Ensure you purchase "unlocked products"

by Kevin Doyle 2009-08-02, 3 people found this review helpful

Before I purchased this product I was searching for an unlocked VOIP phone adapter product to replace my current PAP2 that also provided some additional ethernet ports so the RT31P2-NA fit the bill perfectly. The NA I believe stands for North America and is not locked into any VOIP provider.

Unfortunately the product was missed sold and when I received it the box clearly stated it was a Vonage linked product. I spoke to Vonage and requested an unlock code from them so I could use my current VOIP provider GIZMO, but Vonage are not prepared to unlock their service to anyone.

I do not know what the business relationship is between Linksys/CISCO and Vonage is but I assume there is a license agreement that converts to funds once the Vonage phone services is used - so the product I assume when purchased new would be more expensive than a standard unlocked product capable of being used by Vonage and any provider. This business arrangement is not customer friendly and creates a premium on products. (On Amazon an unlocked Linksys is sold for $84, a locked to Vonage identical linksys product is $170.)

So your thinking what about the seller - well she says that although Vonage was her provider she didnt realise the product was locked. So hopefully this information will raise awareness of the benefits of buying unlocked products in general.