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George Shirley wrote:
> wrote:
>> Please note that on or around July 15, 2009, AT&T will no longer be
>> offering access to the Usenet Netnews service. If you wish to continue
>> reading Usenet newsgroups, access is available through third-party
>> vendors.
>>
>> Distribution: AT&T SouthEast Newsgroups Servers
>
> Why?
Sorry about this extraneous post, hit the send key without looking. Mea
Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa.

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George Shirley wrote:
> George Shirley wrote:
>> wrote:
>>> Please note that on or around July 15, 2009, AT&T will no longer be
>>> offering access to the Usenet Netnews service. If you wish to continue
>>> reading Usenet newsgroups, access is available through third-party
>>> vendors.
>>>
>>> Distribution: AT&T SouthEast Newsgroups Servers
>>
>> Why?
> Sorry about this extraneous post, hit the send key without looking. Mea
> Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa.



I'm surprised that they forgot to say "For your convenience...", or "To
serve you better..." ;-)

Bob

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zxcvbob wrote:
> George Shirley wrote:
>> George Shirley wrote:
>>> wrote:
>>>> Please note that on or around July 15, 2009, AT&T will no longer be
>>>> offering access to the Usenet Netnews service. If you wish to continue
>>>> reading Usenet newsgroups, access is available through third-party
>>>> vendors.
>>>>
>>>> Distribution: AT&T SouthEast Newsgroups Servers
>>>
>>> Why?
>> Sorry about this extraneous post, hit the send key without looking.
>> Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa.
>
>
>
> I'm surprised that they forgot to say "For your convenience...", or "To
> serve you better..." ;-)
>
> Bob
I called their DSL service center a wee bit ago. They're doing this to,
in their own words, "Hold down costs for our valued customers." My
answer was somewhat profane but accurate, it's related to what falls out
of a bulls butt on a daily basis.

I'm in the process of getting rid of the landline, moving to MagicJack,
works good for only $19.95 a year versus $60 a month for AT&T. Already
got an old peoples cell phone, Jitterbug, costs us $20 a month no more
than we use a cell phone. I would probably switch over to cable service
for internet but they're more expensive and less reliable than Ma Bell's
DSL around here.

Do you think these monopolies really care? Sure they do, that's why
their call centers are in Mumbai nowadays.

AT&T Usenet Netnews Service Shutting Down
 

George Shirley wrote:
> I'm in the process of getting rid of the landline, moving to MagicJack,
> works good for only $19.95 a year versus $60 a month for AT&T.

Before you waste the money on the Magic Jack, I suggest that you check out
the various forums and articles that have sprung up with unsatisfied customers.

Be aware that they "astroturf". That's hiring professional reports to post
messages on local mailing lists, bulletin boards, etc, with homey, friendly,
"look what I found" messages, which are just advertisements.

One journalist as he called himself did that on a local mailing list, and
when I asked him some details told me to look at their website. I asked what
his experience was and he told me the truth, they paid him to write the
article, and he never really used the thing, nor was it used in this country.

If you want to save money, there really are good VoIP companies out there,
which have low volume plans (unlimited incoming calls and 500 minutes a
month to anywhere in the US) for under $15, I can recommend the one I use
if you ask in email.

Be aware that no matter what you buy, it requires a stable Internet connection
with decent throughput. If you buy something like a MagicJack, which plugs
into your computer, it requires that the computer be on all the time you
want to receive or make phone calls, and as it pops a "telephone" on the
screen, you may have trouble using it for other things while you or
someone else is "on the phone".

The company I use has several options. I use both a "box" which lets me
connect telephones in my home, and a "softphone" which runs on my laptop,
so I can make calls if my laptop and I go out as long as I can find an
Internet connection. I can even call my own number and reach my home.

Geoff.
--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM

AT&T Usenet Netnews Service Shutting Down
 

Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
> George Shirley wrote:
>> I'm in the process of getting rid of the landline, moving to MagicJack,
>> works good for only $19.95 a year versus $60 a month for AT&T.
>
> Before you waste the money on the Magic Jack, I suggest that you check out
> the various forums and articles that have sprung up with unsatisfied customers.
>
> Be aware that they "astroturf". That's hiring professional reports to post
> messages on local mailing lists, bulletin boards, etc, with homey, friendly,
> "look what I found" messages, which are just advertisements.
>
> One journalist as he called himself did that on a local mailing list, and
> when I asked him some details told me to look at their website. I asked what
> his experience was and he told me the truth, they paid him to write the
> article, and he never really used the thing, nor was it used in this country.
>
> If you want to save money, there really are good VoIP companies out there,
> which have low volume plans (unlimited incoming calls and 500 minutes a
> month to anywhere in the US) for under $15, I can recommend the one I use
> if you ask in email.
>
> Be aware that no matter what you buy, it requires a stable Internet connection
> with decent throughput. If you buy something like a MagicJack, which plugs
> into your computer, it requires that the computer be on all the time you
> want to receive or make phone calls, and as it pops a "telephone" on the
> screen, you may have trouble using it for other things while you or
> someone else is "on the phone".
>
> The company I use has several options. I use both a "box" which lets me
> connect telephones in my home, and a "softphone" which runs on my laptop,
> so I can make calls if my laptop and I go out as long as I can find an
> Internet connection. I can even call my own number and reach my home.
>
> Geoff.


