email from Fongo to upgrade

[Jake]

Looks like the ad is working as intended

[Liptonbrisk]

Looks like the ad is working as intended

Exactly.

[SeanO2000]

Hey folks - did anyone else get this email today?

Support for Free Phone Line customers is no longer available
Free Phone Line's platform is no longer being updated/serviced
Your hardware's technology is likely outdated
If you encounter phone service issues like call dropping, echoing, missed calls, or poor sound quality, we can no longer provide support to help you.

And..... what does it mean for us? I'm worried about the costs I've paid for unlock keys - and the uncertainty of Fongo continuing to provide service. And what if the service issues are due to Fongo's servers (which we've seen in the past)?

Does anyone have any thoughts on where Fongo is going with free phone line service? Id be interested to know, thanks

[Liptonbrisk]

It’s nothing new. Read this thread.

[jenom]

After posting on this Fongo forum in the last few days, suddenly an email arrived from Fongo.
(I guess they are monitoring this forum and target active Freephoneline users)

"With Freephoneline you are missing out !" and a guy gesturing thumbs down on a picture.
Maybe it is just me, but I find this "devaluation" of their Freephoneline service is somewhat disappointing & distasteful.

As Fongo still selling Freephoneline service, FPL users can use their own unlocked (better !) devices, and offering "degraded performance" technical support for their pre-configured & locked Home Phone Adapter (HT-801) is totally meaningless.
I do not see a good reason for a FPL customer to pay again for a sign-up, number transfer, re-occuring monthly fee. It would be better if Fongo HomePhone would be marketed to NEW customers from OTHER service providers.

[Liptonbrisk]

After posting on this Fongo forum in the last few days, suddenly an email arrived from Fongo.

These upsell ads have existed since 2019. They're unrelated to your forum participation.

(I guess they are monitoring this forum

If they do, they certainly don't reply here very often.

and target active Freephoneline users

They email all FPL users with upsell ads. I receive them on all of my email addresses associated with my VoIP unlock key accounts, and I have been receiving these ads for years now.

Maybe it is just me, but I find this "devaluation" of their Freephoneline service is somewhat disappointing & distasteful.

It's not just you.

I suggest reading through this thread: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=20168#p76412.

Nothing is changing with your FPL accounts, we don't provide technical support for FPL and this is an offer for those that would like the peace of mind of technical support and a maintenance-free pre-configured ATA.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=20168&p=78866#p78843

It is only an upsell, ignore it at your leasure. If Freephoneline works, leave it be. If you are having problems, look at getting a better ATA. Still a better deal than a monthly Fongo Home Phone plan.

[jenom]

I received a Fongo email giving thumbs down either to FreePhoneLine users or FreePhoneLine service ?
It is not nice at all, instead they should try to get NEW customers from OTHER telecom companies.
Fongo Home Phone is a "plug & play" locked and remote provisioned HT-801 box, it does not need any support.
I personally have no interest to have unlimited USA calls, however somebody may find it worth a monthly fee.

[Liptonbrisk]

It is not nice at all, instead they should try to get NEW customers from OTHER telecom companies.

Actually, I agree with this (if I'm permitted to have my own opinion outside of being a moderator). While some FPL users may switch, I feel many will be inclined to file CCTS complaints or port out (someone has already posted about porting out to a completely different service). Angering or losing customers forever (boycotting your business and flooding forums with negative messaging) is not a good business practice, in my opinion.

If someone finds technical support and U.S. calling are compelling aspects of a service, that person may want to consider switching to Fongo Home Phone. I think that's fair.

Otherwise, "pay more for what you already paid for" doesn't resonate well with informed customers.

[jenom]

We need to look at the whole picture;-- the big brother behind Fongo , Fibernetic, and their business model.
Here is a direct quote from one of the founders, John Stix:

“We learned that a free customer, if marketed to correctly and had the right services and value shown to them, a certain percentage would leave the free service and take our paid service,”

“The free service accumulates customers, aggregates a large database of customers, instills them with goodwill, allows them to get used to your network and your business, and you can walk them up the ladder.

(https://www.worldline.ca/blog/enter-the-internet/)

I think, Fongo needs to do a much better job on the " instills them with goodwill" part !

[Liptonbrisk]

I did walk up the ladder. I wouldn’t consider the VoIP unlock keys I paid for to be free.

A number of VoIP unlock key users are not interested in being forced to use a specific ATA that they don’t want and can’t adjust settings on themselves while using the service. They won’t be walking up again. They’ll be more likely to file CCTS complaints or leave if forced to do so.

Anyway, no one is being forced to switch to Fongo Home Phone. These ads represent an ongoing promotion for those who may want email support and U.S. calling.

[Liptonbrisk]

The very bottom of the latest advertisement indicates, "Note: This is not a warning that your Free Phone Line service will be shut down. Free Phone Line service will remain active; we simply don't provide tech support for it."

So, I believe angry and upset FPL users can put their pitchforks down.

If you want U.S. calling and technical support via tickets, the promotional offer to switch to Fongo Home Phone is available. If not, the sky isn't falling, and I believe Fongo will still be happy to sell you a VoIP unlock key for $119.95+tax.