Comments on: Why Would You Want FiOS® Digital Voice? http://www.defefx.com/why-fios-digital-voice/ Technology Reviews and Perspectives Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:18:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike http://www.defefx.com/why-fios-digital-voice/#comment-1118 Mike Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:58:56 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/?p=209#comment-1118 I've had Verizon cellphone wireless for years. Until last week I had been using Comcast for cable TV and Internet. I figured that i'd try the Fios bundle of TV, Home Digital Voice and Internet (Triple Play) I thought it would be easy to integrate (synchronize) my cellphone contact list (backed up with Google) to my new digital home phone service. Wrong! The integration is non-existent. There is no Verizon (different from Verizon Wireless Vzw and Vz) support between the two operations other than a very limited summary "My Verizon" website! You will NOT get an integrated package at all, other than for billing!! Be aware of this! You'll need to log onto at least two different Verizon (or VZW wireless) websites to accomplish anything worth doing. The Fios Digital Voice online manager appears to be something from the earlier days of Windows circa 1995. Very antiquated user interface and data input that only syncronizes with very old applications, eg up through MS Outlook 2003, or Lotus Notes, or Palm. AND, this will only work on MS Explorer, no other browsers. No sync with Google, nor any type of csv or vcf file import into the voice manager. You CANNOT sync your Google contact list. It probably won't matter anyway since your input doesn't integrate with any Caller ID functions within Digital Voice, other than the calls Made and Received online list. Shocking to me! The technology is excellent, good phone clarity, good wireless coverage, good tv picture, good download speed over internet (however, realize that online servers will still be just as slow connecting). Also, be aware that Verizon has a long way to go before their advertising honestly should give the impression that their services are "bundled" creating any misconception that they are therefore integrated or synchronized. Hire some programmers, Verizon, and modernize your online presence (don't just link everything to downloading movies onto your cellphone for cost). How many folks really want to watch $4 movies on a cellphone anyway?! You'd go blind. Operational Fios does have many cool features, but don't expect those to integrate very well online through Verizon confusing and overmarketed websites. I’ve had Verizon cellphone wireless for years. Until last week I had been using Comcast for cable TV and Internet. I figured that i’d try the Fios bundle of TV, Home Digital Voice and Internet (Triple Play) I thought it would be easy to integrate (synchronize) my cellphone contact list (backed up with Google) to my new digital home phone service. Wrong! The integration is non-existent. There is no Verizon (different from Verizon Wireless Vzw and Vz) support between the two operations other than a very limited summary “My Verizon” website! You will NOT get an integrated package at all, other than for billing!! Be aware of this! You’ll need to log onto at least two different Verizon (or VZW wireless) websites to accomplish anything worth doing. The Fios Digital Voice online manager appears to be something from the earlier days of Windows circa 1995. Very antiquated user interface and data input that only syncronizes with very old applications, eg up through MS Outlook 2003, or Lotus Notes, or Palm. AND, this will only work on MS Explorer, no other browsers. No sync with Google, nor any type of csv or vcf file import into the voice manager. You CANNOT sync your Google contact list. It probably won’t matter anyway since your input doesn’t integrate with any Caller ID functions within Digital Voice, other than the calls Made and Received online list. Shocking to me!
The technology is excellent, good phone clarity, good wireless coverage, good tv picture, good download speed over internet (however, realize that online servers will still be just as slow connecting). Also, be aware that Verizon has a long way to go before their advertising honestly should give the impression that their services are “bundled” creating any misconception that they are therefore integrated or synchronized. Hire some programmers, Verizon, and modernize your online presence (don’t just link everything to downloading movies onto your cellphone for cost). How many folks really want to watch $4 movies on a cellphone anyway?! You’d go blind. Operational Fios does have many cool features, but don’t expect those to integrate very well online through Verizon confusing and overmarketed websites.

]]> By: Brad http://www.defefx.com/why-fios-digital-voice/#comment-1047 Brad Thu, 10 Mar 2011 03:56:43 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/?p=209#comment-1047 FIOS is awesome.....nuff said...however fios digital voice is NOT available everywhere FIOS is.....there is a limitation and that limitation is primarily based on the make/model ONT (Optical network terminal) that is in your residence. When Verizon "goes" in a city, they determine the investment cost, number of houses, etc. and they order large quantities of fiber, ONT's, patch cables, cabinets, etc. etc......therefore, when my city was installed/contracted, they got the old ONT's...cities that are more recently installed will get the newer ONTs capable of Digital Voice. A VZ tech told me that you can request a new ONT if you want to get digital voice......so be careful, make sure if you want digital voice, that you ask VZ before you truly order and install. FIOS is awesome…..nuff said…however fios digital voice is NOT available everywhere FIOS is…..there is a limitation and that limitation is primarily based on the make/model ONT (Optical network terminal) that is in your residence. When Verizon “goes” in a city, they determine the investment cost, number of houses, etc. and they order large quantities of fiber, ONT’s, patch cables, cabinets, etc. etc……therefore, when my city was installed/contracted, they got the old ONT’s…cities that are more recently installed will get the newer ONTs capable of Digital Voice. A VZ tech told me that you can request a new ONT if you want to get digital voice……so be careful, make sure if you want digital voice, that you ask VZ before you truly order and install.

