Providers 101

Voip School’s guide to Residential VoIP Providers, Business VoIP Providers, Peer to Peer VoIP Providers, and Mobile VoIP Providers:

Residential VoIP Providers:

Vonage

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  • VoIP School Grade & Opinion: B –

VoIP School would recommend Vonage for someone looking to reduce their home phone bills. Vonage is easy to get set up, but do not forget about their lacking customer service. If you use your home phone service frequently for business related purposes, we recommend one of our featured business providers. For residential use, Vonage is a solid choice.

  • Overall Reputation: Vonage began operations in 2001 by raising capital to fund their business. By 2002 Vonage had signed its first residential customer and since then has grown to over 2.5 million users. It seems that most people are happy with their service while it is working but many customers claim that once a problem arises, customer support is no help whatsoever. Vonage outsources its call centers to various foreign countries meaning that you will probably not speak to a native English speaker about your problems; some people do not mind but we understand that this is an issue for many people. While the customer support side may be lacking there is something to be said for the very fast growth in Vonage’s customer base. If you are looking for a new and cheaper phone solution for your home, Vonage would be a decent choice.

  • Services and Features: Vonage service is offered on a flat rate assessed monthly. They have an extremely competitive price point, especially amongst the big name phone providers. As well Vonage offers a basic bundle of features with its monthly service such as Call Waiting, Caller ID, etc. There are no truly fancy features involved but the service can fulfill all the roles that a standard phone service would.

Included Features for $24.99 per month (Unlimited Extension):

· Caller ID with Name

· Call Waiting

· Voicemail Plus®

· Call Transfer

· Enhanced Call Forwarding / Simul-Ring®

· 3-Way Calling

· Caller ID Block

· Call Return

· Do Not Disturb

· Anonymous Call Block

· Repeat Dialing

· International & Directory Assistance Block

· Call Hunt

· Ring Lists

· Vonage Access

· Bandwidth Saver®

· Network Availability Number®

· Click-2-Call®

· Vonage Online Account

· 211 Dialing

· 311 Dialing

· 411 Enhanced Dialing

· 511 Traveler Information

· 711 Dialing

· 811 Dialing

· 1-700-WEATHER

· 1-700-GREETINGS

· Vonage Contact Center (beta)

Add on Features:

· Fax Line

· Virtual Number

· Add a Line

· Vonage SoftPhone®

· Toll Free Plus®

· Vonage Visual Voicemail®

  • System Requirements: As for basic requirements, a customer would need an internet connection (naturally the higher the bandwidth the better the connection…thus better calls) and access to an electrical outlet. The rest is taken care of by Vonage.
    • Internet Connection
    • Electrical Outlet (depending on the phone used)

 

MagicJack

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  • VoIP School Grade & Opinion: A –

Our feeling is that magicJack has something going for it. With the increasing number of computers in each household, it makes sense to leverage internet connectivity to save you money on your phone bill; magicJack gives you that ability. Customers have been pleased with the ease of use and we foresee magicJack signing up more and more customers each month. For the price there is definitely no better way to make residential phone calls over the internet.

  • Overall Reputation: MagicJack is a very simple and user friendly way to make VoIP phone calls for practically no cost. For twenty dollars a year magicJack customers are able to make calls from the U.S. and Canada to anywhere in the world. The unit itself, a small USB adapter, costs an additional twenty dollars. MagicJack has been a widely popular product and service amongst its users. The magicJack website highlights a few promotional videos that demonstrate the ease with which magicJack can be used; recommended viewing if you have any reservations about the magicJack.

 

  • Services and Features: Since magicJack is a converter, that simply connects your phone to your computer, there are not many added features beyond those typically used with home phone service. Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, etc., are only a dollar and change a month, which makes for a great deal if you are stretched financially.

