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Can Motorola cut it with the RIZR Z8

July 26th, 2008

The Motorola RIZR Z8 is a slider style mobile phone which has been very popular since its launch in March 2007. With this mobile handset Motorola have built something which is quite well featured for the price. The functional design of this phone is not as good as other #models# from Motorola Motorola.

In terms of colours this handset only comes in Black. Compared to other models, the RIZR Z8 is one of the smallest phones available. The Motorola RIZR Z8 weighs only 112 g. The Motorola RIZR Z8 comes equipped with bluetooth, making a great deal of devices compatible. The RIZR Z8 has Polyphonic, MP3 ring tones enabled along with a vibrating tone. The Motorola RIZR Z8 is shipped with a Li-Ion 1030 mAh (BK70), battery. The Motorola RIZR Z8 has a battery cell life of 380 hrs standby time and talk time of 5:00. Moving on to the display the mobile handset is supplied with a 2.2 inch screen, which is an average display for the price. A TFT, 16M colors display is fitted to this handset. The Motorola RIZR Z8 supports 2G GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and 3G HSDPA 2100. A 2 MP, 1600×1200 pixels, video(QVGA), flash; secondary VGA videocall is integrated into this phone camera. For mobile Internet users as WAP 2.0/xHTML browser is included. The RIZR Z8 has a number of other useful features such as:

  • Organizer
  • Java MIDP 2.0
  • Calculator
  • Built-in handsfree
  • MP3/AAC/AAC+ player
  • Voice memo
  • Although this is a fairly new model, it has already been replaced. It is therefore pretty easy to find a real bargain on the RIZR Z8. Thanks to the web it has never been more convenient or cheaper to buy a mobile phone. Purchasing online can save you a lot of money, it is even possible to get a Motorola RIZR Z8 on a 6 month free line rental deal , which, in theory should not cost you a penny.

    VoIP and Internet Telephone - The Ins and Outs

    November 22nd, 2007

    The fact that the Internet opened up a whole new world of communication options has not been lost on those providing telephone service - or on those who spend lots of money on voice communication. The ever-changing technology and emerging market for more cost-effective and better communication is creating a demand for people who can create, design and install VoIP systems. There’s also a growing market for those who can repair and maintain those systems.

    So what’s so great about VoIP and Internet telephone systems? Cost is probably one of the biggest benefits touted by the companies providing the services and one of the biggest reasons so many people are ready to try the market. With VoIP and Internet telephone options, there’s no cost for long-distance calls - even to foreign countries which is typically very expensive for those companies that make those kinds of calls. Think it’s impossible that someone would offer unlimited long-distance for nothing? You actually already have that option already in the form of email and chat. All you need is a microphone for instant voice communication in a chat room, and that form of communication is free with your paid Internet connection.

    VoIP and Internet telephone systems just take that to the next level through a voice communication system that allows faster and clearer streaming than through a traditional Internet computer connection.

    So if it’s so great, why isn’t everyone using VoIP and Internet telephone service? There are some drawbacks. The first and most important is availability. Though this is improving, you may not be able to connect to your VoIP or Internet telephone connection from just anywhere you happen to be. For busy company officials and even individuals, this is a serious lack that makes the system less attractive.

    Another drawback comes in the form of emergency calls. According to some sources, the VoIP systems are seriously inadequate in emergency situations. Because of limited availability of services, it’s very possible that users may not have the ability to make calls at all. Even if calls are possible, the systems are sometimes not sending signals to the nearest towers, meaning you may not be contacting the most local emergency response teams. It’s also sometimes difficult for those emergency personnel to target your location. All these problems will likely be dealt with over time, but they’re still concerns to some people now who rely on cell phones for emergencies and are reluctant to take the chance that their VoIP or Internet telephones will work in emergency situations.

    The legalities almost always become an issue and VoIP is no exception. Because this type of communication has the potential to have a major impact on the communication industry, there’s little doubt that it’ll eventually be regulated as telephone companies are regulated. This is of significant concern to those municipalities that provide telephone service and depend on the revenue from that service as income.

    This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.

