Vonage Works Fine Over Verizon FiOS

Thanks for returning. You're a very smart person.

Kind of Ironic, Huh?

Om Malik via an Andy Abramson post that Verizon was blocking VoIP over it’s FiOS service. According to Andy, “A reader of mine sent me a note about having FIOS installed by Verizon and how it has affected his VoIP service, from AT&T. He’s been a long time user of AT&T’s CallVantage but following the installation of FIOS, it stopped working.” Now this isn’t the first time reports of cable carriers preventing VoIP calls have turned up, but after all of the negative press they (the cable co’s) have gotten I was a bit skeptical of this report.

So…

I called my Mom. That right…anytime I have a problem with something I still call my Mom. Guess what! She answered! Using her VTech cordless IP phone from Vonage over her Verizon FiOS. Just to make sure this wasn’t a fluke, I asked her to call me back, first on my cell, then on my landline, and then finally on my VoIP line. To be double certain, I called my younger brother, from my cell, to his Skype line in his bedroom. He too answered.

I Still Was Not Convinced

Verizon HAD to be blocking VoIP over FiOS. So I decided to call my friend Adam, via my VoIP line, to his SunRocket number (note Adam lives on the East Coast), and sure enough he picked up and we chatted for about 15 minutes - no problems.

To summarize, Verizon is not blocking VoIP over FiOS. If I had to guess, this is a typical case of user error or a router on the fritz. Nothing more. I did, however, find it funny that Vonage works over Verizon FiOS.