 

Included Features for $19.99 per YEAR (Unlimited Extension):

· Local & Long Distance calling

· Directory Assistance

· Call Waiting

· Voicemail

· Caller ID

· Call Forwarding

· 911 service

 

  • System Requirements: All you need in order to use the magicJack is a computer and your telephone. Of course your computer needs to be connected to the internet and as always, a better connection results in increased call quality.
    • Internet Connection
    • Computer
    • Electrical Outlet

Phone Power

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  • VoIP School Grade & Opinion: C+

VoIP School feels that there remains something to be desired with Phone Power. Their home phone service is reliable enough to warrant purchasing, considering its great price. While there are a large number of complaints about little blips in the system there are also a good number of users who really enjoy their service. Phone Power is not the worst residential provider in the market by any means, nor is it the best. Phone power gives the option of signing up for monthly contracts, or annual contracts, which provides a good way to try out the service before being locked into a long term contract.

  • Overall Reputation: Reviews are mixed when it comes to Phone Power. Many people despise the service provider while others praise it. After doing an in depth analysis on a number of Phone Power customers and their experiences, results showed that Phone Power underperformed in the majority of cases. Phone Power prices are extremely competitive and they attract a large number of prospective clients through their prices and promotional deals. But buyers beware, Phone Power does not necessarily have the cleanest track record and one should be prudent in dealing with this service provider.

  • Services and Features: Phone Power residential phone service is a standard type of phone service that has the standard set of features that one would expect out of a traditional provider. Call waiting, Caller ID and 3-way conference calling are just a few examples of the features available. Phone Power also provides a voicemail viewer online where the user can manage his or her voicemail just like email. One significant complaint is that customer service representatives are hard to get in contact with, although this seems to be the case with many VoIP providers.

Included Features for $22.99 per month (Unlimited Extension):

• Find Me, Follow Me

• 3-Way Conference Calling

• Simultaneous Ring

• Call Forwarding

• Adjustable Ring Length

• Contact List

• Voicemail to Email

• Block List

• Number for Life

• Call Hold

• Out of Area Number

• Call Log Viewer

• Click2Call

• Music on Hold

• Remote Click2Call

• Do Not Disturb

• My Account Portal

• Voicemail

• Anonymous Caller Rejection

• Voicemail Viewer

• Direct International Dialing

• Speed Dial List

• Caller ID

• E911 Service

• Call Waiting

• 811 Service

• Caller Waiting ID

  • System Requirements: Users need an internet connection in order to be compatible with Phone Powers service. Like we always mention, the highest quality calls can be obtained through the fastest internet connection available to the user.
    • Internet Connection
    • Electrical Outlet (depending on the phone used)

Jajah

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  • VoIP School Grade & Opinion: C-

The VoIP School team sees some potential in JaJah but that potential has a long way to go before it is fulfilled. When talking with JaJah customers it became evident that JaJah billing procedures were non-existent. Customers would complain of having major billing discrepancies and when these customers pursued these issues JaJah would explain that there were fees associated which the customer had not been made aware of. JaJah may be alright for residential purposes but it seems that running a business with them could be detrimental. We leave it to you to make the decision but beware of JaJah’s historical performance; it has been sub-par.

  • Overall Reputation: JaJah offers its customers a voice over IP solution that can be used over standard phones, over the computer or over your mobile device. Customers claim that JaJah works well for the quoted price but that the actual prices are far different and that there are a large number of hidden fees as well. It seems as if JaJah is very unclear about their pricing which does not bode well for the company or its customers. On top of unclear billing policies JaJah will, from time to time, fail to recognize its own customers and will charge them standard fees when talking to other JaJah users; a feature that is supposed to be free. It seems that JaJah has far too many bugs to work to be considered a stress-free and user friendly way to make phone calls.

  • Services and Features: JaJah service works by calling local service numbers that JaJah owns which then puts you into its system, thus connecting you to whomever you are calling over the internet. Customers are charged on a per minute basis at around 2.9¢ per minute, or calls can be made for free to other JaJah users. The service does not require the purchase of any hardware which is a plus but the limited number of features keeps JaJah from really competing with the big residential providers. JaJah markets to businesses as well, but in terms of a TRUE Business VoIP provider, JaJah brings next to nothing to the table when compared to other Business VoIP providers.

