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Rivals Fight for SunRocket Customers

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

July 19, 2007, 10:18 AM

Following news that Internet telephone provider SunRocket was shutting down its business effective immediately, the company's former competitors have swooped in to pick up customers left out in the cold. Vonage is offering two months of free service, while 8x8 and Unified Communications were picked as "preferred" providers for SunRocket users.

Those who switch to 8x8's Packet8 service won't have to pay the typical $100 activation fee, while Unified is offering a $12.95 special rate for its Teleband service. As part of being a "preferred" service provider, both companies will pay a fee to SunRocket creditors for every customer that switches. Smaller VoIP companies such as VoicePulse are also trying to gain a few customers from SunRocket's 200,000-strong user base.

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By RandySinclair

edited Aug 20, 2007 - 8:24 AM

If anyone is still searching: for the results of 3 weeks of research and monitoring three different hook ups as follows:
1) VOIP.com good clear connections, no echo or break up in voice, good cusomer service, PC acct mgr is easy to use, all features with voice mail and more, my #1 company and choice.
2) ITP is a second company I have on a month to month basis, clear no echo or break up voice, good voice mail system, when dialing sometimes i hear a crackle especially when entering a password (for ex dialing into your bank acct), but the voice is clear, online acct mgr great.
nice features easy access.
3) TELEBLEND is my third, with all the SunRocket equipment in place! everything is the same and i must admit,it is working well, if they can just stay afloat and stay in business. Voicemail is the old SR system, other features coming 1 by 1 online. but it is clear, no echo, fast, dependable...for now, for the future we can only hope!

Score: 0

By RandySinclair

edited Aug 16, 2007 - 7:52 PM

Teleblend off Wed 8/15 for about 3 hours in VA
I'm getting ready to say good bye to Tele, found out you have to write a letter and document that you tried to call them...no way to cancel on the acct manager, however, it has been working again and the Voicemail system is ALL sunrocket voice.
VOIP.com is great, and I'm getting an additional with ITP. will see which i like better. CREDIT CARD>>>>>> today refunded my unused portion of the SunRocket charges as a credit on the acct.... YEAH! for Chase!

Score: 0

By RandySinclair

posted Aug 7, 2007 - 3:06 PM

Well folks, today teleblend is shutting down to
near zero bandwidth, so "all circuits are busy"
or "the number is not answering" What a Crock
of you know what, this is. Totally unacceptable, write your credit card and cancel any more monthly charges from Teleblend... and go elsewhere.

Score: 0

By RandySinclair

posted Aug 8, 2007 - 3:38 PM

and today Wednesday, TeleBlend is back up and working what appears to be ok... Calls in and out and they even sent out an email explaining the problem.... Wow!

Score: 0

By RandySinclair

posted Aug 5, 2007 - 5:04 AM

Today I have been told by my new provider that even though SunRocket is going dead August 5th, the phone numbers are still active indefinitely and can still be ported to another VOIP provider after the 5th. USA Telephone/Sherwood in CA all have the equipment, data bases into Teleblend. So the numbers will remain active for porting purposes,nice of 'em- My new "VoIP.com" is great and very clear & crisp,the VoIP adapter is identical to the Gizmos- Have fun and enjoy your new service.

Score: 0

By RandySinclair

posted Aug 5, 2007 - 5:02 AM

FUNERAL SERVICES
The Family of SunRocket and No Gotchas will
hold private services today, August 5th to
lay to rest the service that ceased to function
for two days, and was raised again for a time.
But later fell ill to the ongoing disease of GREED and POWER at the management level causing the
widespread pain and suffering of 200,000 clients.
Now their time has come, today! Peace...

Score: 0

By DumbRichBlonde

edited Aug 1, 2007 - 12:36 PM

Hi gang:
Just reporting in.
Thank you for all your wonderful info.
Went to my bank to fill out papers to hopefully, be reinbursed for my losses with SunRocket. Used a Visa Debit card. Not a clue if I will get any back. But doesn't hurt to ask!
With low funds was forced to go with Teleblend for now. Will look over all the other companies to figure what to do. But, think for now...will stick with Teleblend. Pay monthly. If a problem...will run real fast.
My run light has been green for the last couple of days. Wow! Just checked. Hot Dog!
My voicemail is up and running. Guessing your's is also!
Hope everyone has been able to solve their problems. Was sick to hear a person was billed twice for $199 in one year!
A lesson back to "can't assume anything"!
At least they gave us a few days. Would have been awful..if we had all gotten a dead phone one day! Guess this was a lesson in trust! We trusted them!
Happy phoning!
Carol
PS: Just noticed when retreiving my messages..the ladies voice says...."Welcome to SunRocket Voice Mail". My voice mail messages from SunRocket are still there! DAY JA VOO...

Score: 0

By DumbRichBlonde

posted Aug 3, 2007 - 12:32 PM

Hot Dog!
As of today was credited $104 from my bank. I used a Visa Debit card - February 07.
My deal with SunRocket was service til May 08.
Would never have thought to have gotten my money back from the bank without others on this site mentioning it!
Could some intelligent person share how this is done? Is the bank giving me the money. Or, SunRocket? Guessing the bank?
Hope everyone else gets their money back.
Think will use at a Casino on the fun slots!
Wishing everyone a nice summer.
Hope your phones are up and running!

