I have Vonage and overall I'm happy with it. Major difference with Skype is
that Vonage is a hardware service and Skype
is software; i.e. it requires a computer. My Vonage service came with a
Linksys router--similar to the ubiquitous
WRT54--that plugs into an ethernet connection and has two RJ-11 jacks for
phones and/or a FAX (I hang it off a port from
a WRT54). My Vonage router came pre-configured for my phone number. It's
completely transparent. Once in a while the
audio quality will deteriorate and I'll have to power cycle the Vonage router
to regain it. Think VOIP requires about
80Kbps.
Haven't kept up on Skype--last I heard they were going to start charging for
calls. Unless they've developed a hardware
solution, the Vonage service should be less hassle--it will be 'on' as long as
you have an Internet connection--but more
expensive. I get 400 min of domestic calling for about $25/mo. International
will, of course, be more (if they don't
offer a discount for service members, they should).
We appreciate your service, even if we don't show it enough.
Bob
eric@megageek.com wrote:
> As you know, I'm stuck here in Afghanistan. I have been tasked with
> finding a VOIP provider and phone to use.
>
> Since I have no friends back home that want to talk to me, I haven't used
> any of these services to any extent. I do have a free "Voxalot" account
> to call an IP phone in my house to talk to the housesitter, but it's a
> pain to use and maintain.
>
> So my first questions is, can anyone tell me which is better Vontage or
> Skype? (and why?)
>
> I have a pretty good internet connection here finally (1mb down and 512
> Up), but we need a REALLY good speaker phone for calls back the US.
>
> Which company is better and which speakerphone works the best with them? I
> know that "magic jack" lets you use any standard phone, but it has
> advertising built into its paid service.
>
> So if you can recommend a speakerphone as well, that is cool.
>
> Price really isn't a big deal as I would image the phone and service
> shouldn't be more than $500.
>
> (BTW, I'm looking into getting a Polycom system as well, is there one of
> those that works on VOIP?)
>
> Thanks.
>
> Moose (Who still has no idea how long I'll be stuck here. I even started
> to take Dari language lessons!)
>
> "Be as beneficent as the sun or the sea, but if your rights as a rational
> being are trenched on, die on the first inch of your territory." Ralph
> Waldo Emerson
--
*******************************************************************
Bob Spidell San Jose, CA bspidell@comcast.net
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