Included Features for $22.99 per month (Unlimited Extension):

• Find Me, Follow Me

• Conference Calling

• Scheduled Calling

• SMS Texting

• JaJah Buttons

• Address Book

• Voicemail

  • System Requirements: Not much is required to use JaJah’s service. All you need is a working phone through which JaJah will allow you to make cheap international calls; domestic calls can be made as well but the real cost savings are realized in international calls. And of course for the web-based features to work you will need an internet connection, and as always, the stronger the connection the better.
    • Internet Connection
    • Electrical Outlet (depending on the phone used)

VoIP.com

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  • VoIP School Grade & Opinion: D

The VoIP School team sees VoIP.com as a poor option for your residential VoIP needs. While the service does boast a few more features as compared to other providers and its price point is competitive, the lack of service quality outweighs the positives that come with the service. There are better options available in terms of residential VoIP providers and our recommendation is to look elsewhere than VoIP.com.

  • Overall Reputation: VoIP.com has a poor reputation amongst VoIP service providers. Many of their customers complain about poor call quality and customer service. Customer service representatives are reportedly not proactively helpful with service problems and many times customers are simply referred to another channel through which to file their complaint. They have a relatively high churn rate, as most VoIP.com customers do not seem to stay with the service for a very long time.

  • Services and Features: VoIP.com offers both monthly and yearly contracts. As far as the feature list goes, the typical range of features from Caller ID, Call Waiting are available as well as some more advanced features that VoIP.com has added to its service. VoIP.com also has an interesting option that one can purchase a line that does nothing but go directly to voicemail, this may seem useless to some, but a number of users have found some interesting implementations for that service. A soft phone for use on the computer also accompanies the service.

Included Features for $19.95 per month (Unlimited Extension):

· Anonymous Call Rejection

· Call Return

· Call Waiting

· Caller ID with Name

· Cancel Call Waiting per Call

· Enhanced 911

· Directory Assistance (411)

· Last Number Redial

· Outbound Caller ID Blocking

· Speed Dial 8

· Speed Dial 100

· Three-Way Calling

  • System Requirements: An internet connection is necessary for you to use the service from VoIP.com. As always, higher quality calls can be attained with higher quality, faster internet.
    • Internet Connection
    • Electrical Outlet (depending on the phone used)

Small Business VoIP Providers:

Packet8

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  • VoIP School Grade & Opinion: B –

Packet8 has been around for a long time and they have had success in both the business and residential VoIP markets. Even though their service can be choppy at times and while tech support may lack a bit, Packet8 still has a decent track record with its customers. We are not particularly attracted to Packet8 in large part due to the proprietary Packet8 phones and annual contracts, both of which leave customers with few options if they are dissatisfied.

  • Overall Reputation: Packet8 is one of the largest VoIP service providers in the market today. Packet8 boasts both residential services as well as business services, catering to businesses of any size. Their phones are proprietary to their service which is important to note, as they will not work with another company if you are displeased with their service. Many users have success with the service but there are those who find consistent problems with Packet8. Typical complaints range from technical support being under-trained to vague and seemingly arbitrary billing issues. Call quality is typically good but our research found that the frequency of dropped calls is high relative to other providers. Packet8 serves a wide base of customers, and despite some room for improvement on the support side, Packet8 offers a decent service.

  • Services and Features: Like many other providers Packet8 offers its clients a wide array of features and service options that cater to their diverse clientele. Packet 8 is a hosted-PBX provider which gives clients the ability to access the features of an in-house PBX without having to purchase the unit. Like most phone service providers, Packet8 offers the typical wide array of features like Caller ID and Call Waiting as well as the improved business features like outlook integration and auto-attendant. Packet8 requires an annual contract with no monthly option.

