that will work reliably.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: logicliker on April 15, 2014, 07:24:54 PM
Would porting the google voice number to Anveo instead of forwarding the Google Voice number to Anveo solve that issue?
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: AlanB on April 15, 2014, 07:51:28 PM
Yes. Porting to Anveo or another provider will solve that problem.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: Michael_Reeder on April 16, 2014, 06:21:41 PM
See the thread on Future9.  I just switched over to them -- their residential deal provides a lot for the money.  Some manual changes needed to config but pretty easy.

-- Michael
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: SteveInWA on April 16, 2014, 08:49:37 PM
Quote from: MikeHObi on April 15, 2014, 05:17:12 PM
The only real catch is that Google's provider has been experiencing call completion issues with some DID's from pretty much all providers.  it's hit or miss if you get a number that will work reliably.

Mike:  we've been identifying and fixing these issues pretty rapidly in the past month.  If individual GV users continue to experience a large percentage of calls not completing (e.g. busy signal or SIT followed by error message), then open a post over on the GV forum, and we'll try to resolve it.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: MikeHObi on April 17, 2014, 11:16:14 AM
Quote from: SteveInWA on April 16, 2014, 08:49:37 PM
Quote from: MikeHObi on April 15, 2014, 05:17:12 PM
The only real catch is that Google's provider has been experiencing call completion issues with some DID's from pretty much all providers.  it's hit or miss if you get a number that will work reliably.

Mike:  we've been identifying and fixing these issues pretty rapidly in the past month.  If individual GV users continue to experience a large percentage of calls not completing (e.g. busy signal or SIT followed by error message), then open a post over on the GV forum, and we'll try to resolve it.

Already ported out.  The issues I were having though were not busy signals or any SIT or error messages.  Simply what happens is that google gets the call to whatever point starts their voice mail timer.  Then for whatever reason they take an extended amount of time abstract time to complete a call to the voip provider.

Sometimes the call makes it to the voip provider so it shows up as received by them but by the time they have forwarded on to the OBI google voice mail has already grabbed the call.  Obi never rings the phone.
Sometimes the call doesn't make it to the voip provider before google voice mail grabs the call.
Sometimes the call makes it to the voip provider so it shows up as received by them, they forward it to the Obi, and the obi is able to ring the phone once before google voice mail grabs the voice.

In all cases the caller hears the phone ring and ring and ring but it never rings but maybe once at the obi if at all.  Logs in the Obi and at the VOIP provider (Anveo and Callcentric) confirm that once they have the call they are transferring it quickly.

I posted this in the GV support form back when it first started and got no feedback and others posting similar problems never resulted in Google even acknowledging that there was a problem.  It's the lack of any real person to talk to so that such issues can be resolved that makes GV a non-starter for me for home use.

I still use it for my personal number which rings my cell, my home, and my office.  It's worked great and reliably for years.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: SteveInWA on April 17, 2014, 11:36:16 PM
Quote from: MikeHObi on April 17, 2014, 11:16:14 AM
Quote from: SteveInWA on April 16, 2014, 08:49:37 PM
Quote from: MikeHObi on April 15, 2014, 05:17:12 PM
The only real catch is that Google's provider has been experiencing call completion issues with some DID's from pretty much all providers.  it's hit or miss if you get a number that will work reliably.

Mike:  we've been identifying and fixing these issues pretty rapidly in the past month.  If individual GV users continue to experience a large percentage of calls not completing (e.g. busy signal or SIT followed by error message), then open a post over on the GV forum, and we'll try to resolve it.

Already ported out.  The issues I were having though were not busy signals or any SIT or error messages.  Simply what happens is that google gets the call to whatever point starts their voice mail timer.  Then for whatever reason they take an extended amount of time abstract time to complete a call to the voip provider.

Sometimes the call makes it to the voip provider so it shows up as received by them but by the time they have forwarded on to the OBI google voice mail has already grabbed the call.  Obi never rings the phone.
Sometimes the call doesn't make it to the voip provider before google voice mail grabs the call.
Sometimes the call makes it to the voip provider so it shows up as received by them, they forward it to the Obi, and the obi is able to ring the phone once before google voice mail grabs the voice.

In all cases the caller hears the phone ring and ring and ring but it never rings but maybe once at the obi if at all.  Logs in the Obi and at the VOIP provider (Anveo and Callcentric) confirm that once they have the call they are transferring it quickly.

