Sponsored Links

AT&T CallVantage

*Est. $25

AT&T CallVantage

Best VoIP service overall

pros
  • Good pricing, call quality
  • Works with any broadband provider, not just AT&T
  • Has 911 service for all
cons
  • Fewer features than Vonage
  • Recently discontinued

The most credible ratings of VoIPs give high marks to AT&T CallVantage, though usually there is not a huge difference between first place and last place. AT&T CallVantage is the default choice here for Internet phone calls, based on widespread availability, usability with any broadband service (you don't need AT&T's), features and good pricing. However, CallVantage has been dropped by AT&T -- so the only way to get it is to already have it. New enrollments are not being accepted. As an alternative, Vonage (*est. $25 for unlimited calling in U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Italy, Spain, UK, France and Ireland) costs the same and also gets good reviews.

We found the best coverage at Consumer Reports, where nine VoIP and VoIP-like services are ranked in a chart with more traditional phone service as part of a broader report on bundling your Internet, TV and telephone services with one provider. Unfortunately, you'll need a subscription to see the rankings. PC Magazine surveys readers about the quality of tech support (2008) and overall satisfaction (2006). Users rate VoIPs on a slew of factors at DSLReports.com. Some services get little feedback, some get a lot. We found about 150 there on AT&T CallVantage.

Where To Buy
 
 
 
 
 

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.org

This report concerns bundled services, but the subscribers-only ratings chart breaks the services into separate categories and nine VoIP and VoIP-type services are ranked among the standard and cable phone services. AT&T CallVantage is among them.

Review: Internet, TV, Phone: Bundling can cut bills, Editors of Consumer Reports, Feb. 2008

2. PCMag.com

This annual service and reliability survey focuses on tech support, and AT&T CallVantage ranks third among six mainstream VoIP services. Overall scores are very close, though, ranging from 7.5 to 8.3.

Review: The Best (and Worst) Tech Support in America: VoIP, Sascha Segan and Eric Griffith, July 29, 2008

3. PCMag.com

This dated customer-satisfaction poll of PC Magazine readers puts AT&T CallVantage in second place, barely beaten by Cablevision Optimum Voice. AT&T CallVantage does top Optimum in sound quality and non-technical support.

Review: 19th Annual Reader Satisfaction Survey: VoIP, Editors of PC Magazine, Sept. 20, 2006

4. DSLReports.com

AT&T CallVantage gets a Gold Award based on its very high ratio of good user reviews compared with bad (about 4:1 based on about 150 user reviews). Its highest scores are for call quality; its lowest for tech support.

Review: AT&T CallVantage Reviews, Editors of and contributors to DSLReports.com

5. CNet.com

This report is a relic - an update of one from 2004 - but some of the more than 60 user reviews are a lot more recent and overall a bit less complimentary than CNet's rating of "very good." Complaints mostly concern customer service and call quality.

Review: AT&T CallVantage Review, Neil Randall, Updated March 22, 2005

6. J.D. Power & Associates

Unfortunately, this customer-satisfaction survey mixes VoIP with traditional long-distance services, so it's not specific enough to rank higher here. AT&T doesn't win any region, but fares no worse than average in any.

Review: 2008 Residential Regional Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study, Editors of J.D. Power & Associates, Sept. 10, 2008

Sponsored Links

Back to top