Included Features for $33.99 per month (Unlimited Extension):

· Unlimited Calling

· Auto-Attendant

· Simple Administration

· Conference Bridge

· Voicemail

· Music/Messaging On Hold

· Phone-based Management

· Call Park/Call Pick-Up

· Do Not Disturb

· Call Transfer

· Call Forwarding

· 3-way Conference

· Caller ID/Call Waiting Caller-ID

· Local Time Zone Management

· Stutter Tone Notification

· Ring Tones

· Ring Groups

· Local Number Porting (LNP)

· Directory Assistance Listing

· Microsoft Outlook Integration

· Online Billing

· Packet8 Virtual Office Interface for Salesforce

 

 

  • System Requirements: As with other business providers a T1 internet connection is recommended for optimum service with Packet8. The bandwidth required to maintain high quality calls is simply not available on DSL connections or the like. Packet8’s IP phones are required for the service, which can be costly if you decide that Packet8 is not the right service for you, as you will be stuck with phones that don’t work with another service. Packet8 is a hosted-PBX provider and there is no need to purchase a costly in-house PBX to use their service.
    • Internet Connection (Preferably T1 or better)
    • Electrical Outlet (depending on the phone used)

Nextiva

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  • VoIP School Grade & Opinion: B–

The VoIP School team feels that Nextiva has a feature rich service that is offered at a competitive price. However, the service seems to be a bit unreliable and tech support seems to be sparse. We know that you can find other providers who can offer you reliability and a knowledgeable and available support staff. We recommend shopping around a bit before deciding to sign up with Nextiva.

  • Overall Reputation: Nextiva is kind of tough to crack in terms of its reputation. If you search review sites you find them flooded with absolutely perfect reviews for Nextiva while other companies’ reviews look a little more realistic. So to get to the bottom of this VoIP School polled a number of Nextiva customers to find out what Nextiva is really like; and the responses were mixed. A number of customers are happy with the service while a handful are exceedingly frustrated and upset with the “lack of” service and Nextiva tech support. This is typical of a young company; system failures, glitches, and understaffed support departments keep the company from truly excelling in the hosted-pbx field. Nextiva is not the best provider in terms of dollars spent, read on to the Services and Features section to learn more.

  • Services and Features: Nextiva offers a range of services, from 100 minute monthly plans up to unlimited monthly and annual plans. Nextiva has a competitive price point, compared to other small business VoIP providers and it offers a wide range of features. These features include all of your basic features like voicemail and call waiting, on up to the more intricate auto-attendant.

Included Features for $35 per month (Unlimited Extension):

• Find Me, Follow Me

• International Calls

• Nextiva Network

• SMS Texting

• JaJah Buttons

• Address Book

• Local Number

• IP Phone/Adapter

• Virtual PBX (Auto Attendant)

• E911 Services

• Call Forwarding

• JaJah Buttons

• Dial-By-Name Directory

• Conferencing Features

• Office Manager Web Portal

• Voicemail Greeting Options

• Password Protected

• Voicemail to Email

• Voicemail Remote Access

• Visual Waiting Indicator

• Day and Night Mode

• Virtual Departments

• Multiple Auto Attendants

• Import Greetings

• Music on Hold

• Hunt Groups

• Extensions

• Follow Me

• Cell Phone Integration

• Softphone Support

• User Login

• Customer Support Center

• Voicemail

  • System Requirements: As with all small business VoIP providers you will want to make sure that your bandwidth is capable of transmitting calls and information over the internet without interfering with one another. To accomplish this we recommend a T1 or higher but if you are just running a couple of lines out of your home cable or DSL should be okay. Other than that Nextiva does not require any thing more than IP phones or adapters for standard telephones.

Vocalocity

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  • VoIP School Grade & Opinion: A –

Vocalocity has proven itself durable enough to last in the competitive field of small business VoIP. They have what it takes to provide a sound and reliable phone service for your small business. Due to the relative infancy of VoIP in general, Vocalocity’s years of experience dealing strictly with small business make it a small powerhouse in the industry; small enough to have a personal touch, yet large and experienced enough to provide reputable service. The absence of long term contracts is also a plus for the provider, as those who are displeased with the service are free to cancel at any time with no penalties, which is a stark contrast with many providers that attempt to lock in customers for as long as possible.

