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Voice Over IP (VoIP) is the new phone system
technology. It's valued for cheap prices and cost
effectiveness. It offers many of the same calling
features as regular landline services at typically no
extra cost. VoIP allows users the freedom to use their
high-speed Internet connection to integrate their phone,
audio, video, and web browsing capabilities into one
application. Because of these new trends, VoIP providers
are adding new products and services daily.
Here is a list and details of the top 7 VoIP
providers with costs (as of Sept-06):
1. Skype (Ebay - New Owner)
Skype is a famous VoIP
provider with the slogan, “The Whole World can Talk for
Free”. Skype is a free download and users can make free calls via Skype to Skype. For a fee, you can advance
your Skype to Skype 'Out' and make calls to landline
phones. Skype 'In' will let your choose your area code and
phone number. This way, friends and relatives can call
you locally, if you select the same area code. Skype is
compatible with the leading operations systems -
Windows, Linux, Macs and Pocket PCs.
2. Broadvox Direct
Broadvox Direct VoIP providers
offers small business and residential services. Their
residential services include the Residential Choice Plus
plan for $10.00 per month. The Residential Choice Plus
plan includes 100 outbound minutes and unlimited
incoming minutes. Their Residential Unlimited Plan costs
$30.00 a month and includes unlimited calling anywhere
in the US and Canada. The Small Business (SOHO) Regional
Plan costs $35.00 per month and includes 1500 monthly
minutes in the US and in Canada. The SoHo Small Business
Unlimited Plan costs $45 per month and includes
unlimited calls in the US and Canada and also includes a
free fax line and Yellow Page listing.
3. Vonage
Probably the most well known VoIP
providers, you may be surprised to discover that Vonage
is also one of the more expensive providers. Vonage
offers two plans, residential and small business.
Residential users may choose between the Basic 500 plan
and Unlimited. The Basic 500 plan offers 500 minutes of
talk time for $15.00 a month. The Premium Unlimited
residential plan costs $25.00 per month.
The SOHO Basic plan costs $40.00 per month and allows
1500 minutes. The Small Business Unlimited plan costs
$50.00 a month and provides unlimited calls throughout
the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
4. Dialpad
Yahoo and Dialpad have merged services.
There is trend amongst VoIP providers to consolidate
their services. Currently, Dialpad offers 3 service
plans: Dialpad Monthly 300, Dialpad Monthly 500, and
Dialpad USA. The cost for Dialpad Monthly 300 is $7.50,
Dialpad Monthly 500 costs $10 and Dialpad USA costs
about $12.00/month.
5. Galaxy Voice
Galaxy Voice offers two plans,
Residential and Business. Their residential plan costs
about $20.00 a month and includes unlimited calling,
Voicemail, Caller Id, Call Waiting, Call Return, Three
Way Calling, and Call Forwarding. Their business plan
costs $40.00 per month and includes unlimited calling,
Free Voice Mail, Free Call Transfer, Free Call
Forwarding, Free Repeat Dialing, and Free Caller ID
block.
6. Packet 8
Packet 8 offers phone and videophone
plans. One of the few VoIP providers to offer both
services. Their residential plans are the Freedom
International and Freedom Unlimited. Both of these plans
cost $19/month. Their business plans consists of three
different plans. These are the Virtual Office service
plans, the Virtual Attendant Service plans, and the
Business Phone Service plans. The Virtual office phone
plan costs $19 per month, the Virtual Attendant service
plan costs $14 per month, and the Business plan costs
$35.00 per month.
7. VoIP American
VoIP American one of the biggest
VoIP providers and has 3 different plans. These are the
VoIP American PBX plan, the VoIP Voice and bVoice plans.
The VoIP American PBX plan cost $19.00 a month for a
private line and $44.00 a month for unlimited calling.
The VoIP Voice Residential Basic plan costs $14.00/month
and Residential Unlimited plan costs $29.00/month.
VoIP providers are increasing in number with growing
competition amongst the various VoIP providers prices
will start to come down even further. The quality of the
voice calls is getting better and now video calls are
becoming the standard offering by the VoIP Providers.
Talk will be cheap!
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