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Recommended As
Pros and Cons
Sources
Amazon Rating

(average)

Where To Buy
 
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Features
Type of VoIP
E911 Calls?
Hardware Required
Professional Installation?
Add Extensions?
Contract Required?
Trial Period
Activation Fee
Unlimited Plans?
Cap on "Unlimited" Calls?
Fee to Use Existing Phone Number?
Out of Area Number?
Second line?
Voicemail?
Convert Voicemail to Text Message to Cell Phone?
Caller ID?
Block Calls from Personal "Black List?"
Block Anonymous Calls?
Call Forwarding?
Call Waiting?
Call Landline Phones?
Call Cell Phones?
SMS (Text Messaging to Cell Phones)?
Conference Calls?
Mobile Version?
Fax?
Prepaid Long Distance?
Video?
Receive Calls to Online Number?
 
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    best

    Cable-company VoIP

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    *Est. $40 per month
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    Pros: Best call quality, reliability, professional installation, often includes battery backup.
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    Cons: Trouble scheduling installation, support, international calls cost extra, no choice of company, best companies vary by region.

    not avail.
     
    Cable-company VoIP
    Cable
    Yes
    N/A
    Yes
    Yes
    Varies with provider
    Usually 30 days
    Varies with provider
    Yes
    No
    No
    No
    Extra cost
    Yes (may cost extra)
    Yes
    Yes
    Information not available
    Information not available
    Yes
    Yes
    Yes
    Yes
    No
    Yes
    No
    Yes
    No
    No
    N/A
     
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    best

    Vonage

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    *Est. $25 per month
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    Pros: Reasonable price, more features than most, unlimited virtual numbers, some international calling included.
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    Cons: Some complaints about technical support, call quality not on a par with landline phones, 24-month contract, cancellation fee (*Est. $40).

    not avail.
     
    Vonage
    Hardware
    Yes
    Adapter (*Est. $80, free with rebate)
    Available in many areas (*Est. $100)
    Yes
    Yes, 2 years
    30 days (limited to 500 minutes); user pays shipping to return hardware
    Only for Residential Basic 500 Minutes Plan: $30 (about $41 incl. shipping, extras)
    Yes
    Yes, 5,000 min. per month
    No
    Yes, unlimited "virtual numbers"
    Extra cost
    Yes
    25 cents/message (or included in $35/mo. Pro plan)
    Yes
    No
    Yes
    Yes
    Yes
    Yes
    Yes
    No
    Free option
    No
    $10/mo. (plus $10 activation fee)
    No
    No
    Free option; also many local-access numbers for friends to use worldwide to call you free; plus unlimited "virtual numbers"
     
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    best

    Ooma

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    *Est. $215
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    Pros: No monthly service fees, good call quality, free long distance in U.S..
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    Cons: Steep hardware cost, usage cap 3,000 minutes per month, advanced features incur monthly fee, international calls not the cheapest.

    not avail.
     
    Ooma
    Hardware
    Yes
    $215 (the Ooma hardware device); use any regular corded or cordless phone
    No
    Yes; separate device required
    No
    30 days
    No
    N/A
    Yes, 3,000 min. per month
    $40 (or included in Premier account, *Est. $12/mo.)
    Yes
    Premier account (*Est. $12/mo.)
    Yes
    No, but can convert voicemail to email .wav file
    Yes
    Premier account (*Est. $12/mo.)
    Yes
    Yes
    Yes
    Yes
    Yes
    No
    3-way calls; larger conference calls on Premier account (*Est. $12/mo.)
    No
    No
    Yes, in increments of $10
    No
    N/A
     
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    best

    Skype

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    Free for basic …
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    Pros: Calls to other Skype users are free, video conferencing, cheap rates to call land lines, cheap international calling.
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    Cons: Variable voice quality, no 911 service, computer must be on to make calls, scant technical support.

    not avail.
     
    Skype
    Software
    No
    Computer and headset, or cell phone
    No
    No
    N/A
    N/A
    N/A
    Yes, (*Est. $3, $6 or $13/mo. depending on area covered (includes calls to cell phones).
    Yes, 10,000 min./mo. See other limits.
    N/A
    Yes, called Skype In (*Est. $60/year, or $30 when added to any subscription plan)
    N/A
    Included in any subscription or separate (*Est. $20/year)
    Option (*Est. $0.25/message)
    Yes
    Yes
    No
    Included in any subscription or separate (*Est. $20/year)
    Not with basic Skype (3rd-party devices and software available)
    Prepaid by minute or Subscription (*Est. $3, $6 or $13/mo. depending on area covered (includes calls to cell phones).
    Prepaid by minute or included in landline/cell phone subscription options above.
    Yes (*Est. $0.09/min. in U.S.); Shows your cell phone # as sender.
    Yes
    Yes, for iPhone or various other phones and devices
    No
    Yes
    Yes
    Option (*Est. $60/year, or $30/year with any subscription plan); You choose country, area code so callers there pay their local rates.
     
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