I just signed up with JOIPhone for internet phone service. The advantages for me?

Half the cost of my former landline service.
No more extra charge for domestic long-distance.
Email notification of missed calls.
Caller ID
Retaining of old phone #.
Many, many more features.

Most of all:

An opportunity to screw Verizon! (I'll never forgive them for cooperating with Bush's illegal wiretaps.)

Check-it-out:

www.joiphone.com

One lone example of how private enterprise is supposed to work.

Artlo:

You might want to check out 911 service from your phone.

I've heard that is one of the few drawbacks to land lines.

Well find out. They made a special effort to inform about just this feature when I signed up. There was a miniscule extra charge.

I believe that this may be an example where private enterprise is encroaching on the public sector in a positive way. It may be quite profound.

It is my political opinion that public utilities should remain PUBLIC. It is simply the most efficient way to provide public services.

Now, with the internet, we have a legitimate avenue for private companies to provide a better way. I'm all for it (as long as politicians, especially republicans, allow the industry to remain pure, which I doubt will remain for long).

I just signed up for Skype. What a kick-in-the-head! It's an internet phone option that lets you talk to eachother through the computer and see eachother while you're talking. Completely free if you're talking to somebody else who is on Skype (all over the world).

The only question is, "Do you really want the person you're talking to to be able to see you in your bathrobe with toothpaste stains around your mouth?"

Check it out.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: artlo,

Sadly, I have to report that internet phone services work crappy over wireless internet. Skype works quite well, but Joiphone and Vonage don't.

I'm having to return to Verizon with my tail between my legs. Back to high bills, horrible phone tree and warrantless wiretaps. Nuts!