How to
Choose the Best VoIP Internet Phone Service |
|
Use this information to
help decide which VoIP service is best for you.
Part
4 of a 8 part series - click for Parts
One
Two
Three Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight |
Use this chart to decide which
VoIP service is your best choice.
VoIP Feature Comparisons
Although we provide an
extensive table of comparative features for the three VoIP
service providers below, don't get
afflicted by 'featuritis'. The chances are you'll
never use most of these features, any more than you use many of
the features on your home or office phone at present.
Don't make a buying choice
purely on the number of features offered by each different VoIP
provider. Instead, look for the features you need, must
have, and will use, and check that your preferred provider will
be able to give you these features.
Note also that in the fast
evolving VoIP phone service marketplace, all three companies are
adding new features regularly. If your preferred service
provider is missing only one 'must have' feature, check with
them to see if they plan to add it in the near future.
If you find an error in the
information in our table, or if you have other features you
suggest we should include, please
let us know.
For most people, the key
part of this table will be the final part - the pricing!
|
Feature |
Vonage |
Packet 8 |
VoicePulse |
VoiceStick |
Lingo
(review pending) |
|
Product Type |
Hardware |
Hardware |
Hardware |
Software |
Hardware |
|
Caller ID
number |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Caller ID
name |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
|
|
Call Waiting |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
3-way
calling |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Call
Transfer |
Y |
in Virtual Office only |
N |
'coming soon' |
Y |
|
Call
Forwarding |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Calls
forwarded if power fails |
Y |
N |
Y |
n/a |
|
|
Hunt Groups
(Call Forward Busy) |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
|
Call Forward
No Answer |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
|
Voicemail |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Voicemail to
email |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
24/7
Phone based Customer Support |
Y |
Y |
N |
simple first level only |
Y |
|
Free calls
to other subscribers |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
Anonymous
call blocking |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
|
Auto redial |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
|
Return call
speed dial (*69) |
Y |
Y (in July 04) |
Y |
N |
Y |
|
Telemarketer
tone block |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
|
|
Outgoing
caller ID block
(one call/all calls) |
Y/N |
N/Y |
Y/Y |
N |
Y/Y |
|
Contact List
custom caller ID |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
|
|
Distinctive
Ringing |
N |
in Virtual Office only |
Y |
N |
Y |
|
Do Not
Disturb |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Speed Dial
numbers |
N |
N |
99 |
Y |
8 |
|
DISA - call
into system and out again from any number |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
|
Outgoing fax
calls |
Y |
unofficial |
unofficial |
N |
|
|
Incoming fax
calls |
Y |
unofficial |
unofficial |
N |
|
|
(800)
numbers |
Y |
Y (in July 04) |
N |
N |
|
|
Local area
codes in how many states |
38 |
44 |
40 |
47 |
|
|
Costs
|
|
Feature |
Vonage |
Packet 8 |
VoicePulse |
VoiceStick |
Lingo
(review pending) |
|
Cheapest
monthly plan |
$16.49
includes 500 mins
(Vonage rates have a $1.50 a month hidden
surcharge) |
$19.95 with
unlimited US/Canada calling |
$14.99
includes unlimited local and 200 long
distance mins |
$3.99 includes no
minutes, 2.4c per minute used
$9.99 includes 400 US/Canada minutes |
$14.95 includes 500
minutes within US/Canada/W Europe |
|
Unlimited
local |
$26.49
includes 500 long distance mins |
$19.95 with
unlimited US/Canada calling |
$14.99
includes 200 long distance mins |
$19.95 for unlimited US
and Canada |
$19.95 with unlimited US,
Canada, and W Europe calling |
|
All US
unlimited |
$31.49
includes Canada too |
$19.95
includes Canada too |
$24.99 for 1
yr contract,
$34.99 no contract |
$19.95 for unlimited US
and Canada |
$19.95 includes Canada,
and W Europe too |
|
Signup Costs |
Activation fee and
shipping = $30
No extra cost for adapter |
Activation fee, no
shipping = $30 No extra
cost for adapter |
Activation fee and
shipping = $40 No extra
cost for adapter |
Activation fee = $30 but
one month free service included
Optional VoiceStick is
$35 or software download is free |
Activation fee and
shipping = $40 No extra
cost for adapter |
|
Intl call to
UK (per min) |
3c |
2c |
5c |
free or 2c |
free or 3c |
|
Intl call to
Moscow |
7c |
2c |
6c |
free or 2c |
3c |
|
Intl call to
Australia |
4c |
3c |
7c |
free or 2c |
3c |
|
Intl call to
Canada |
same as US |
same as US |
3c |
free or 2c |
free or 3c |
|
Intl call to
Beijing |
6c |
3c |
7c |
free or 2c |
7c |
|
Summary
Pricewise the lowest cost
service is probably VoiceStick, whether you use the
service a little or a lot, and whether your calling is local,
long distance, or international.
However, VoiceStick's
feature set is the most basic of all the services. But,
realistically, you're unlikely to notice the absence of some of
the more advanced features. VoiceStick also has unique
extra features like its 'i2Bridge' or DISA feature and so is our
current favorite (Sep 05) for 'best all rounder'.
|
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Originally published
11 Jun 2004, last update
22 Apr 2008
You may freely reproduce or distribute this article for noncommercial purposes as long as you give credit to me as original writer.
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