** Try Sunrocket, if you have high speed internet. **
Michael said:
Has anyone had experiences with Skype?
http://www.skype.com/
What are the differences between Skype and Vonage?
Looks like skype is free to use, if the person you are calling also has skype. but you pay for calls to a regular line. I havnt tried either service yet. I do know about 5 years ago when i first tried internet calling the delay was so bad the service was really unuseable. Have things changed now?
Not Skype, but I do have VOIP and no longer have a typical phone.
It's all broadband.
I use a company called SunRocket.
http://sunrocket.com/
I paid $199 for a full year, which comes out to $16.58 a month. It also includes an international credit of $3.00 a month which would be 100 minutes to the UK. When I got it, they also gave me an expandable Uniden Phone system with two handsets, both with speakerphone. Works great for me.
I have it intertwined with my Broadband cable, High speed internet, a wireless router, and my fax machine on distinctive ring.
I have not experienced any problems thus far. My back up is our cell phones, and the system works fine with 911, I called and checked. I also have been on several hours long conference calls, and have yet to have any disconnects while also using Cytrix GoToMeeting at the same time on the 'net.
Here is what Sunrocket provides.
I looked at Vonage,(= RIPOFF, IMHO), verizon, packet8, and after looking at them and others, I went with Sunrocket. Just remember with Vonage, somebody has to pay for all those fancy commercials, and that person is you.
With SunRocket, you also get the extra 2nd phone number which can be in any area code , so you can set one up so the caller is making a local call to you.
If anyone is thinking about Sunrocket, ask away. I did not port over my old number, I chose new ones, but I have heard of delays with VOIP when porting numbers over. (Sister-In-Law). I advise you get a new one, and you can usually choose your last four within a range, which is what I did.
Also, with Sunrocket, if you refer someone who signs up, after 30 days you get a $25 gift card from a choice of places. So if you plan to sign up, let me know ahead of time by PM, as I love their gift cards.
Vonage averages out to $100 more per year, with no International credit. Not for me. Also be careful with Vonage Int. rates, they are really messed up when calling to the UK, from what I read on their website.
Hope This Helps,
Joe