Anyone use cable company for their business phone service?

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Kyle Henson

Kyle Henson

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
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Mar 12, 2009
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Loc
New Orleans
We are moving in January after 8 years in our current location. We are thinking about using Cox Cable, our local cable company, as our internet and phone provider. I am not so concerned about the internet as I am about the phone service. Does anyone use cable phone service and have they had any issues with it? Thanks for any info.

Kyle
 
Last I checked, using a cable company for internet was $30 a month more then AT&T DSL. The phone prices were about the same.

I think it all comes down to how much it costs and what is available in your area or the area of your new location.
 
In our market, the cable provider is about $25 less per month. Just wondering if anyone had any issues before I sign a three year contract.
 
How do you do Credit Card processing?

I have no first hand experience, but understand that some of the CC processors have a problem with "VOiP" - you might want to double check your processor?
 
In our market, DSL is being phased out and replaced with FIOS/Fiber. (for several years now). It's the digital version of the product, from the same company. Verizon offers digital television, analog over digital telephone, and internet with the FIOS service. (Cox offers digital television, analog over digital telephone, and internet as well)

Cox internet was recently rated fastest in the USA, and I can vouch for that claim. The speeds we were getting at home, before we switched from Cox to Verizon FIOS, were amazingly fast. GTP pays $49 per month for the internet portion of the bill, and about $70 per month for the (two) phone lines. (after taxes, call forwarding, etc)

Our shop has had COX digital telephone for almost ten years now ( in one more month it'll be 10 years ). It has been flawless, much louder than Verizon's copper wires, and we save a lot every month. I had it at home about ten years, also, and have it many other businesses. (we switched the house to Voice over IP about 5 years ago, only because of price)

We had a MAJOR problem with COX at the shop, which they resolved TODAY. It's ironic that you asked today :) Our service been spotty since the hurricane hit New England. (we have NINE Cox telephone lines/numbers in the building, between our shop and some sister businesses) Sometimes no dialtone, sometimes static on the lines. They finally traced the issue today and it seems stable again.

I had the same kind of issue two years ago, for a large (consulting) client in Providence. It took about a week, in that case. (digital static on all lines, outside of the building)

To their credit, they did credit us for the time down and we had the ability to forward to cell phones. Their communications were excellent, and they were pleasant about it. It shouldn't have taken so long to fix the issue, however.

If you still use a credit card terminal that uses a dialup modem, have an alarm panel tied in, or a fax machine; these will work fine with COX or FIOS. But these devices usually wont work well with traditional 'VOIP' providers like VONAGE, VIATALK, etc.

Mike
 
Our CC processing is via internet now. We use Quickbooks POS for our processor. I have thought about getting rid of the land line and going wireless. I haven't had a land line at home for about 10 years now. Anyone only have a wireless number for their business? Pros? Cons?
 
That's how we do cards, too. (via the internet) But it's part of the POS we are using (LifeSaver). Approvals take about 1-2 seconds, and require no phone line. I think all of the major players offer that feature now.

I don't think the quality of cellular calls is suitable for the office (yet), because the customer would be able to tell. But for the house, I wouldn't care. The only reason we still have service at home is because of the house alarm. (and I've downgraded it to a $10 per month VOIP plan compat with our alarm, which includes unlimited long distance, caller id call waiting, forwarding voicemail, simul-ring to cell phone, etc) We use our cell phones for personal calls 99% of the time.

MIke
 
I'm returning to Verizon at work and home after my contract expires. Verizon land lines worked after the 40mph hurricane next door at home and work. I was without phone service for more than a week. This showed me they are not reliable. I've also had to call Cox several time do to static on the line and unable to take CC's sereral times over the last few years.

I like the internet service but IMHO they phone service has been 2nd rate.

framer
 
Thanks for all the input. When I called ATT and said I was gonna go with Cox Cable they said they would beat their offer and only have a one year contract. They gave me 6meg internet and one land line with unlimited long distance for $75 plus taxes a month. A new free modem/router and free install. Doesn't hurt to shop around I guess.
 
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