    Scott Knutson is an entrepreneur and writer. For more of his articles visit: Internet Phone | Internet Phone Service | VoIP Service

    Save Money Now With Cheap VoIP Services

    October 13th, 2007

    For those who want to make phone calls at much lower rates, cheap VoIP services is the best alternative to traditional phone companies. Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP technology uses voice signals transmitted over the Internet for communication. These companies that offer VoIP are much cheaper for people who do a lot of long distance communication.

    VoIP is much cheaper than all other telephone services because there is no basic facilities and capital equipment needed to invest in. Voice traffic is routed through the Internet to make speaking to people easy and cheap. The VoIP service providers pay a specific fee when calls surpass the net to traditional phone lines. When calls are made to and from Internet enabled phones the provider has no cost except for a termination fee if applicable. This reduces the cost to the consumer, making VoIP services cheap for long distance calling.

    Those individuals who subscribe to VoIP phone services benefit the most and have as much as one half the bill as they did before. For many overseas consumers the savings are absolutely amazing. Communication via a traditional telephone company for overseas users can add up quickly in the hundreds and thousands. Using a VoIP services can cut international calling costs tremendously and save customers hundreds of dollars.

    When VoIP was first out to the public the voicing quality was not as enhanced as it is today. With the advances in Internet features and technology the voice quality on VoIP service has improved and complaints are no longer an issue. Those who switch over to the cheaper VoIP service have many added features and benefits. There are many free perks that come with subscription as well as extra benefits and features for a very small fee.

    Many phone service providers are now switching their plans to offer VoIP service to their customers. With the added competition fees and prices are continuously reduced to promote more people to switch over. Many other types of phone service providers are simply trying to offer pre-paid international calling at reduced prices to keep their customers from leaving. Many of these pre-paid calling plans still are more than VoIP services and do not benefit those who use international calling frequently.

    An easiest way to find the cheapest VoIP services available today is to search online. You will be able to find the perfect VoIP provider for you and your needs from the comfort of your own home. You will be able to compare plans that range from domestic, domestic-international, or international calling to find the cheapest rates available.

    Check out http://www.why-switch-to-voip.com/ to get an overview of voip and read more about ip phone systems.

    VoIP PBX Solutions For Businesses….What To Look For

    October 2nd, 2007

    Business communications has always been a challenging arena for management….subject to cost, function, reliability, and other pressures and concerns. The emergence of VoIP technology….and specifically application to PBX systems via IP based protocols….has provided an enormous opportunity for companies to reap many benefits.

    Many companies today have multiple office locations around the country or around the world. Currently, each office uses its own PBX system and inter-office phone calls are routed through the PSTN and charged long distance and international rates by carriers. Most companies also employ workers on a part time basis who work from their homes. Those workers get reimbursed for telecommunication expenses they incur while performing their duties. It just makes business sense for companies to explore alternatives to consolidate their telecommunication systems and reduce costs.

    The answer…..purchase a Voice-over-IP enabled PBX system and deploy it in a Virtual Office setup.

    Voice-over-IP (VoIP) is a fairly new technology for transporting voice calls over the Internet which allows users to realize substantial cost savings on long distance and international calls. Besides cost effectiveness, VoIP enabled PBX systems (or IP PBX) offer easy integration with existing telecommunications systems and are characterized with low operating costs as their upgrade is done through software updates rather than more expensive hardware replacement. Additionally, the technology simplifies the communication infrastructure (no need for separate voice and data cables) while offering high scalability.

    Virtual Office models are used by companies that want to consolidate their communications, reduce costs and achieve more cohesive corporate images. To implement the model, a company has to install a single IP PBX system in its headquarters and distribute to employees IP phones or regular phones with VoIP adapters. Employees can make intra-office and inter-office phone calls through dialing PBX extensions. Such calls are routed through the Internet and are practically free. Company customers, on the other side, can dial a single inbound number plus extensions in order to reach the company’s employees. The latter receive the calls on their IP/Regular Phones at any location in the world with Internet connectivity.

    So what kind of a VoIP PBX solution does your business need? - a turnkey Virtual Office solution that could be customized to meet your company specific needs.

