Home Phone Maze... - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Foxenhimr · 2012-05-18, 08:48 AM

We are moving at the end of June and are considering whether to keep our Rogers home phone service - with mostly the hope of cutting down on the monthly bill. Trying a simple comparison between other providers is next to impossible - they've all got slightly different plans, or have "this particular feature for free" for 3 months, etc etc -

We'd like unlimited Canada calling - 200 to 500 minutes US ( no international ), call display and voice mail. We'd also like to keep our present number ( had for over 20 years ) but understand there might be issues with some providers in keeping it - for instance Tek Savvy said we could not port number to their HP service ( only voip ) What determines who the number can be ported to ?

Voip is not really an option, because there have been health issues in the past, and the 911 service over voip doesn't make us very comfortable

Any help is appreciated !

HDTV101 · 2012-05-19, 09:08 PM

It's because your number, that your had for 20 years, must really be a Bell number, that Bell has ported over to Rogers, when you switched to Rogers. This number belongs to Bell and is part of the PTSN. When someone calls this number it's mapped by the PTSN to Bell... and Bell then sends it over to Rogers.. If you port again to TS it'll be Bell really doing to port. Since this number physically exists at Bell it can only be ported to a virtual switch at a VoIP provider. If TS says they can't do it then there is some limitation in what numbers they can port in to a physical switch they control.

BTW Rogers is VoIP! But it's a VoIP system that they control 100%.

mvashi · 2012-05-22, 04:29 PM

I am with Vonage and I have unlimited North America and select International destinations.Well if you read the fine print , unlimited is 3000 minutes per month.
For the first three months it was 19.99 + tax and then 29.99 + tax.This includes host of features including call display , call waiting.I was able to keep my number when I switched over form Bell a few months back.
Did not have problems with them yet .Check them out

Gentleman · 2012-05-22, 07:39 PM

Have been with Primus Digital Home Phone for over 2 years now and no issues.

Our plan is $19.95 + $10 for unlimited calling north america and 18 calling features. Most impressive feature has been the telemarketing guard which seems to work quite well. Our phone package also earns us air miles every month.

But the OP needs to know that if your ISP connection goes down, you are without phone service.

grog · 2012-05-29, 05:03 PM

Another consideration would be to go with an inexpensive VoIP service as you primary phone and pickup a cheap pay-as-you-go phone to keep on hand as an emergency backup. There are some providers like SpeakOut from 7-Eleven that have 365-day expiration on their airtime so you only need to top up once a year, so it only costs a couple of bucks a month to have one on standby. SpeakOut just rents time on Rogers' network so it's just as reliable.

2012-05-18, 08:48 AM	#1
Foxenhimr Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Barrhaven, Ottawa Posts: 62	Home Phone Maze... We are moving at the end of June and are considering whether to keep our Rogers home phone service - with mostly the hope of cutting down on the monthly bill. Trying a simple comparison between other providers is next to impossible - they've all got slightly different plans, or have "this particular feature for free" for 3 months, etc etc - We'd like unlimited Canada calling - 200 to 500 minutes US ( no international ), call display and voice mail. We'd also like to keep our present number ( had for over 20 years ) but understand there might be issues with some providers in keeping it - for instance Tek Savvy said we could not port number to their HP service ( only voip ) What determines who the number can be ported to ? Voip is not really an option, because there have been health issues in the past, and the 911 service over voip doesn't make us very comfortable Any help is appreciated !

2012-05-22, 07:39 PM	#4
Gentleman Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Port Stanley, ON Posts: 207	Primus Have been with Primus Digital Home Phone for over 2 years now and no issues. Our plan is $19.95 + $10 for unlimited calling north america and 18 calling features. Most impressive feature has been the telemarketing guard which seems to work quite well. Our phone package also earns us air miles every month. But the OP needs to know that if your ISP connection goes down, you are without phone service. __________________ Delhi DMXHD 48, SFA 1483, SR 1047, CM7778

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2012-05-19, 09:08 PM	#2
HDTV101 Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,000	It's because your number, that your had for 20 years, must really be a Bell number, that Bell has ported over to Rogers, when you switched to Rogers. This number belongs to Bell and is part of the PTSN. When someone calls this number it's mapped by the PTSN to Bell... and Bell then sends it over to Rogers.. If you port again to TS it'll be Bell really doing to port. Since this number physically exists at Bell it can only be ported to a virtual switch at a VoIP provider. If TS says they can't do it then there is some limitation in what numbers they can port in to a physical switch they control. BTW Rogers is VoIP! But it's a VoIP system that they control 100%.

2012-05-22, 04:29 PM	#3
mvashi Rookie Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 12	I am with Vonage and I have unlimited North America and select International destinations.Well if you read the fine print , unlimited is 3000 minutes per month. For the first three months it was 19.99 + tax and then 29.99 + tax.This includes host of features including call display , call waiting.I was able to keep my number when I switched over form Bell a few months back. Did not have problems with them yet .Check them out

2012-05-29, 05:03 PM	#5
grog Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Streetsville, ON Posts: 823	Another consideration would be to go with an inexpensive VoIP service as you primary phone and pickup a cheap pay-as-you-go phone to keep on hand as an emergency backup. There are some providers like SpeakOut from 7-Eleven that have 365-day expiration on their airtime so you only need to top up once a year, so it only costs a couple of bucks a month to have one on standby. SpeakOut just rents time on Rogers' network so it's just as reliable.