CallVantage, the service I use more than any other VoIP platform has made some changes that I like.
The idea of being able to have nine numbers is very exciting, especially for people like me who have business and friends in many places that have not migrated over to unlimited long distance. At 4.95 per number this is in some ways far less expensive than 800 or mileage charges from the RBOCs.
Imagine a plumbing company in San Diego or L.A. They have trucks in multiple regions with multiple phone numbers per area code. With CallVantage for $4.95 times up to nine they can appear very local. Who has more numbers in the bank than AT&T.
The additional call detail and ID information means that AT&T really is working hard on the signalling end of things, but the home wiring kit is the first that I know of release from any VoIP company that makes it easy for someone to replace their already WIRED phones that are on PSTN with VoIP.
The blocking of international is also a useful feature, but I hope the default to open, not blocked. That likely was something that was agonized over but for those of us who are global in our contacts I really don’t want to have to toggle a new feature on if I’ve already been using it that way.
Lastly AT&T has announced an update on where you can put the telephone adapter. That means the box becomes even more portable and useful to roadwarriors, something I hope to be reporting on more when I go on the road for a series of trips.
Here’s the release. I’ll link to it when I find it online.
AT&T Adds More Advanced Calling Features to AT&T CallVantage Service
Slate of New Enhancements Include ‘Simple Reach Number’ Offer
FOR RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2004
BEDMINSTER, N.J. – AT&T today announced another round of new feature enhancements for AT&T CallVantageSM Service including the availability of “Simple ReachSM Number,” a new capability that enables subscribers to have up to nine additional telephone numbers for their service in any available area code. The new enhancements are the latest in a series of innovations the company plans to add to this popular new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service.
“AT&T is moving quickly to deliver innovations that will bring consumers more features, better quality and greater value for residential broadband phone service,” said Cathy Martine, AT&T senior vice president for Internet Telephony. “We have a pipeline of exciting new enhancements coming from AT&T Labs that will give AT&T CallVantage Service customers even more capabilities, convenience and control over their communications.”
The Simple Reach(SM) Number feature enables AT&T CallVantage Service customers to add up to nine additional telephone numbers anywhere in the country where AT&T offers residential VoIP service. For example, customers can choose numbers with area codes where they have out-of-town friends and family so that these geographically distant people may call without incurring long distance charges.
Likewise, home office workers can set up numbers with area codes near their office or in markets close to key customers establishing a local presence and saving their customers long-distance fees.
Calls to any Simple Reach Number will ring to the primary AT&T CallVantage Service phone. If the call isn’t answered, it will be forwarded to voice mail and callers will hear the same greeting as if they dialed the primary number. Similarly, the “Do Not Disturb” or “Locate Me” features will intercept or forward calls from Simple Reach Numbers as if they came in to the primary number. There is a monthly charge of $4.95 for each Simple Reach Number.
The company also introduced today additional service enhancements that include:
* “International Call Blocking /Shut Off,” will provide the ability to block or unblock outbound international calls to those locations where a per-minute fee would be assessed;
* “International Calls in Call Log,” tracks all international placed and received calls to create a complete record of all usage;
* “Caller ID/International Update,” now delivers Caller ID information, where available, on all international calls;
* “Caller ID Name from Phone Book,” that allows even further personalization of the service by displaying the personalized or preferred name from the phone book as the Caller ID name for in-coming calls. For example, “Mom” will appear instead of “Smith, Jane.”
AT&T also announced today that it will begin shipping a “Home Wiring Do-It-Yourself Guide” with each self-install kit containing an AT&T CallVantage Service Telephone Adapter (TA) and manuals. The guide offers customers step-by-step instructions for connecting the service via inside wiring to multiple home phones to replicate the traditional home calling environment and make the most efficient use of their existing telephone equipment.
Existing customers can download the handy home wiring guide from their Personal AT&T CallVantage Service Call Manager Web portal at
“Last month we introduced a fee-based inside wiring service to seamlessly integrate broadband phone service into the home environment,” said Martine. “We now have a complete solution suite with both a do-it-yourself and full-service offer.”
These new capabilities become available Thursday, September 16.
Over the next several weeks, AT&T will implement an automatic software upgrade for its existing telephone adapters that will provide customers greater flexibility in their home networking configurations. The upgrade will allow customers to place the TA anywhere they choose although the recommended configuration will continue to be between the high-speed modem and the router (“in front” of the router) as it is today. This will ensure the greatest quality of service although for some users a “behind” the router configuration may be more convenient.