I posted this in the GV support form back when it first started and got no feedback and others posting similar problems never resulted in Google even acknowledging that there was a problem.  It's the lack of any real person to talk to so that such issues can be resolved that makes GV a non-starter for me for home use.

I still use it for my personal number which rings my cell, my home, and my office.  It's worked great and reliably for years.


I'm sorry it didn't work out for you.  Everybody has their own tolerance level for problems.  A lot of people here are trading one unreliable service for another.  I'm not debating whether or not GV is a reliable home phone service - in fact, it shouldn't ever be considered a substitute home phone company; that was a result of misleading advertising by Obihai.

I wouldn't make the generalization that your past experience is still the universal case for GV.  It's certainly true that there is no direct customer support for GV.  Many people foolishly sign up for it for business use, which is a terrible idea.  However, Google has recently stepped up its engineering support for GV, and I have been able to get call routing issues solved in anywhere from a few hours to a few days for the most part.  I only know of one case at the moment, where we have a problem that's gone on for months, and frankly, it's a certain major phone company that's at fault.

Again, if anyone has repeatable, documented cases of calls not being received on a GV number, or an inability to place calls from a GV number to certain rate centers (telephone exchanges or blocks of numbers), then post the details over on the GV forum, and hopefully, we'll see it and report it for you.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: logicliker on April 20, 2014, 10:32:59 AM
I decided to go with Future-Nine. I'm trying to configure my Obi110 to work with FutureNine but I am really confused.

Currently when I login to Obitalk, I get a screen (I think it's the dashboard)

That lists SP1 Google Voice, SP2 E911 Anveo

Do I wipe this stuff out and start fresh? If so, how do I do that? And where do I go to enter the proxyserver info ...?

Basically, I have these instructions, but none of these lineup with what I see when I log into my Obi.

Login to your Obi, and go to Service Providers > ITSP Profile A > SIP, and set:
ProxyServer: incoming.future-nine.com
RegistrarServer: incoming.future-nine.com
UserAgentDomain: sip.future-nine.com

Then go to Service Providers > ITSP Profile > General, and set:
Name: your name (or any name)
Digit Map:
(*xx.|911|1xxxxxxxxxx|<1>[2-9]xxxxxxxxx|[2-9]xxxxxx|011xx.|xx.|(Mipd)|[^*#]@@.)

Then go to Voice Services > SP Service, and set:
X_KeepAliveEnable: yes
X_KeepAliveExpires: 60
AuthUserName: see username in the SIP INFO screen
AuthPassword: see secret field in the SIP INFO screen
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: Taoman on April 20, 2014, 10:49:11 AM
Quote from: logicliker on April 20, 2014, 10:32:59 AM
I decided to go with Future-Nine. I'm trying to configure my Obi110 to work with FutureNine but I am really confused.
Currently when I login to Obitalk, I get a screen (I think it's the dashboard)
That lists SP1 Google Voice, SP2 E911 Anveo
Do I wipe this stuff out and start fresh? If so, how do I do that? And where do I go to enter the proxyserver info ...?

What are you doing for E911? It looks like you are paying Anveo .80/month for E911? Are you continuing that service or are you paying Future9 for that? Obviously, if you are continuing with Anveo you wouldn't want to delete SP2.

In the Obi dashboard, click on the "gear" icon to get you to the Device Configuration page. From here you can see the Trashcan icon where you can delete an existing service provider (Google Voice). Once you delete an existing service provider you can then start the configuration for Future9.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: logicliker on April 20, 2014, 11:00:19 AM
Thank you!

I am paying anveo for 911... thanks for the heads up on that lol

I will overwrite the google voice on SP1, and keep e911 on SP2..  ;D
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: logicliker on April 20, 2014, 11:20:21 AM
I cleared out/deleted Google Voice/SP1, and then I click SP1, it takes me to a page with a list of different service providers. Future-Nine isn't listed, so I select "Generic Service Providers", it then takes me to this screen:

(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b526/djamchase/obiconfigscreen_zps15c1d668.jpg)

Based on the instructions I have posted (couple posts ago in this thread), and based on this screen, I am confused. Since the instructions don't line up with what I'm seeing.

What am I missing?

Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: logicliker on April 20, 2014, 11:28:23 AM
So it looks like I needed to switch to "obi expert configuration" in order to access these options. Now the new problem is, when I try to edit the fields under ITSP Profile A SIP, it won't let me.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: Taoman on April 20, 2014, 11:34:13 AM
Quote from: logicliker on April 20, 2014, 11:28:23 AM
So it looks like I needed to switch to "obi expert configuration" in order to access these options. Now the new problem is, when I try to edit the fields under ITSP Profile A SIP, it won't let me.