  • Overall Reputation: Vocalocity has a reputation as a leading provider of hosted-PBX solutions for small businesses. They focus on businesses with around 20 or fewer employees. In 2006 Vocalocity changed management and has since been operating with proprietary technology, as opposed to many providers that use open source technology. Many customers seemed to be pleased with their service and its ease of use. Vocalocity touts its “plug-and-play” install, and from our experience it is just that. The support center is located in Atlanta, GA; meaning native English speakers, a plus to many customers in the US. An important feature to note about Vocalocity is that as a hosted customers save money in two forms; 1) by not having to buy the PBX to keep in house; and, 2) by saving maintenance costs associated with system outages and upgrades. Overall VoIP School sees Vocalocity as a very good option for micro-enterprises.

  • Services and Features – Service from Vocalocity fits small businesses with 1-20 employees particularly well. Vocalocity offers their service at a flat monthly rate per extension. There are a number of features included in this flat rate like Caller ID and Call waiting. Since they are a business provider Vocalocity has a number of add-on features like virtual fax and other advanced features, which can give a small business an enterprise level appearance. It is very easy to add and remove lines with this company, which is optimal for small businesses that are constantly adapting to fluctuations in business.

Included Features for $39.99 per month (Unlimited Extension):

· Local Numbers

· Toll Free Numbers

· Virtual Numbers

· Unlimited Calling

· Optional Metered Calling

· Fax

· Local Number Portability

· Web Portal Interface

· 411 Service

· 911 Service

· Caller ID/ On Call Waiting

· Call Forwarding

· Call Hold

· Call Transfer

· Call Conference

· Call Waiting

· Do Not Disturb

· Call Logs

· Voicemail Greeting Options

· Voicemail to Email

· Remote Access

· Multiple Mail Folders

· Visual Waiting Indicator

· Day and Night Mode Schedule

· Dial-by-Name Directory

· Virtual departments

· Multiple Auto-Attendants

· Import greetings

· Cell phone integration

· Softphone Support

· Call Groups

· Follow Me

· Unified Inbox

· Music on Hold

· Conference Bridge

· Call Queue

· Call Flip

  • System Requirements: T1 connection or higher is recommended, but in some cases DSL is acceptable. Vocalocity’s service demands high bandwidth in order to maintain very high quality calls for a relatively significant number of system users. Since DSL and its close relatives are becoming increasingly slower they are not recommended; connection speed is in general very important to consider if you are thinking about VoIP for your business.
    • Internet Connection (Preferably T1 or better)
    • Electrical Outlet (depending on the phone used)

Ring Central

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  • VoIP School Grade & Opinion: D

We feel that Ring Central is not the best choice for a small business phone service provider. The high numbers of customer complaints are the primary red flag about Ring Central’s service. Additionally, Ring Central does not use its own service in its call centers, which is also cause for concern. Make the decision for yourself but at VoIP School we do not recommend Ring Central.

  • Overall Reputation: In Voipschool opinion Ring Central phone service is not a recommended choice. Service is lacking by most customer accounts; some customers complain about the outsourced support center, others complain about frequently dropped calls as well as major billing issues. The support staff, located in the Philippines, is for the most part under trained and lacking in knowledge of their product. Ring Central doesn’t necessarily make overt billing errors; instead it is vague about charges and “fine print” fees associated with its service. Oddly, Ring Central will not allow potential customers to demo the service interface, unlike many of its competitors. Our suggestion is to shop around before deciding to go with Ring Central and compare it to the way others in the VoIP industry do business.

  • Services and Features: Ring Central offers a wide array of features that can be useful in most small business settings. The range of features available starts with the basics like Voicemail and gets more complex with features like Auto-Receptionist.

Included Features for $99.99 per month (4 Extensions & Toll Free):

· Unlimited Calling

· Linksys 922 VoIP PhonesEvolve your communications with Linksys 922 VoIP phones from RingCentral. Purpose-built for hosted phone service, Linksys 922 phones have the convenience and user-friendliness you expect from full-featured business phones, while taking full advantage of unified voice and data networks. And they arrive “Plug and Ring” ready, fully configured and ready to help you take your business communications to the next level. Learn more.

