iTalk - Worth it?

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › iTalk - Worth it?

anatoki

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#41963 26-Sep-2009 15:00

So we're shortly moving to a house that's precabled for TCL and have just organised for a VOIP solution with Slingshot.

I asked the sales rep that she port my number over on a certain date, as we still require the POTS line at our current address until we move. She wasn't sure if it was possible, placed me on hold and then came back a few minutes later to tell me I need to call them on the day I want it and that they will activate it.

I asked her if once I called they would activate the port immediately on that same day, or whether or they would just initiate the LMNP porting process at that time (ie a further 3-5 working days). She told me that they would 'activate' my account. I asked the question again and got the same response.

Call me suspicious but I have massive concerns over whether or not this transition will go smoothly and that my number will actually port over on the day I call.

Has anyone had any luck with Slingshot in the past for the iTalk service? Should I cancel the application and go back to WxC and enquire about their VFX service (which I've used previously with no complaints)?

nate

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#259350 29-Sep-2009 13:22

anatoki: Call me suspicious but I have massive concerns over whether or not this transition will go smoothly and that my number will actually port over on the day I call.

I'd put my money on a fail. If you want to have uninterrupted service, this is how I'd do it:

Setup an account with WxC (steer clear of iTalk) now and get a call divert always setup on your POTS line on the day of your move (this will redirect all calls for you to WxC, there will be costs involved)

Once you have your TCL setup, start the porting process.

This way you will have VoIP at your new home, plus your old calls will still reach you. You can then number port at your leisure, and you won't notice once it's ported (the old line and call divert will automatically cancel when the number ports).

anatoki: Has anyone had any luck with Slingshot in the past for the iTalk service? Should I cancel the application and go back to WxC and enquire about their VFX service (which I've used previously with no complaints)?

Having been burned by iTalk in the past (I now have an iTalk number ported on WxC) I wouldn't use them, however, I am biased, plus I have no experience with their new platform.

anatoki

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#259353 29-Sep-2009 13:25

All I needed to know. Cancelled app!

richms

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#259371 29-Sep-2009 14:23

I am not very impressed with italks CSR's etc, but I would choose them any day over getting a WXC product ever again.

Richard rich.ms

AndrewTD

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#259373 29-Sep-2009 14:39

I had problems with a number port that I had done from an iTalk service to WxC. Many months after the change, the phone stopped working. Turns out that somehow iTalk had subsequently, and with no authority, "un-ported" the number! So I don't trust iTalk anymore.
I have found WxC to have very competent and accessible VoIP tech support.

kind regards Andrew TD

Mattnzl

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#259382 29-Sep-2009 15:08

FWIW - 2talk ported my number no problems and on the day promised.

richms

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#259386 29-Sep-2009 15:20

Telecom did the same "unport" when they had their meltdown at pukekohe. Do you not trust them anymore too?

wxc are selling other products they still cant deliver on, why trust them for voip when their internet is a big fat fail with them saying they will not be fixing it?

Richard rich.ms

AndrewTD

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#259419 29-Sep-2009 16:28

richms: Telecom did the same "unport" when they had their meltdown at pukekohe. Do you not trust them anymore too?

wxc are selling other products they still cant deliver on, why trust them for voip when their internet is a big fat fail with them saying they will not be fixing it?

Over the last few years I've had a fair bit of exposure to VoIP service provision / interaction from/with iTalk, 2Talk & WxC. My personal experience of that has been that WxC has been very good. iTalk was not.

My comments above were not a reaction to single event, rather they reflect my overall view, after multiple interactions with each of them. (I had very few technical interactions with 2Talk - so I am not commenting further on them.) WxC were consistently responsive and helpful - but not perfect. iTalk were pretty poor overall.

I am a light to moderate internet user at home, and I have recently started using WxC's unbundled internet service, and it has been OK so far. ( I chose them as they were almost the only provider in my area able to provide internet access only i.e. no bundled PSTN line, at a reasonable cost.)

I have seen people here at Geekzone commenting negatively re WxC's internet service - it would appear that the higher volume users/plans are the ones primarily affected/concerned. I prefer to comment on the issues that I have had first hand experience of. Not having been affected by the WxC internet issues you mention, I'll leave that to others to discuss. :)

kind regards Andrew TD

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askelon

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#259423 29-Sep-2009 16:36

Ive been using iTalk for years - around 3.5 now.. Still using the old grandstream budgetone phone as well - its had its moments of frustration but in saying that I find it a crap load more reliable than Telstra Clears stupid phoneline.. Only issues I ever have is with voicemail - for some reason it stops allowing me to check it via the phone but I can via a SIP program or via email (it all gets emailed to me)..

Ive got a customer running 2 lines via WxC's setup and hes more than happy with that.

nate

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#259991 1-Oct-2009 10:34

To clarify my point from earlier, 2Talk != iTalk. I'm more than happy with 2Talk.

richms: wxc are selling other products they still cant deliver on, why trust them for voip when their internet is a big fat fail with them saying they will not be fixing it?

Fair comment on their internet, I think their VoIP platform however is fine.