You need to uncheck the boxes to the right of the field you wish to edit.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: k8_fan on April 24, 2014, 10:59:32 PM
I'm looking for a plan, and hopefully someone will look at my needs and say "Here's exactly what you need"

Like the OP, I am using a Google Voice number.

I make a small number of calls to various people, but spend hours every night on the phone to my wife who is in another city.

So what's the best approach if 90%+ of my calling is to the same number? Should I set up another ObiHai device at the other end and call Obi to Obi?

I'm always on the computer anyway - can I still make calls to her number if I use Google Voice on the web to make the call?
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: SteveInWA on April 25, 2014, 10:35:12 AM
Quote from: k8_fan on April 24, 2014, 10:59:32 PM
I'm looking for a plan, and hopefully someone will look at my needs and say "Here's exactly what you need"

Like the OP, I am using a Google Voice number.

I make a small number of calls to various people, but spend hours every night on the phone to my wife who is in another city.

So what's the best approach if 90%+ of my calling is to the same number? Should I set up another ObiHai device at the other end and call Obi to Obi?

I'm always on the computer anyway - can I still make calls to her number if I use Google Voice on the web to make the call?
If you both have computers with webcams, why not just spend your hours having free video chats with each other via Google Hangouts?  Also, you can still make and receive free phone calls from your computer using Hangouts.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: k8_fan on April 25, 2014, 03:58:20 PM
Quote from: SteveInWA on April 25, 2014, 10:35:12 AM
If you both have computers with webcams, why not just spend your hours having free video chats with each other via Google Hangouts?  Also, you can still make and receive free phone calls from your computer using Hangouts.
Because I like using a phone and don't want to be tethered to the computer. My cordless phone allows me to wander about the house while still talking, cook a meal, etc.

My wife won't use a webcam either. A cordless phone is far more flexible than a computer headset, and I don't have to deal with issues of computer sound device configuration on her end.

Frankly, I've used IP telephone products via computer, and just prefer to use a purpose-built device, aka a telephone.

It looks like I'm going to pick up a GVMate.

Also, I'll resist the push towards "Hangouts" as long as possible. I hate Google's desire to combine products that work well into one huge mess. Google Voice works well, I like it and I don't want to reward that sort of behavior.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: ProfTech on April 28, 2014, 09:16:13 AM
Your idea of getting another Obi for your wife is actually a fine idea. Then all of your calls back and forth [either direction] are completely free. If you choose Callcentric as the free service you can even get free Voice Mail [Obitalk not needed]. On the plus side, if you decide later that your wife would like to be able to call someone else besides you for a good price, she is already set up to do it.  She just switches from the free account to the pay-as-you-go account. Your calls to each other are still free.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: shadesofidaho on May 01, 2014, 02:32:14 PM
I only used my OBI to make outgoing calls. I have no other service on it and do not even know or care about my google voice phone number.No text no messages. I call a few people and tell them not to call me on that number if they see it on their caller ID.

Sooooooo I have been reading until my brain is totally plugged up with confusion. I see Callcentric will not work for me because the people I call use Cell and land line phones.  I do not mind paying some$$ But 250 minutes for the other service is not usually enough for me. I call Mom and a few friends on a cancer support group. Never know when they or ME needs the support. I do not need the 911 service We still have a land line. Have to keep it for the internet. GGGRRR

I am also a NOOB on this phone deal. I did have MJ but hated it.

Thanks for any direction here.  Chris
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: AlanB on May 01, 2014, 03:20:55 PM
Shadesofidaho. If you only make outgoing calls and don't need 911 consider CircleNet.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: shadesofidaho on May 01, 2014, 03:24:54 PM
Thank you AllenB I will look into it.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: 7Priest7 on May 01, 2014, 05:29:03 PM
Quote from: shadesofidaho on May 01, 2014, 02:32:14 PM
We still have a land line. Have to keep it for the internet. GGGRRR

Are you sure about this?
Providers have improved their internet only policies over time.
I have comcast internet with no T.V. and no extra fee.
May be worth checking with your ISP/considering a new ISP.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: shadesofidaho on May 01, 2014, 06:50:25 PM
7Priest7

Yes I am sure about the need to keep the land line. We live in the middle of nowhere. We are lucky to have high speed internet. Was not so a few years ago. internet is through monopoly phone company. If I want to dump the phone the internet will cost me over $100.00. This phone company serves small areas in a few states. they hold the reins. We just had Dish installed yesterday and they have internet. BUT I did a speed test while he was here and he said we will get no where near the speed through dish. 6 years ago my only internet option was dial up. EEEEEEKKKKKKK With two of us online dial up becomes a cussing match. Heheheh since He got my hand me down computers mine would leave him in the dirt .NOW he is equal to mine so it is good we do have high speed.

