FWIW I am using Vonage VOIP with HS internet. I can configure this
service so when my internet goes down calls are automatically routed
to my cell phone. It has some nice features and has unlimited long
distance calling in the US and to land lines in certain european
countries for $25/month. It is a far better deal than my Verizon
service IMO.

Gary

On 1/12/07, Mike S <mikes@flatsurface.com> wrote:
> At 05:41 PM 1/12/2007, John Rodgers wrote...
> >I'm about to leap into the internet phone thing, but I have never used
> >one, much less even heard one. So don't really have a clue as to how
> >well they work or don't work.
>
> Don't give up your primary phone if phone service is critical in any
> way for you. There are no service level guarantees and no Quality of
> Service on the Internet. While Internet phone service may work most of
> the time, there is no assurance it will work when you need it most.
> Telephone carriers (*LECs and cellular) are required by FCC and state
> PSC regulation to maintain reliability and performance. That can't be
> done on the Internet, where the communications path is controlled by
> multiple parties not bound by the same rules.
>

--
Gary McEachern
Reading Ma
87 Wolfy Weekender (suby 2.2)
87 Westy Camper (suby 2.2)