[General] GBU listing without WebSite rating Page 2

[General] GBU listing without WebSite rating Page 2
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Bill44130 @ 2nd Nov 05:37PM:
Re: [General] GBU listing without WebSite rating

I don't think there is anything wrong with F9 website except the fact that Vonage Ads are always showing up on the home page.

I had a heck of a time convincing my sister that F9 was not the low price division of Vonage.
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neftv @ 2nd Nov 06:16PM:
Re: [General] GBU listing without WebSite rating

I guess that happens when you have a shared web server.
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foresto @ 2nd Nov 09:29PM:
Re: [General] GBU listing without WebSite rating

I think it's a mistake to assume or imply that the web site ratings are merely about being pretty. I really like my F9 phone service, but if I reviewed it, I'd probably rate the web site a "C", and not just because it's ugly. (I have detailed some of my reasoning in another thread.) If that rating made F9's overall position in the GBU chart drop, it would be entirely appropriate. Usability counts.

That being said, all the categories in the GBU chart are plainly visible. Those customers who are willing to put up with bad user interface in exchange for otherwise good service can see for themselves which providers are good bets. Those providers who already have good call quality and want to attract more customers can see for themselves how to improve their service. I think this is a good thing.
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foresto @ 2nd Nov 09:52PM:
Re: [General] GBU listing without WebSite rating

It would be interesting to see how the ratings changed if the "web site" category was split into subcategories: the control panel, the support information section, and the sales/signup section.
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N9MD @ 4th Nov 12:40AM:
Re: [General] GBU listing without WebSite rating

said by nitzan :

As one of the providers affected (if not the most affected!) ...

Really?! Have you seen CWU's public face lately? :D
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nycityny @ 4th Nov 11:21AM:
Re: [General] GBU listing without WebSite rating

A provider's website is more than about "looking pretty." I think PhonePower's website looks good, but as a customer I find that the interface is not intuitive.

For example, I like to have incoming anonymous calls blocked. The checkbox to toggle this feature on and off is on the "Account Home" page under an obscure sub-heading entitled "Dialing Options." Huh? And then, in order to fully implement this function you need to set up forwarding rules in another area of the site. As they say on SNL's Weekend Update, "Really?"

Oddly, within the last year VoicePulse revamped its web design without changing any of the functionality. In other words, they went for "more pretty" as a way to improve. I didn't think the old design was too terrible and the new design is just so-so.

And as for Future Nine, I was really turned off by the interface when I was looking for a provider to replace ViaTalk (I went with PhonePower). While I use VOIP services and have not had a POTS phone since 2005, I don't consider myself a techie. I like a VOIP service that I don't have to work to use - I want the website to do all the work for me. I'm not trying to be unduly critical, just constructively so. (Also, I wanted inbound & outbound caller ID with name which lead me to PhonePower's prettier website.)

My 2 cents.
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PX Eliezer @ 4th Nov 11:34AM:
Re: [General] GBU listing without WebSite rating

said by N9MD :

said by nitzan :

As one of the providers affected (if not the most affected!) ...

Really?! Have you seen CWU's public face lately? :D

CWU really is not doing retail marketing for the masses. Their website is highly suited for their niche.

FutureNine, however, IS doing mass retail marketing.
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usa2k @ 4th Nov 11:43AM:
Re: [General] GBU listing without WebSite rating

said by PX Eliezer :

CWU really is not doing retail marketing for the masses. Their website is highly suited for their niche.

Looks to be the Heath Kit mind set?

[att=1]

I may have wanted that in my youth ...
--

Jim, VoIP 12/2002, VOIPo 2/2007
FAH-Tool~Pets~Join Artist-24

nitzan @ 4th Nov 11:51AM:
Re: [General] GBU listing without WebSite rating

In a way, Sergey and I have a lot in common. We're both DIYers, both highly technical, and both apparently value QOS over appearance. ;)

I've read somewhere that there are 3 types of CEOs:

1. The techie - cares about QOS, even at the expense of marketing and finances.

2. The marketer - cares about appearance, even if quality sucks and who cares about the finances?

3. The economist - cares about the bottom line, and only the bottom line.

I'm obviously #1 - but I try to balance it with a healthy dose of #2 and #3. Funny thing is - the #3 in me is stopping me from pursuing #2 more heavily, for obvious reasons. ;)
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N9MD @ 4th Nov 02:06PM:
Re: [General] GBU listing without WebSite rating

said by PX Eliezer :

CWU really is not doing retail marketing for the masses. Their website is highly suited for their niche.

FutureNine, however, IS doing mass retail marketing.

I know, I know ... I was just trying to make Nitzan feel better! ;)

said by usa2k :

Looks to be the Heath Kit mind set?

Oh, what memories ... licensed "ham" since 1955 ... built Heath Kit AT1 (CW rig), then DX50 then DX100 transmitters and used the 2KW(?) Heath amplifier ... not to mention Hallicrafter S38D and Hammurland HQ110 receivers ... originally a dipole hanging from tree to tree ... and finally when I came out to Wayne NJ as a physician, I put up a 4-element multi-band beam on a 50-ft tower with rotor. The equipment was all given away over the years and the beam is now stuck pointing to the polar icecap in an overgorwn oak tree that used to be a sapling. [Sigh].
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gbh2o @ 4th Nov 04:28PM:
Re: [General] GBU listing without WebSite rating

said by usa2k :

said by PX Eliezer :

CWU really is not doing retail marketing for the masses. Their website is highly suited for their niche.

Looks to be the Heath Kit mind set?

[att=1]

I may have wanted that in my youth ...

I learned about KISS in my 'youth', but appreciate it more as I have aged. Then again, I guess I did write a lot of self-modifying 8080 assembly code to squeeze more options into smaller places... a tactic that I understand sent shivers through 'big-time' programmers! :D But I also learned _very_ early about protecting against buffer over/under-runs, something that those guys still never seem to get right until the 32nd or so patch to their bloated programs.

CWU sets the 'standard' as far as I am concerned; what you see is what you actually get! No surprises, and it works as advertised.
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