Would it work with an old laptop with a broken screen that still runs
OK? It could be set-up on top of the upright freezer and dedicated to
the MagicJack, and its aging battery would even provide a half-hour or
so of uninterruptible power supply.

I have a Virgin Mobile cellphone that I don't use much. It costs me $5
per month for more minutes than I use so they just accumulate.

The land-line bill has so many taxes and surcharges added on (no matter
who the carrier) it costs more for that than the actual phone service.
I'm currently getting phone service from the cable company -- doesn't
seem any better or worse than the phone company except now the phone
goes out when we lose power -- and I can't dial out with my old rotary
phones.

Bob

AT&T Usenet Netnews Service Shutting Down
 

zxcvbob wrote:
> Would it work with an old laptop with a broken screen that still runs
> OK? It could be set-up on top of the upright freezer and dedicated to
> the MagicJack, and its aging battery would even provide a half-hour or
> so of uninterruptible power supply.

That's an interesting question. If you bought the thing, plugged it in and
it started to install a program, how would you enter the information it
needed and click on the appropriate things?

If you can get over that hump, then it will work. How well is another issue,
I can't predict that. :-) The other problem may be where you get your local
number. I have a friend in one part of Colorado and the only number they
can get is for a long distance call.

Kind of defeats the local phone number thing for them. If you can get
one where you want, it should be ok.

Note the UPS function of the laptop only is any good if your Internet
connection is through it or on another UPS. If you have a router, or some
other connecting box plugged into the wall, it will go off when the power
does taking your phone line with it.

> I have a Virgin Mobile cellphone that I don't use much. It costs me $5
> per month for more minutes than I use so they just accumulate.

You aren't by any chance in Eastern PA? My wife needs a cell phone there in
late July for a week. :-) We're looking at the AT&T $10 phone, with the
$3 a day plan. She gets "unlimited" calls for a day and only pays for
those days she uses the phone. We then plan to pass it on to another
relative who is going to the US in August.

A friend of mine in the US recommended it because he was using his cell phone
only a few days a month, and this was a lot cheaper. It has a "gotcha", to
keep the air time for a year, you have to buy $100, which comes out to 33 days
or 2 days a month average with 9 extra days.

>
> The land-line bill has so many taxes and surcharges added on (no matter
> who the carrier) it costs more for that than the actual phone service.
> I'm currently getting phone service from the cable company -- doesn't
> seem any better or worse than the phone company except now the phone
> goes out when we lose power -- and I can't dial out with my old rotary
> phones.

If you get your Internet from the same system, it won't help to get a
VoIP phone, no matter whose.

May I interest you in an Amateur Radio (Ham) license? :-)

Geoff.


--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM

AT&T Usenet Netnews Service Shutting Down
 

Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
> George Shirley wrote:
>> I'm in the process of getting rid of the landline, moving to MagicJack,
>> works good for only $19.95 a year versus $60 a month for AT&T.
>
> Before you waste the money on the Magic Jack, I suggest that you check out
> the various forums and articles that have sprung up with unsatisfied customers.

Read all of them, have had it for several months now, no problems but
one and their tech service provided me with a fix for it almost immediately.
>
> Be aware that they "astroturf". That's hiring professional reports to post
> messages on local mailing lists, bulletin boards, etc, with homey, friendly,
> "look what I found" messages, which are just advertisements.

So do a lot of other services. I got my reports from an independent
bunch of phone hackers.

>
> One journalist as he called himself did that on a local mailing list, and
> when I asked him some details told me to look at their website. I asked what
> his experience was and he told me the truth, they paid him to write the
> article, and he never really used the thing, nor was it used in this country.
>
> If you want to save money, there really are good VoIP companies out there,
> which have low volume plans (unlimited incoming calls and 500 minutes a
> month to anywhere in the US) for under $15, I can recommend the one I use
> if you ask in email.
>
> Be aware that no matter what you buy, it requires a stable Internet connection
> with decent throughput. If you buy something like a MagicJack, which plugs
> into your computer, it requires that the computer be on all the time you
> want to receive or make phone calls, and as it pops a "telephone" on the
> screen, you may have trouble using it for other things while you or
> someone else is "on the phone".

So far, no such problems, my internet connection is stable except for
the rare power outage in our area. My has always been "on." I also surf
while on the phone.
>
> The company I use has several options. I use both a "box" which lets me
> connect telephones in my home, and a "softphone" which runs on my laptop,
> so I can make calls if my laptop and I go out as long as I can find an
> Internet connection. I can even call my own number and reach my home.
>
> Geoff.

I ran a line from MagicJack directly into the phone jack behind the
computer desk, MagicJack works on every phone in the house now. There
may ultimately be some problems but, as of the moment, it works fine.
Thanks for the info though Geoff.