Score: 0

By anton sherwood

edited Jul 31, 2007 - 1:35 AM

Finds Lingo better

I quit from SunRocket and choose Lingo as my next VoIP service provider. Backed by a huge company like Primus, I am confident that all goes well for me with Lingo services. While browsing through Lingo’s website, I find great promotion deals and calling plans, specifically for SunRocket customers. Now, they are offering an annual calling plan for just $195. And their fine coverage available in Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Vatican City, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Canada.

Score: 0

By bhawkins67

edited Jul 20, 2007 - 3:31 PM

voip deals our coming in strong

Pingo is also playing the sunrocket customer band wagan to help assist the 200k plus customers that our out of luck.

Here is a coupon to your readers for pingo.com
10% off SunRocket Customers Coupon code: sunrocket
Expires 7/20/2008
Valid to new customers

good luck to all that are tyring to pick a provider thats going to stick around.

Will vonage be next to do?

Score: 0

By IPMan

edited Jul 19, 2007 - 1:33 PM

Here's another company helping Colorado Sunrocket business customers stay connected to VoIP.

COLORADO’S IP5280 ANNOUNCES VOIP SAFETY NET PROGRAM FOR DISCONNECTED SUNROCKET CUSTOMERS
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., July 19, 2007 - IP5280 Communications, Colorado’s business VoIP specialists, announced today a “Safety Net Program” aimed at rescuing businesses who were disconnected from Internet phone service provider, Sunrocket. According to the telecom publication Network World on July 17, Sunrocket has laid off employees and stopped answering its phones for its nearly 200,000 residential and business customers nationwide. In response, IP5280 is offering its Safety Net Program to provide small and medium-sized business users an immediate safe haven for migrating their company to the IP5280 VoIP services platform. As a part of the Safety Net Program, IP5280 is waiving its regular $49 per- user activation fee and offering the IP5280 Installation Guarantee which ensures businesses can be VoIP ready in five days for all standard implementations.
“I immediately turned to IP5280 when my phone and fax lines were shut off,” said Christopher Williamson, president of DreamQuest Software, a Colorado-based provider of card and board video games. “Our phones are our lifeline to our customers. I cannot afford this type of service interruption. I appreciate IP5280 reacting quickly to set up our new account.”
“Once business owners experience VoIP, they are reluctant to return to Ma Bell because they have grown accustomed to the feature set, flexibility and quality of service from VoIP,” said Jeffrey Pearl, co-founder and managing partner of IP5280. “We encourage business owners to research their options carefully before choosing a VoIP provider by making sure they are experienced, financially stable, and most importantly, offer business grade VoIP service.”
IP5280 offers a range of unlimited local and long distance VoIP calling packages and data solutions including Hosted VoIP and IP Business Trunking services which deliver full user mobility and email integration. Advanced features include sending voicemail to an email inbox, simultaneous ring on multiple phones, automatic logging of calls, auto attendant that greets callers and delivers calls to different employees, and traditional features such as conference call and three-way calling.
About IP5280
IP5280 is Colorado’s VoIP Company, a Denver-based, next-generation communications provider specializing in VoIP and converged IP voice and data services. IP5280 provides businesses the most advanced IP solutions to meet a variety of voice, data and IP networking needs. http://www.IP5280.com, (303) 800-0000.

Score: 0

By jshurst

edited Jul 19, 2007 - 3:46 PM

Check this out... http://www.magicjack.com . I just got one and it rocks! I can't comment on the reliability as I've only had it for a week, but for $40 you can't go wrong.

Score: 0

By Mark111

edited Jul 19, 2007 - 12:05 PM

I found a great company VIATALK They offer a plan $199 a year for unlimited calling, just like sunrocket and they will give you in addition to the plan they offer you, up to 6 months free service , only if you were a sunrocket customer.

for example , if you sign up for their service for $199 a year and had been a customer of sunrocket and you had 4 months left on your sunrocket plan.. they will give you 4 months free .. I did alot of research for the last 2 days .....

here is the link..

http://affiliatecenter.v...evaffiliate.php?id=5099

Score: 0

By zenarcher

posted Jul 19, 2007 - 2:58 PM

Packet8 offers the same $199.00/year deal. I've been using Packet8 for better than three years and they are extremely reliable.

Score: 0

By dougggg

posted Jul 19, 2007 - 1:22 PM

wow mark111 that sounds great! I can't wait to sign up! :) What do you get out of the deal?

Score: 0

By Mark111

posted Jul 19, 2007 - 12:05 PM

Its a great company.

Score: 0

By dstratton

posted Jul 19, 2007 - 10:41 AM

VoicePulse has always treated me well - and they don't charge all kinds of fees to add on services. $100 activation fee for 8x8? Screw that, can't believe anyone would be willing to pay that kind of money.

Score: 0

By icw70

posted Jul 19, 2007 - 11:22 AM

I joined yesterday. They waive the start up fee, the gizmo fee, shipping and 1 month free. It's not a $100 fee to start normally.

Score: 0

By jeremyv

edited Aug 3, 2007 - 6:12 AM

I had it with stand alone voips. I lost quite a number of business opportunities on those 1 week that I don't have a phone service. I'm tempted to sign up with Vonage because they're been in the business for long but the lawsuit made me think twice and because Vonage is a stand alone voip too, they might suffer the same thing as SR.

I ended up signing with Onesuite.com, a new voip player. I learned that Onesuite is actually a prepaid long distance phone card that has a voip feature. Well so far so good. I hope I made the right decision this time.

Score: 0

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