· Toll Free Numbers

· Local NumbersEach digital line includes one direct local number and you choose the area codes(s) that makes sense for your business. Add additional local numbers as needed. Additional charges apply.

· Voicemail (with Email Delivery)

· Professional Recordings

· Message Alerts

· Music & Messages On-Hold

· Internet Fax

· Dedicated Fax

· Fax On-DemandHere’s a convenient way to quickly give prospects or customers a printed copy of documents such as listings or forms. Using Fax On-Demand, callers can have the document faxed directly to their fax machine by dialing an extension and their fax number. You can also use this service to quickly fax your saved document to someone via your telephone.

· eCentrexSM Virtual PBX

· Extensions

· Auto-Receptionist

· Dial-by-Name DirectoryImprove your big business image with a company dial-by-name directory. Auto-generated, the directory provides a list of departments and employees to callers, who can dial by first or last name.

· Real-Time Call Control

· Call Forwarding

· Time-of-Day Routing and Answering Rules

· Call Screening and Blocking

· Click-to-Call Out

· Click-to-Call Me

· Call Logs

· Call Transfer

· You will be able to transfer calls from any phone to any other phone, permanently or on the fly. Advanced call transfer gives you even greater flexibility to meet your need for greater mobility. On a call but have to leave the office? Transfer it to your cell and take the call with you. Desktop Call Controller

· Calling Card

· Convenient, safe and inexpensive: use your RingCentral phone number to place calls from any phone, just like a calling card. Outlook Integration

· 24-hour Support

  • System Requirements: The only requirement for Ring Central service is an internet connection and most cases an electrical outlet. Many new phones derive their power directly from the Ethernet connection (Power over Ethernet) so there is no need to plug the phone into an electrical outlet. Again, remember that Ring Central is a hosted-PBX provider; there is no need to purchase a costly in-house PBX with Ring Central.
    • Internet Connection (Preferably T1 or better)
    • Electrical Outlet (depending on the phone used)

Peer to Peer VoIP Providers:

Skype

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  • VoIP School Grade & Opinion: A

Skype is a wonderful tool that affords its users a very low cost or in many cases free VoIP service. People stay in touch with one another across the world using Skype. Its value is captured entirely by its users and the benefits far outweigh the costs; Skype is a great choice for an inexpensive way to stay in touch.

  • Overall Reputation: Skype is a peer to peer voice over IP service that is available online in a soft phone format. Calls to other users of the service and to free-of-charge numbers are free, while calls to other landlines and mobile phones can be made for a low fee. Users are also able to instant message, file transfer and video conference. Skype is a great way to stay in touch for those who are traveling or are abroad. Its users for the most part love the service.

  • Services and Features: Skype uses a proprietary Internet telephony network. The protocol has not been made publicly available by Skype and official applications using the protocol are proprietary and closed-source. The main difference between Skype and standard VoIP clients is that Skype operates on a peer-to-peer model as opposed to the more usual client-server model. The Skype user directory is entirely decentralized and distributed among the nodes (users’ computers) of the network which allows the network to scale very easily to large sizes without having to spend on a complex centralized infrastructure. The disadvantage of this approach is that Skype offers no interoperability with SIP-based VOIP networks.

  • System Requirements: All you need to use Skype is an internet connection. And as in any case, the better your connection, the better your experience will be. There are even versions of Skype available for the iPhone and other mobile internet devices.

Gizmo Project

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  • VoIP School Grade & Opinion: B+

Gizmo Project has taken a unique approach in the free service VoIP market by offering free calls to landlines anywhere. The biggest reservation that the VoIP School team has about Gizmo Project is the number of users that it retains; Skype is far more pervasive and has all sorts of applications that are built specifically for Skype, which draws a large portion of the market. Other than our concerns with the size of Gizmo Project’s user base, we feel that it is a good service.

