Friday, November 21, 2003
VoIP over Cable/DSL -- barriers fall away
Voice-over-IP-over-Cable/DSL services are popping up like fiddler crabs at low tide. The technology barriers have fallen. Voice quality, while not always "toll quality" on these services, is certainly good enough most of the time. And the features -- Ma Bell won't be getting $4.95 a month for Caller ID much longer. Get your newly portable number over there!
The newest blurb in my inbox is from mybroadline.com. It offers all-you-can-eat VoIP U.S. calling, with a rich package of CLASS bells and whistles (Voice Mail, Caller ID, Remote Access to Forwarding, *69, Call Block, Speed Calling, Three Way Calling, etc., etc.) for $40 a month.
It is comparable to Vonage, which at several months old, is the oldest puppy in this litter. Vonage has recently lowered its price to $35 a month for all-you-can-call service to the U.S. and Canada.
Voicepulse offers another comparably-priced service. It features two lines for the price, plus telemarketer block and distinctive rings you can assign to callers on your contact list.
Packet8 is the low price leader. Its unlimited U.S. plus Canada plan is only $19.95 a month. You can add unlimited Euro and Asia calling too for reasonable per-month prices too.
One of my favorites is Addaline, just because it is such a down-home mom-n-pop shop. Calling packages start at $0.00 -- but to call out to the regular old obsolete telephone network will cost you $12.95 and up.
Galaxy Internet Services does not describe its VoIP plan on its website yet, but a company spokesman says that GIS is gearing up to introduce VoIP services within a few weeks. GIS will flat-rate the entire U.S., Canada, and the UK too. Prices are still tbd, but the residential and SOHO plan will start around $20 (and up) a month for around 500 (and up) minutes.
Vox3, offers a U.S. number (an entire U.S. virtual presence, actually, including a Miami snail-mailbox) to companies with a Carribbean or Central- or South-American presence. Vox3 telephony features unlimited calling between the U.S. number and your company's offshore (western hemisphere) locations for as little as $29.95.
And there are others, e.g., IConnectHere. If you know of any that are especially innovative -- on features or price -- please let me know!
The newest blurb in my inbox is from mybroadline.com. It offers all-you-can-eat VoIP U.S. calling, with a rich package of CLASS bells and whistles (Voice Mail, Caller ID, Remote Access to Forwarding, *69, Call Block, Speed Calling, Three Way Calling, etc., etc.) for $40 a month.
It is comparable to Vonage, which at several months old, is the oldest puppy in this litter. Vonage has recently lowered its price to $35 a month for all-you-can-call service to the U.S. and Canada.
Voicepulse offers another comparably-priced service. It features two lines for the price, plus telemarketer block and distinctive rings you can assign to callers on your contact list.
Packet8 is the low price leader. Its unlimited U.S. plus Canada plan is only $19.95 a month. You can add unlimited Euro and Asia calling too for reasonable per-month prices too.
One of my favorites is Addaline, just because it is such a down-home mom-n-pop shop. Calling packages start at $0.00 -- but to call out to the regular old obsolete telephone network will cost you $12.95 and up.
Galaxy Internet Services does not describe its VoIP plan on its website yet, but a company spokesman says that GIS is gearing up to introduce VoIP services within a few weeks. GIS will flat-rate the entire U.S., Canada, and the UK too. Prices are still tbd, but the residential and SOHO plan will start around $20 (and up) a month for around 500 (and up) minutes.
Vox3, offers a U.S. number (an entire U.S. virtual presence, actually, including a Miami snail-mailbox) to companies with a Carribbean or Central- or South-American presence. Vox3 telephony features unlimited calling between the U.S. number and your company's offshore (western hemisphere) locations for as little as $29.95.
And there are others, e.g., IConnectHere. If you know of any that are especially innovative -- on features or price -- please let me know!
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