VOIP - If You Want It, What are The Best Available Options?

[Frank-0-Video]

Greetings ...

This is an inquiry about VOIP (Voice Over Internet) Service. I know what it is, and I know of the existence of services like Vonage, Skype and MagicJack. I am interested in the experiences and opinions of those who use such services.

Thanx-A-Lot, Frank-0-Video

[Ditka1985]

The first thing to remember abot VoIP is that it will never be any better than your service provider! If your internet service is fast and reliable, there is a good chance for success (and happiness) with VoIP. If your ISP is brain-dead and unreliable, VoIP might not be such a good choice.

Personally, I use Vonage and have done so for quite a while now. Because I have a family that is fairly unsophisticated when it comes to technology, I needed something that worked as close to a traditional land-line as possible. Based on my calling activities, adding Vonage on top of my existing ISP was actually cheaper than the ISP's VoIP options -- your mileage my vary.

I've honestly been very happy with Vonage thus far, and the family notices little difference in the phone service (except for the fact that it actually works most of the time -- my previous landline was unreliable and problematic.). If the Vonage device cannot contact the internet, my calls are simply routed to my cell phone. Plus, the VoIP service offers all sorts of cool things that land lines cannot do... For example, for a few bucks a month I can get a second number in a different area code -- so people living there can call me toll free.

Oh -- and I've saved an average of about $50 a month since I switched...

[hech54]

Skype.
Been signed up almost since Skype first started.
Skype, a USB phone and/or a cheapo Microsoft
webcam...I'm good to go.
Never a problem.

[jagabo]

Ooma looks like an interesting option -- ~$200 up front, free for life (of the unit or the company, whichever comes first). Been thinking about trying it.