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Supermarket VOIP
chuckT writes "Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket chain, has announced plans to sell a VOIP handset and connection through their stores. Given that one out of every eight pounds, spent on shopping in the UK goes to Tesco, and the UK has one of the highest broadband takeup rates around, is this the end for the classic telecoms providers like BT?"
I'm a big fan of VoIP (I've moved many friends and family to various companies). I can't wait until there are more programs available to let me use my PDA-bluetooth-tether-cell combo (150kbps download nearly everywhere) to talk without the cell network. I believe T-Mobile will actually help transition their users to VoIP as they build a faster network (and make their money that way).
The big problem I have with VoIP is it still seems to rely on people wanting to contact POTS numbers. When will we see a replacement for the old phone number?
The e-mail address isn't a bad idea, but I honestly don't want to share that with some people. A new number isn't memorable. Names are too generic and duplicated (there are 3 Adam Dada's that I've found in the past 3 years).
What is the solution for the "Follow Me" signature that we can use as our VoIP contact? Is the future settings up 3 or 4 addresses so we can give friends, family and tele-marketters different numbers?
They lock down the hardware so that the market has lots of used VoIP hardware that is 100% useless. I can find gobs of Vonnage SIP phones on ebay for dirt but are locked to Vonnage.
I just wish these companies would be required to be friendlier and unlock the hardware after the "contract" is up.
Cellphone companies do thew same crap. I had to threaten to sue AT&T wireless because they locked my personal phone to their service. I purchased an unlocked phone myself used their service and their scumbag service rep locked my phone. these companies really need to learn what customer service is and that the customer's property needs to be released to them at the end of thwe contract.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
It's one eighth of all retail spending.
If you really want to get het up about them consider this: online, they take one pound in every four.
I really, to be honest, could care less about 911 calling on VoIP. If 911 is all important, then it should be a governement provided and supported service. 911 should be active on any landline, regardless of whether you have service on the line or now. Simply plug in a phone and you can dial 911. Done. If this were the case, VoIP adapters could have a extra port for connection to a landline jack and route 911 calls to it.
Walmart gets pretty much ALL my money spent at retail. And with a family of 6, we spend a lot.
Not saying I'm happy about it, but can't make the paycheck stretch as far anyplace else.
But Newegg gets my computer equipment expenditures...