Sep 2008
30
by billeater
Posted in
Since VOIP is a very competative industry, prices vary wildy. Now the bigger cable tv and internet providers have joined in and are touting their $30+ dollar/month unlimited plans, while others are offering very similar plans for around $17/month ( $199/year ).
It can be tempting to just take use the internet phone service that your cable or internet provider is offering, but they aren't competing well on price or service. The smaller VOIP-only players offer features like selective call blocking, simultaneous ring to your cell phone, and web-based voicemail...and not all the big players do.
And, be sure to think through your options before you buy, as prices for add on functionality, like a second phone line, or internet faxes, vary.
Take a look at the chart below for a comparison of the larger, as well as smaller players that provide internet phone service
| Price and Features (Featured VoIP Service Providers) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Our Rating | 4.5 of 5 |
4.5 of 5 |
3.5 of 5 |
3.5 of 5 |
|
Site Link |
||||
| Limited Use Plan | $9.95/500 minutes | N/A | $14.99/500 minutes | $14.99/500 minutes |
| Unlimited Plan | $199/yr ($16.58/month) |
$199/yr ($16.58/month) |
$24.99/month ($299.88/year) |
$24.99/month ($239.88/year) |
| No Activation Fees |  |
|
 |
|
| Special Offers* | 1 month free + 2nd line free |
1 month free |
1 month free |
Free activation & phone rebates |
|
ViaTalk
• Goto Website |
Voip.com
• Go to website |
Vonage
• Go to Website |
Packet8
• Go to Website |
(1 vote)
Read similar tips in:
Best Deal for Voip
Hey , check this thing out .. I saw it on ctv news ... you can make free long distance calls to Canada and the US .. it's a little usb device with a phone jack and you talk over your internet connection ... I bought it actually works... I cancelled my phone service with shaw .. which was around $100 or so a month ... this only cost $39 CAD and it's good for a whole year .. after that it's only $19 ... I got mine at http://www.InterestingMedia.com ...Enjoy :)
Re: Best Deal for Voip
Yep. That's called the MagicJack. It's pretty cool. The $39 year one, $19 every year after is a stellar deal as well.
I don't see it replacing a home phone, since it has to be hooked up to a PC, and doesn't appear to take incoming calls, but it's a great device for making calls on the road.
I did hear some concern about the software being difficult to install. Did you experience the same thing?
Re: Best Deal for Voip
I don't recommend MagicJack. I live in a rural area and you are asked to pick an area code to set up your phone number. The options given were all long distance so no one I know could call me on it. WHen using it people on the other end could not hear me but I could hear them. I would only recommend it to people in more populated areas.
Re: compare VOIP internet phone service plans before you buy
I would definitely suggest people compare voip plans for their residential phone service most people think they have to go with local providers to have a phone which isn't the case.