  • Overall Reputation: Even with stiff competition from competitors like Skype, Gizmo Project has been able to maintain a solid customer/user base. Gizmo Project offers the same type service as Skype in terms of being able to make free calls to another user via your computer. Where Gizmo Project differs is in making calls to land lines. Skype charges users a nominal fee in order to place calls to landlines, Gizmo Project on the other hand does not; calls can be made to landlines from anywhere at any time with no limitations. The only catch is that the recipients of calls must have their phone number registered with a Gizmo Project account. Users claim that the service is both easy to use and reliable. Despite being somewhat smaller than Skype, Gizmo Project is still a strong peer to peer VoIP provider.

  • Services and Features: Gizmo Project service comes with a standard set of features like call forwarding and waiting. However unlike Skype, Gizmo Project brings some additional features to the table like, call recording, voicemail-to-email, and a brilliant twist on the virtual incoming phone number; an incoming number that rings both at your PC and your choice of a cell phone or a landline. The only fees attached are when calls are received from a landline and those fees typically total less than $3 per month. Gizmo Project has a great deal to offer in exchange for almost nothing.

Included Features:

· Call Gizmo members for free

· Instant Messaging

· Two-way SMS

· Group Chat

· Free Voicemail

· Call Recording

· Chat History

· Custom Avatars

· File Transfer

· Video Calling

· Conference Calling

· Google Talk

  • System Requirements: Naturally a computer with an internet connection is required to use Gizmo Project’s service. In order to fully exploit all of the features available a phone or mobile device can be used but by no means are required. And as always, a stronger internet connection will yield higher quality calls.

Mobile VoIP Providers:

Fring

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  • VoIP School Grade & Opinion: A –

We feel that Fring will be widely popular in a world that is becoming even more interconnected. The cost savings that it can provide combined with its ease of use make it a great technology that almost anyone can use. No, Fring is not going to totally change the face of these communication channels but it is taking them a step further in the integration process.

  • Overall Reputation: Fring is a little different from what you might be used to in the VoIP world. Fring is a mobile internet service/community that allows you to integrate all of your messengers like Skype, MSN, Google Talk, Twitter, Yahoo, etc. and communicate on all of them simultaneously on your mobile device. It is a revolutionary technology that is further leveraging people’s capability to stay in touch at very low costs. Since Fring works on 3G phones, it is just now becoming more widely used. Early adopters like the program and claim that it has a lot of potential to overtake some other operators like Vodafone.

  • Services and Features: Fring simply integrates your various communication channels into a single program for use on a mobile device. On top of free calls to other Fring users (or any other free service user) you can also call landlines, PCs, and other numbers at a low cost. Fring could become a major player in the near future with 3G handhelds becoming more and more commonplace.

  • System Requirements: A 3G mobile device, that’s it!

Mobivox

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  • VoIP School Grade & Opinion: C

Mobivox offers a relatively average service at a competitive price. The average industry cost per minute for mobile VoIP calls is around 3¢, which is higher than Mobivox’s average per minute 1.9¢ price. The VoIP School team sees no added value beyond the money paid for the service, thus the average grade of “C”. No, Mobivox is not going to be a huge mistake but it has yet to prove itself to be a top of the line provider.

  • Overall Reputation: Mobivox is a Canadian based mobile VoIP service provider. The way Mobivox works is you register with the service and then when you call in from your phone the service recognizes your number and allows you to call anyone in your Mobivox address book. This can be done manually by punching in the number as usual or by voice recognition. Many Mobivox customers praise the voice recognition feature and the ease with which the system can be learned and used. However, these same customers all had negative things to say about customer service, apparently it is not of high importance to Mobivox. So if you imagine that you will need a good deal of help using the service, then Mobivox may not be the right provider for you.

  • Services and Features: With service from Mobivox customers can make calls to other Mobivox users and Skype users for free while making calls to any other numbers for 1.9¢ per minute. Mobivox does not have any advanced file sharing or text messaging features but it will allow you to make conference calls with up to 9 callers. It is not the most feature rich service but the price makes up for that.

Included Features:

· Direct call

· Auto CallBack

· Web CallBack

· SMS CallBack

· Skype Call

  • System Requirements: Any cellular, VoIP or landline telephone will work with Mobivox service. Aside from that nothing else is required.

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fbnewman | datetime January 29, 2009 4:15 pm

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