    My recommendation for this solution is the highly acclaimed package from Packet8. Recently 8X8, Inc’s Packet8 Virtual Office Solution for small and medium sized businesses received Network Computing Magazine’s Editor’s Choice award over competitive offerings from Covad Communications and Velocity Networks. That’s some pretty stiff competition….and says a lot about Packet8’s performance. The Packet8 Virtual Office solution received the highest overall rating for its rich feature set, call management tools and low subscription price.

    The Packet8 Virtual Office is a cost-effective, easy-to-use alternative to traditional PBX systems that allows users anywhere in the world to be part of a VoIP-hosted virtual phone system that includes auto attendants, conference bridges, extension-to-extension dialing, business class voicemail and ring groups, in addition to a rich variety of other business telephone features normally found on high-end, premise based PBX systems. Their Virtual Office reduces an organization’s telecommunications total cost of ownership (TCO) with a minimal initial investment combined with unlimited local and long distance business calling throughout the United States and Canada and Packet8’s low international rates.

    Now…..here’s an overview of what to look for when making the business case for investment in VoIP technology for a VoIP PBX solution:

    * Ways to save money for corporations…..

    - Eliminate or reduce intra-office toll charges

    - Avoiding service and support contracts on existing PBX hardware

    - Eliminate the need for on-going Centrex services — and charges

    - Reduce expansion costs via lower costs for adds, moves and changes; lower user hardware costs

    - Reduce the on-going costs for separate voice messaging systems

    - Provide productivity benefits for remote and traveling workers who can be empowered with the same integrated capabilities as office workers

    - Reduce user training and learning on phone and messaging systems

    - Cost-effectively implement unified messaging

    - Improve security

    - Reduce systems downtime and improve performance

    Additional benefits for call centers…..

    - Virtualize call centers, allowing more flexibility in the center’s configuration….either helping consolidation efforts, or providing enterprise capabilities to telecommuting call center workers

    - Improve customer support services and reduce abandoned calls and call times

    - Improve customer satisfaction and reduce customer turnover via improved call center services

    Cost considerations….

    - VoIP telecommunication hardware and software

    - IP phone sets or soft phones

    - Network upgrades for possible quality of service and performance upgrades

    - Implementation labor and professional services

    - On-going support and administration labor

    - Support and maintenance contracts

    - Increased support calls and potential user downtime losses on initial deployment

    - IT Training

    - User Training

    - Write-off, write-down and disposal costs for existing telecommunication assets

    Potential project risks……

    - Quality of service/performance

    - User training and adoption

    - Administration and support skill levels and resources

    - Proprietary vs. open systems interoperability

    How Does The Solution Work?

    Inter/Intra office calls…….

    Caller A, who is located in the corporate headquarters, wants to make a call to Caller B, who is located in the corporate headquarters or in any of the company’s offices worldwide.

    Caller A picks up his VoIP device (IP phone, phone with adapter or softphone) and dials Caller B’s extension.

    The VoIP PBX server searches its internal database and obtains call routing information about Caller B The VoIP PBX server routes the call to Caller B’s VoIP device.

    If the destination number is unreachable, the system forwards the call to Caller B’s voicemail.

    As soon as Caller B picks up his VoIP device the conversation starts.

    During conversation Caller A’s VoIP device convert voice to digital packets and send them to Caller B’s VoIP device and vice versa.

    Both A and B can use traditional PBX functionality, like call on hold, caller ID, call forward, etc. Calls are free

    Outbound calls…….

    Caller A, who is located in the corporate headquarters, wants to make a call
    to Caller B, who is a company customer.

    Caller A picks up his VoIP device (IP phone, phone with adapter or softphone) and dials the customer’s number.

    The VoIP PBX server searches its internal database and obtains call routing
    information about the VoIP carrier, who should terminate calls to Caller B’s area code.

    The call is routed to the VoIP carrier.

    The VoIP carrier terminates the call to Caller’s B number over the PSTN.

    During conversation, Caller A can use traditional PBX functionality, like call on hold, caller ID, call forward, etc.

    Calls are charged on time basis at pre-negotiated rates with the VoIP carrier

    Inbound calls…..

    Caller A, who is a company customer, wants to make a call to Caller B, who is a company employee.

