Vonage, does it work in NZ?

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PaulZA

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Topic # 99192 14-Mar-2012 13:32

Hi, I got a VOIP adapter shipped to me from Hong Kong/

I was looking at the VOIP options going, and I stumbled across Vonage from the USA.

For USD$10 per month, you get unlimted calling to 60 countries, New Zealand and South Africa is on the list.

My questions are.

1.Would it work here in NZ, as VOIP providers have a reputation for blocking access to their services outside their coverage areas?

2.Since they need a US address, how am I supposed to get one without raising suspicitions surely if I enter a fake address, and then they get billing slips in the mail that will raise a few eyebrows.

Has anyone done this before, and can shed any light on this?

Thanks

freitasm

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Reply # 595112 14-Mar-2012 14:38

I don't think so, however... If you have a smartphone (iPhone or Android), the Vonage Mobile app is worth looking at.

Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure)

nate

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Reply # 595158 14-Mar-2012 15:34

PaulZA: 1.Would it work here in NZ, as VOIP providers have a reputation for blocking access to their services outside their coverage areas?

From what I've been reading, it doesn't seem that they block international registrations.

PaulZA: 2.Since they need a US address, how am I supposed to get one without raising suspicitions surely if I enter a fake address, and then they get billing slips in the mail that will raise a few eyebrows.

You'll need a mail forwarding address like http://www.myus.com

You may also find you'll need a USA credit card, www.entropay.com

Custom software development | Mt Eden Cafe | Cafe Owner

techmeister

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Reply # 595407 14-Mar-2012 23:31

That's $10 for the first month and then $26 a month after that.

Now on 2talk Network and it's better.

Voltmonkey

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Reply # 709762 31-Oct-2012 11:50

Hi there,

I read your post and decided that I could add something that may be helpful. As a long time user of Vonage in New Zealand, I can state that using Vonage as my VOIP carrier is great. It only costs me US$36 per month to maintain service, and with that I get messaging and a regular US line, along with a US toll free line, and 750 talk minutes per month.

I have been a Vonage customer for about 14 years now, but I originally signed up in the USA, so that Vonage could send me my Cisco ATA 186 VOIP modem. Then, I've dragged it around with me since then. Because I'm already signed up with Vonage, and I can buy my hardware anywhere, my account has remained active since I originally signed up.

The main problem with getting a Vonage account is that you have to be a US customer, with a US shipping address so that they can ship their equipment to you. Once you establish that criteria, then you are good to go, and there are a number of online services you can sign up with that will give you a US shipping address that will forward the Vonage equipment to you in NZ...for a cost.

You can also forward your Vonage account to a mobile smart phone, such as Blackberry or Iphone, and enjoy the benefits of VOIP mobile. The down side is that you won't have a NZ phone number for people to ring in to your mobile, so you'll have to maintain your NZ mobile account. So, your outgoing calls will be included in your VOIP account with Vonage, and you can mask your phone number to a NZ number, so nobody receiving the call will need to know you are using VOIP.

The advantage is that you can ring the US, UK, and NZ for nothing extra, and you can ring anywhere around the globe for pittance, and finally you can use your VOIP account to ring NZ from anywhere on the planet for free (actually not free, but included in your monthly Vonage bill, which can be conveniently put on your CC!)

Hope this is helpful. Please LMK if I can answer any specific questions regarding how Vonage works.

Cheers!