I am really not a fan of cell phones. I carry ours when I have to drive the 200 miles round trip to the hospital or 90 miles to the chemo lounge on back roads just in case some thing happens. Otherwise  we never use it.

The price you pay to live in God's Country. ;)
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: MsCint3 on May 03, 2014, 08:11:19 AM
I copied this from Obitalk news release dated, Tuesday, March 18, 2014. It reads..............................

For those who want to continue to use their Google Voice number with a newly configured OBiTALK ASP partner's service, there are a couple options.  The first is to port the Google Voice number to the service provider's network.  This may incur a porting fee and take time to complete. The second way to keep using a Google Voice number is easy and instant. The OBi owner enters a new phone number assigned by the service provider into the Google Voice "forwards calls to" phone settings.  Once this is done, calls to the OBi owner's Google Voice number will be forwarded directly to the OBi device, ringing their attached phone normally. When making calls, if offered by the ASP partner, OBi customers will be able to set up a custom outgoing Caller ID number, e.g. their Google Voice number, during the sign-up process on the ASP partner's website.
I hope that this allay some trepidations.
I chose to do the latter and it works beautifully. 
May the force be with you all :).................................................................................................
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: Tesla on May 08, 2014, 04:25:19 PM
Quote from: MsCint3 on May 03, 2014, 08:11:19 AM
I copied this from Obitalk news release dated, Tuesday, March 18, 2014. It reads..............................

For those who want to continue to use their Google Voice number with a newly configured OBiTALK ASP partner's service, there are a couple options.  The first is to port the Google Voice number to the service provider's network.  This may incur a porting fee and take time to complete. The second way to keep using a Google Voice number is easy and instant. The OBi owner enters a new phone number assigned by the service provider into the Google Voice "forwards calls to" phone settings.  Once this is done, calls to the OBi owner's Google Voice number will be forwarded directly to the OBi device, ringing their attached phone normally. When making calls, if offered by the ASP partner, OBi customers will be able to set up a custom outgoing Caller ID number, e.g. their Google Voice number, during the sign-up process on the ASP partner's website.
I hope that this allay some trepidations.
I chose to do the latter and it works beautifully. 
May the force be with you all :).................................................................................................

thank you for this! Very helpful. Could you please answer my question below?

Under Obi I have SP1---GV, SP2---blank. I plan to do the following:
-Sign-up for phonepower under SP2
-get a new local number from phonepower
-Set up the newly phone number in GV and fwd my gv calls to that instead of Chats
-Set-up my GV # under phonepower account as outgoing caller id. btw is this possible with this provider (they seem to have the best offer)
-On May 15th my SP1 will stop functioning, do I need to do anything about that? btw what are these Sp1 SP2, like phone lines?

Thank you so much in advance!
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: ant17 on May 20, 2014, 07:56:39 AM
Quote from: shadesofidaho on May 01, 2014, 02:32:14 PM
I only used my OBI to make outgoing calls. I have no other service on it and do not even know or care about my google voice phone number.No text no messages. I call a few people and tell them not to call me on that number if they see it on their caller ID.

Sooooooo I have been reading until my brain is totally plugged up with confusion. I see Callcentric will not work for me because the people I call use Cell and land line phones.  I do not mind paying some$$ But 250 minutes for the other service is not usually enough for me. I call Mom and a few friends on a cancer support group. Never know when they or ME needs the support. I do not need the 911 service We still have a land line. Have to keep it for the internet. GGGRRR

I am also a NOOB on this phone deal. I did have MJ but hated it.

Thanks for any direction here.  Chris

Just courious what company requires you to have a land line for Internet. ATT sure doesn't. I use callcentric for free incoming calls.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: MikeHObi on May 20, 2014, 02:13:43 PM
Quote from: ant17 on May 20, 2014, 07:56:39 AM
Just courious what company requires you to have a land line for Internet. ATT sure doesn't. I use callcentric for free incoming calls.

