Shaw Digital Phone Light - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

boobaloo · 11-26-2006, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flmsfan2004

Well... shaw's digital cable is "down" right now...which means only cell phones until shaw fixes whatever issues it's having in calgary and southern alberta. Once again confirming my choice that when I move, Shaw isn't going to even be an option for my home phone.

When I read up about it, they always suggested having a land line in addition to internet/cell line. I imagine this is why.

From Consumer Reports: but you have to be a member to read the article:

However, there are a number of drawbacks to VoIP, including issues regarding emergency 911 service. We strongly recommend that you keep a basic landline even if you get VoIP for day-to-day use.

This included all internet phoning, VoIP is just a brand as far as I know.

BlackArcher101 · 11-26-2006, 12:46 PM

Just remember... Shaw Phone has it's own dedicated system. My internet and tv have been down numerous times but my phone was still 100% ok. If there is a physical issue with a line, then not even a telus line will prevent that from happening.

flmsfan04, I wouldn't label Southern Alberta and Calgary as having issues when you don't know how many people are affected by your outage. Makes the problem larger than it actually is.

jolinar of malkshor · 11-26-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boobaloo

When I read up about it, they always suggested having a land line in addition to internet/cell line. I imagine this is why.

From Consumer Reports: but you have to be a member to read the article:

However, there are a number of drawbacks to VoIP, including issues regarding emergency 911 service. We strongly recommend that you keep a basic landline even if you get VoIP for day-to-day use.

This included all internet phoning, VoIP is just a brand as far as I know.

VoIP is not a brand VONAGE is. VoIP is the term used to explain Internet phones.

flmsfan2004 · 11-26-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

flmsfan04, I wouldn't label Southern Alberta and Calgary as having issues when you don't know how many people are affected by your outage. Makes the problem larger than it actually is.

When we called shaw this morning, they had a pre-recorded message saying they were currently having problems in Calgary and Southern Alberta...those were shaws words not mine. Our phone is working again so that makes me happy

Hemi-Cuda · 12-14-2006, 06:59 PM

finally got some official word on the digital phone lite package for those who are interested. it's available now, soft launch (meaning no advertising, Shaw still wants to push the big package) and it's $29.95 if you have Shaw TV or internet and $34.95 if you get it standalone. $0.04 per minute long distance anywhere in US and Canada, as well as the 50 other countries listed in the standard digital phone plan. included features are call forward, call return, call display and 3-way calling. voicemail and call waiting aren't included but can be added for an extra $5.95 (for both)

if you want it you'll have to call in and specifically request the package, as they want to only use it as a last resort when they can't sell a customer the whole package

Bill Bumface · 12-15-2006, 01:12 AM

Primus has the same thing for $15.95

newts · 12-15-2006, 08:58 AM

Switched this morning.

Now paying $29.95 per month + $5.95 for features package instead of the $60 per month previously.

Nothing really changes, other than I'm paying .04 cents per minute for LD to Canada/USA.

Put it this way...I'm saving $25 per month, which is the equivalent of 625 minutes of long distance calling per month at .04 per minute. That's 21 minutes per day. I don't even think that I've made 21 minutes in LD calls since we signed up a year ago.

droopydrew19 · 12-15-2006, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Primus has the same thing for $15.95

Does primus offer you the line as well? I thought it was just a long distance carrier?

siggy · 12-15-2006, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droopydrew19

Does primus offer you the line as well? I thought it was just a long distance carrier?

Primus offers VOIP as well. I pay $29.99 a month (all calling features and voicemail included), and unlimited long-distance anywhere in Canada and the U.S.

Quality wise, it has improved quite a bit in the last year or so.

ken0042 · 01-03-2007, 09:29 AM

I signed up for this last night. Install is set for 2 weeks from now.

It's going to be nice to give Telus the boot!

Bend it like Bourgeois · 03-20-2008, 03:35 PM

There were a few threads like this about a year ago. So, for those who made the switch, how did it work out?

I'm eyeing Shaw phone lite and maybe primus.

Hope it's ok to bump this old thread...

ken0042 · 03-20-2008, 03:55 PM

I had a few issues with losing dial tone in the first few weeks of having their service. However it's now been over a year with no issues. Phone works just like any other POTS service, cheap long distance, and no BS fees.

photon · 03-20-2008, 03:58 PM

Been perfect so far for me.

fredr123 · 03-20-2008, 04:05 PM

We had the regular Shaw Digital Phone for more than a year and found it to be no different than the regular phone service we had from Telus in the past. It was cheaper and came with more features. However, we found we weren't using enough long distance to justify paying for unlimited long distance so we switched to the Lite offering.

I was disappointed that they don't offer call waiting and voice mail bundled with the Lite service. You have to pay extra. In the last month or so we've also had problems with caller ID. The number appears fine but the name always reads OUT_OF_AREA.

We've also noticed a small delay from time to time. You'll answer the phone and say hello but the other person can't hear you right away. If you wait a beat after picking up the receiver you can compensate for it.

Other than the above, we've been relatively happy with our phone service from Shaw.

photon · 03-20-2008, 04:59 PM

Some friends of mine have the phone service with CIA, which resells Shaw, and let me tell you to stay far far away from those guys. They go without a phone so often it's amazing.

Hemi-Cuda · 03-21-2008, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

Some friends of mine have the phone service with CIA, which resells Shaw, and let me tell you to stay far far away from those guys. They go without a phone so often it's amazing.

anytime you go with a service providor who doesn't actually have any control over the network they're running on is a bad idea

Hemi-Cuda · 03-21-2008, 12:45 AM

oh and for those that want to switch to Shaw for phone, if you want to port an existing phone number be prepared for possible delays. Shaw recently switched from having Bell deal with porting numbers to doing everything themselves. in technical terms, they've become a CLEC (competitive local exchange carrier), which is one step away from an ILEC (incumbent local exchange carrier, ie Telus). so aside from 411 and operator services, everything is handled in house now. and with almost every big change that happens with a big company like that, there are side effects, specifically with the systems setup to send/receive/confirm ported number requests. they still work, but you may have to wait a day or more after installation to get the number ported and actually be on the Shaw system