AT&T Usenet Netnews Service Shutting Down
 

zxcvbob wrote:
> Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
>> George Shirley wrote:
>>> I'm in the process of getting rid of the landline, moving to
>>> MagicJack, works good for only $19.95 a year versus $60 a month for
>>> AT&T.
>>
>> Before you waste the money on the Magic Jack, I suggest that you check
>> out
>> the various forums and articles that have sprung up with unsatisfied
>> customers.
>>
>> Be aware that they "astroturf". That's hiring professional reports to
>> post
>> messages on local mailing lists, bulletin boards, etc, with homey,
>> friendly,
>> "look what I found" messages, which are just advertisements.
>> One journalist as he called himself did that on a local mailing list,
>> and when I asked him some details told me to look at their website. I
>> asked what
>> his experience was and he told me the truth, they paid him to write the
>> article, and he never really used the thing, nor was it used in this
>> country.
>>
>> If you want to save money, there really are good VoIP companies out
>> there,
>> which have low volume plans (unlimited incoming calls and 500 minutes
>> a month to anywhere in the US) for under $15, I can recommend the one
>> I use
>> if you ask in email.
>>
>> Be aware that no matter what you buy, it requires a stable Internet
>> connection
>> with decent throughput. If you buy something like a MagicJack, which
>> plugs
>> into your computer, it requires that the computer be on all the time you
>> want to receive or make phone calls, and as it pops a "telephone" on the
>> screen, you may have trouble using it for other things while you or
>> someone else is "on the phone".
>>
>> The company I use has several options. I use both a "box" which lets me
>> connect telephones in my home, and a "softphone" which runs on my laptop,
>> so I can make calls if my laptop and I go out as long as I can find an
>> Internet connection. I can even call my own number and reach my home.
>>
>> Geoff.
>
>
> Would it work with an old laptop with a broken screen that still runs
> OK? It could be set-up on top of the upright freezer and dedicated to
> the MagicJack, and its aging battery would even provide a half-hour or
> so of uninterruptible power supply.

Probably.
>
> I have a Virgin Mobile cellphone that I don't use much. It costs me $5
> per month for more minutes than I use so they just accumulate.
>
> The land-line bill has so many taxes and surcharges added on (no matter
> who the carrier) it costs more for that than the actual phone service.
> I'm currently getting phone service from the cable company -- doesn't
> seem any better or worse than the phone company except now the phone
> goes out when we lose power -- and I can't dial out with my old rotary
> phones.
>
> Bob

Would be the same problem with MagicJack Bob, no power, no computer, no
phone.

AT&T Usenet Netnews Service Shutting Down
 

Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
> zxcvbob wrote:
>> Would it work with an old laptop with a broken screen that still runs
>> OK? It could be set-up on top of the upright freezer and dedicated to
>> the MagicJack, and its aging battery would even provide a half-hour or
>> so of uninterruptible power supply.
>
> That's an interesting question. If you bought the thing, plugged it in and
> it started to install a program, how would you enter the information it
> needed and click on the appropriate things?
>
> If you can get over that hump, then it will work. How well is another issue,
> I can't predict that. :-) The other problem may be where you get your local
> number. I have a friend in one part of Colorado and the only number they
> can get is for a long distance call.
>
> Kind of defeats the local phone number thing for them. If you can get
> one where you want, it should be ok.
>
> Note the UPS function of the laptop only is any good if your Internet
> connection is through it or on another UPS. If you have a router, or some
> other connecting box plugged into the wall, it will go off when the power
> does taking your phone line with it.
>
>> I have a Virgin Mobile cellphone that I don't use much. It costs me $5
>> per month for more minutes than I use so they just accumulate.
>
> You aren't by any chance in Eastern PA? My wife needs a cell phone there in
> late July for a week. :-) We're looking at the AT&T $10 phone, with the
> $3 a day plan. She gets "unlimited" calls for a day and only pays for
> those days she uses the phone. We then plan to pass it on to another
> relative who is going to the US in August.
>
> A friend of mine in the US recommended it because he was using his cell phone
> only a few days a month, and this was a lot cheaper. It has a "gotcha", to
> keep the air time for a year, you have to buy $100, which comes out to 33 days
> or 2 days a month average with 9 extra days.
>
>> The land-line bill has so many taxes and surcharges added on (no matter
>> who the carrier) it costs more for that than the actual phone service.
>> I'm currently getting phone service from the cable company -- doesn't
>> seem any better or worse than the phone company except now the phone
>> goes out when we lose power -- and I can't dial out with my old rotary
>> phones.
>
> If you get your Internet from the same system, it won't help to get a
> VoIP phone, no matter whose.
Not to my knowledge, VoIP doesn't get taxed like a standard landline
here AFAIK. My AT&T DSL service has just the regular tax problem, will
look at the next bill and see for sure but it costs me $19.95 a month
for high speed internet service and I haven't seen any extra taxes
tacked on that bill.

>
> May I interest you in an Amateur Radio (Ham) license? :-)
>
> Geoff.
>
>
Bob's a big enough ham as it is. <G>