    Caller A picks up his phone and dials the company’s central access number.

    The VoIP PBX server prompts the caller to enter an extension.

    Caller A dials Caller B’s extension.

    The VoIP PBX server searches its internal database and obtains call routing information about Caller B.

    The VoIP PBX server routes the call to Caller B’s VoIP device.

    During conversation, Caller B can use traditional PBX functionality, like call on hold, caller ID, call forward, etc.

    Calls are either free if the company uses a local access number or charged on a time basis if the company uses a toll free one.

    Voice over IP (VoIP) technologies carry great promise to reduce telecommunication and networking total cost of ownership while empowering businesses with new capabilities and agility. When making your decision on deploying a Virtual Office VoIP PBX solution consider the strategic and tangible benefits as well as the costs and risks outlined above. If it all seems too overwhelming seek out the assistance of an unbiased independent advisor such as Business-VoIP-Solution

    Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications….including DS3-Bandwidth.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you’re always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

    Conducting a Voice Over IP Readiness Assessment

    September 19th, 2007

    2005 is predicted to be the year of voice over IP (VoIP) solutions for a growing number of corporate enterprises - both large and small.

    If you have been considering the benefits of implementing VoIP, you are certainly not alone. In its just-published “2005 Telecommunications Report,” Harris Interactive found that 87% of business decision-makers are familiar with VoIP and, of that number, 12% currently use it in their organizations.

    So what’s the big attraction?

    Cost mainly. But lowering company telecom expenses is just one aspect of the lure of implementing VoIP solutions. Other advantages include the potential for value-added services and the capability of more advanced features made possible through the integration of voice and data (e.g. videoconferencing, advanced voicemail features,etc.)

    Sounds good, but here’s the rub…it’s also been estimated that up to 85% of corporate networks are simply not ready to handle VoIP.

    Combining voice with data is a tricky proposition. After decades of getting used to near-perfect sound quality delivered over traditional voice networks, even the slightest delays in voip can be very annoying.

    Before diving in to a full-blown VoIP solution, it is advisable that you conduct a voice over IP readiness assessment of your existing network. This assessment will provide you with two very important pieces of information:

    The capability of your existing data network to deliver high-quality voip calls, and;
    the ability to evaluate the quality of these calls during a wide variety of traffic scenarios.
    Keep in mind that most data networks were not designed for VoIP, so chances are that some upgrading of your existing network will be necessary. One critical requirement for VoIP to work is QoS. (Short for Quality of Service, a networking term that specifies a guaranteed throughput level). For QoS to work, the routers and switches that manage the data traffic flow in your network must be able to prioritize VoIP data packets via QoS.

    4 Steps to a Successful VoIP Readiness Assessment

    1. Conduct a complete inventory of your existing network. Identify routers, switches and links in your network and store their configuration data in a database. This step is crucial before you can move to step 2.

    2. Determine the current CPU, memory and bandwidth of your network devices, routers and switches. This information will give you a “baseline” of your existing network infrastructure and current capacity.

    3. Simulate and compare VoIP usage scenarios to estimate the call capacity of the network.

    4. Determine how well VoIP will perform on your network by measuring simulated VoIP traffic and calculating call quality based on a Mean Opinion Score (MOS).

    We have recently added a VoIP bandwidth calculator tool to help you determine various codec, MOS, and bandwidth scenarios.

    While VoIP can ride over the highways that your data currently does, it is a new application with new rules. A VoIP readiness assessment will give you the information you need to incorporate a VoIP solution without unnecessary hassles and expenses due to lack of proper planning and research.

    About the Author:

    Karen Thatcher is President and CEO of TelCon Associates, Inc. a 32 year old telecom auditing and bill management company. For help in assessing your telecom network for VoIP implementation, visit http://www.telconassociates.com

    Phone Service Alternatives

    September 11th, 2007

    Are you getting the best phone service for your hard-earned dollars? If you stayed on with whatever company got “dibs” on your area when phone service was deregulated, you may be paying more than you need to. Businesses have learned that there is a lot of money to be saved by comparing phone services options and choosing carefully. Why should they get all the benefits? