Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I currently have a vonage account and phone however reading in the news vonage my be out of business due to patent battle with Verizon,  Since I have all my marketing material with vonage phone how can i switch companies and retain my phone number? Is it to soon to think about switching?

I have Vonage also, and I love it. I think it`s too early to tell if the Verizon ruling is the end of Vonage; for now, they are prevented from bringing on new customers. They are also working around the clock on workarounds to get away from the patent problem.

As for phone number portability, yes, you get to take that with you. That`s federal telecommunications law. It doesn`t always work in reverse - taking a landline number and moving it to someone like Vonage. That`s up to the telcom.

But a Vonage number is portable to another carrier, even another VOIP provider. It may get a little sticky if and when Vonage goes under (and frankly I think they`ll survive anyway), but the FCC will be involved and the transition shouldn`t be difficult. (Good thing it`s not part of the ADA, or everybody would start writing in saying how the handicapped should just get over being deaf..)

Anyway, the Vonage crash, if it even comes, won`t be overnight - the FCC won`t allow that to happen. You`ll know well in advance of any changes, from Vonage directly as well as in the news.

I just found an interesting Vonage forum: www.vonage-forum.com. How they keep from getting sued over trademark infringement, I have no idea, but it`s a site for Vonage customers to talk about what`s going on, etc. Might be a good site to bookmark if things ever got ugly.

So for now, I wouldn`t worry too much about it. Ordering more business cards? That`s a tough one...

Nope. Not a big deal for my company, anyway. It`s easy enough to add if I`d like, but I`m not needing to be accessible to the general public.

We use Vonage as well. Most likely, Verizon will offer Vonage customers another option. It is definitely a competitive confrontation.

I have no desire to become a Verizon customer over this issue. Verizon won`t ever `own` Vonage customers, and we all have other options. VOIP isn`t anything new, and there are lots of competitors. Vonage`s use of Verizon`s IP isn`t my problem; I chose Vonage to get away from major telcoms. I have no plans on going back to them.

thanks for the updated information I`ll stick it out until I have more concrete reasons to defect (like going out of business).  I love the service except for the increase in price.

I do not believe vonage has a 411 directory assistance however I sure (bell south/at&t would allow you to be add to 411 data base. I do however enjoy the service ease of use and you can pick your area code and you can use the phone anywhere as long as you have high speed internet connection.