Phone Number Change

Since we got to El Salvador we've been using Vonage for our Internet phone service.  With an Internet phone, we get a local (816) number and are able to make and receive calls from the US at no charge.  While we have been very happy with our Vonage account, our missionary friends, the Blackstocks, told us about the service they use which is called Ooma.  The difference between Vonage and Ooma is that there is NO monthly charge to use Ooma.  The only cost is to buy the Ooma device which is about $100.  (Vonage also requires the purchase of their proprietary equipment.)

Our Vonage bill was close to $40 per month or about $500 per year.  So, with Ooma, taking into account the cost of the device, we will save close to $400 this year.  For 2014, we will save the full $500 yearly cost.    Although there was an option to port our old number over (cost $40 and took 2-3 weeks,) we decided, in the interest of total cost savings, that changing our number was the best way to go.

Now, for the sales pitch--obviously, if you've already disconnected your home phone, this will not be of help.  But, if you still have a home phone number and would like to keep it, you might check out Ooma.com.  You can find out if your number can be ported over.  If it can, you can be on your way to nearly $0 cost per month for home phone service.  In the interest of full disclosure, we still have to pay the monthly taxes (ours will be less than $3.)

Anyway, if you are reading this blog and would like to have our new phone number, please let me know.  I don't plan to publish it on the blog, but would be happy to email it to you.