Comments for AOL AIM Phoneline offers free inbound calling

AOL AIM Phoneline offers free inbound calling

2006-08-10T14:15:23Z

George Ou over at ZDNet points out that AOL AIM PhoneLine is now offering free inbound calling. With Skype offering free SkypeOut calling, Globe7 offering pseudo-free PSTN dialing by earning credits watching videos, Jajah offers free worldwide dialing, and several other VoIP players offering "free" dialing, it will be interesting to see the final shakeout in the VoIP industry - who survives, who gets bought out, and who goes under.

Comment from M. Edwards on 2007-06-18

2007-06-18T13:42:43Z

Absolutely positively DO NOT use this service for Business Purposes, as AOL suggests. I spent close to $500 in advertising costs for my business using my AOL AIM PhoneLine Number -- only to have it cancelled without reason by AOL. I thought this service would be reliable.

What was their response when I contacted them? They said that I had cancelled the service and not them. I *never* cancelled my phoneline in any way whatsoever. But whatever their "system" says, goes.

I believe their system made the error in cancelling my service, but of course, they will never admit it. Their Terms of service state that AOL CAN CANCEL YOUR PHONELINE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT REASON.

For a secondary fun line, this is fine. But please... do not rely on always having your phone number. I just lost business revenue because of this -- which included a 1-year Advertisement in the Yellow Pages.

Bottom Line: Okay for Fun. Too Risky for Business.

Comment from Mr. Duh on 2007-07-25

2007-07-26T03:14:15Z

You probably didn't receive a call (and answer it) in 30 days. They tell you quite clearly that you lose your number if you don't answer a call on the number every 30 days.