]]> By: Norman Jones http://www.defefx.com/why-fios-digital-voice/#comment-944 Norman Jones Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:09:57 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/?p=209#comment-944 Trying to get Verizon phone service is very frustrating. FiOS service was installed about 2 years ago, so I subscribed to their TV & internet service but was told phone service was not currently available but would be "in the near future". Earlier this year I called Verizon and was told that telephone service was available for my location, but I did not act at that time. Yesterday I went online, talked with Verizon via their chat service, submitted an application to add home telephone service, and received a order confirmation. I called the next day to ensure my current number would be transferred to my new phone service, only to be told that they could not find my order number in their system. When asked if I still wanted it installed, the customer service rep took me through all the Q&A to set up telephone service. Finally after about 20 minutes, the rep told me that it was not availabe at my address since the rights there belonged to AT&T. For as long as Verizon has been in business, how can their customer service be so screwed up? And why are telephone customers, like AT&T, be allowed to have a monopoly on telephone service when the physical network for competitive services are in place? I'm fed up with Verizon's home telephone service and ready to select Vonage, never to again consider Verizon. Trying to get Verizon phone service is very frustrating. FiOS service was installed about 2 years ago, so I subscribed to their TV & internet service but was told phone service was not currently available but would be “in the near future”. Earlier this year I called Verizon and was told that telephone service was available for my location, but I did not act at that time. Yesterday I went online, talked with Verizon via their chat service, submitted an application to add home telephone service, and received a order confirmation. I called the next day to ensure my current number would be transferred to my new phone service, only to be told that they could not find my order number in their system. When asked if I still wanted it installed, the customer service rep took me through all the Q&A to set up telephone service. Finally after about 20 minutes, the rep told me that it was not availabe at my address since the rights there belonged to AT&T. For as long as Verizon has been in business, how can their customer service be so screwed up? And why are telephone customers, like AT&T, be allowed to have a monopoly on telephone service when the physical network for competitive services are in place? I’m fed up with Verizon’s home telephone service and ready to select Vonage, never to again consider Verizon.

]]> By: John http://www.defefx.com/why-fios-digital-voice/#comment-878 John Wed, 07 Jul 2010 03:14:09 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/?p=209#comment-878 FiOS really is great, super clear television, crystal clear digital voice with backup battery system in the event power goes out, great Internet - speed is insane. Multi-room DVR! Lightning fast on demand. I love it. Seriously, if I ever moved from my home to a non-FiOS town. I think I would have serious withdrawal symptoms! I would actually look to move to a FiOS town as a plus to any house hunting! Verizon has been working on their billing, it has improved since I first started with FiOS three years ago. ANy delays are were normal pro-rated services but were not explained well, now it is better explained. FiOS really is great, super clear television, crystal clear digital voice with backup battery system in the event power goes out, great Internet – speed is insane. Multi-room DVR! Lightning fast on demand. I love it. Seriously, if I ever moved from my home to a non-FiOS town. I think I would have serious withdrawal symptoms! I would actually look to move to a FiOS town as a plus to any house hunting!

Verizon has been working on their billing, it has improved since I first started with FiOS three years ago. ANy delays are were normal pro-rated services but were not explained well, now it is better explained.

]]> By: Fayetta http://www.defefx.com/why-fios-digital-voice/#comment-842 Fayetta Thu, 13 May 2010 16:05:28 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/?p=209#comment-842 The service is good but watch out for the delay billing that they forget to tell you about. The service is good but watch out for the delay billing that they forget to tell you about.

]]> By: K Larsen http://www.defefx.com/why-fios-digital-voice/#comment-810 K Larsen Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:09:28 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/?p=209#comment-810 too bad you are still not in COLO. I'm ready to switch my bundled provider of Internet/Phone/TV FROM comcast, and you're still not here. I am a Verizon Wireless customer and would like to have a real bundled package of Wireless and home Internet/TV/phone all with one company and the advantages that come with that. I've also heard good things about the Verizon quality of Internet/TV/Phone as long as one is billed by Verizon and not a third party. Once I switch it'll be 2 years before I can change again. too bad you are still not in COLO. I’m ready to switch my bundled provider of Internet/Phone/TV FROM comcast, and you’re still not here. I am a Verizon Wireless customer and would like to have a real bundled package of Wireless and home Internet/TV/phone all with one company and the advantages that come with that. I’ve also heard good things about the Verizon quality of Internet/TV/Phone as long as one is billed by Verizon and not a third party. Once I switch it’ll be 2 years before I can change again.

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