Having spent quite a few hours poring over the various posts on these forums concerning the switch to VOIP from a conventional landline, I'm looking for some advice specific to my situation. While there's a LOT of information on here, much of it is quite dated (2010-11) and I'd like a better sense of the situation in 2017.
There appear to be several pitfalls to watch out for from what I've read:
(1) service quality & reliability varies somewhat between vendors,
(2) number portability can be an issue and requires care, &
(3) there are simply too many players to choose from to make an easy choice (other than avoiding the known 'spammers' on principle).
I expect that my final decision (a.k.a. #3) will be heavily weighted by #2 - pretty much non-negotiable as far as I'm concerned - and #1 in that order
On to specifics. I'm currently stuck with a "sole supplier" situation with BellAliant as my only option for both my landline and DSL - and their service level and prices both reflect the fact they hold a de-facto monopoly in this area . From what I've read, this means I'm looking at having to set-up a "dry loop" for my DSL first and then porting my existing phone number (which I REALLY want to keep) to my chosen VOIP service.
What I'm looking for now is some recent experiences from people who have gone through this specifically dealing with BellAliant on the east coast because, although the two companies (Bell & BellAliant) have effectively merged in all but name, my recent experience suggest there still remain some vestiges of their former selves (particularly in policies & procedures) which might effect the experience.
Any relevant input would certainly be appreciated.
There appear to be several pitfalls to watch out for from what I've read:
(1) service quality & reliability varies somewhat between vendors,
(2) number portability can be an issue and requires care, &
(3) there are simply too many players to choose from to make an easy choice (other than avoiding the known 'spammers' on principle).
I expect that my final decision (a.k.a. #3) will be heavily weighted by #2 - pretty much non-negotiable as far as I'm concerned - and #1 in that order
On to specifics. I'm currently stuck with a "sole supplier" situation with BellAliant as my only option for both my landline and DSL - and their service level and prices both reflect the fact they hold a de-facto monopoly in this area . From what I've read, this means I'm looking at having to set-up a "dry loop" for my DSL first and then porting my existing phone number (which I REALLY want to keep) to my chosen VOIP service.
What I'm looking for now is some recent experiences from people who have gone through this specifically dealing with BellAliant on the east coast because, although the two companies (Bell & BellAliant) have effectively merged in all but name, my recent experience suggest there still remain some vestiges of their former selves (particularly in policies & procedures) which might effect the experience.
Any relevant input would certainly be appreciated.