Some people live in regions where all they can get is DSL service which is over phone lines. 
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: shadesofidaho on May 20, 2014, 05:12:12 PM
ant17 our phone company is MTE communications.  http://mtecom.net/  We are in Midvale,ID.  I know it is hard to believe we have such restrictions here on the phone and internet. The internet speed is good:
Download Speed: 4120 kbps (515 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 41909 kbps (5238.6 KB/sec transfer rate)

and I think it is under $65.00  a month for both phone and internet.

I was busy with other things and did not get my OBI switched over and I also discovered it is still working with GV. Thought I would drop in and see if it was also working for others.  Still undecided what to do.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: Rick on May 21, 2014, 05:48:55 AM
I think that a company is not allowed to REQUIRE you to have a landline if you have DSL.  They have to provide DSL without a landline, which is called "naked".  HOWEVER, nothing stops them from charging more to just have DSL, vs. DSL and a landline.  They can price things how they wish.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: shadesofidaho on May 21, 2014, 09:07:38 AM
I am computer Tech challenged. I am not sure we have DSL. We have a fiber optic line to the house and the wireless modem?( Small Black Box)  is connected to it. It does not come through the phone line now. It used to come through the phone line. We do loose the internet when the power goes off.

I know it is hard for people to imagine the kind of area we live in in Idaho. This is sticksville. 20 miles one way to a grocery store. Five businesses in town. Bar, post office and library. Well there is also the Fire Station all volunteer and ambulance connected to it or part of it. And then the telephone company and small small airport. We live with the oddities of small town life to enjoy the rest of the blessings. Been in this area 20 years and where we moved from was even worse. LOL Population 42. Oh hahaha I just checked and now the population there is SEVEN people as of 2012.

Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: zorlac on May 21, 2014, 12:51:24 PM
"This is sticksville. 20 miles one way to a grocery store. Five businesses in town. Bar, post office and library. We live with the oddities of small town life to enjoy the rest of the blessings."

Dude, I know exactly what you mean, my Son lives in Sandpoint.
Me & the wife did 6200mi round trip from NJ on my Yamaha FJR1300 s/t last July to visit him.
Came in via Kalispell, MT & back down through Stanley, ID on the way back.
I couldn't decide if MT or ID was more beautiful!!!  ;)
I'm on 5.5 wooded acres in southern NJ so it's not too bad.
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: shadesofidaho on May 21, 2014, 03:03:31 PM
I totally forgot we also have a cafe. I am such a good cook we prefer to eat at home. We lived in Clayton 38 miles from Stanley years ago. Sandpoint is HUGE. Montana is Gorgeous but weather is better over here. Still get four seasons but usually they are not as brutal as Montana.

My OBI is still working. I am still undecided.   ???  ???  ???
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: zorlac on May 21, 2014, 06:07:06 PM
Quote from: shadesofidaho on May 21, 2014, 03:03:31 PM
My OBI is still working. I am still undecided.   ???  ???  ???
Personally, I'm riding that train till it derails.  ;D
Title: Re: What service to use after May 15th 2014 with my Obi110? [noob alert!]
Post by: Michael_Reeder on May 26, 2014, 12:43:46 PM
Quote from: Rick on May 21, 2014, 05:48:55 AM
I think that a company is not allowed to REQUIRE you to have a landline if you have DSL.  They have to provide DSL without a landline, which is called "naked".  HOWEVER, nothing stops them from charging more to just have DSL, vs. DSL and a landline.  They can price things how they wish.

I used to have DSL without a land line through Verizon.  Verizon refers to this as a "dry loop".  It was $29-$35/month a few years ago.

In addition to the sticks, some cities have horrible service.

At my house in Baltimore City, I can get Clear Broadband (4Mbps Down/1.3 Mbps Up) which is no longer offered to new customers, Verizon DSL (about the same speeds), or Comcast Internet at $70/month.   All other options are data-capped broadband wireless at $40-$70/month that you would not dare run Netflix on.

At my office in Baltimore City, things are "special".  No DSL service, and no official Comcast service (we can pay for a hook-up nearby then run cable technically just outside their service range).  Comcast "Business Class" was 7Mbps Down / 1.5 Mbps Up -- which is horrible.  I have Clear Broadband at this local via a special antenna tower on the roof to catch signal from a faraway tower.  There are NO good options.  I actually considered satellite!

I drive 2 miles outside Baltimore and marvel at Internet speeds in areas the companies care about.

-- Michael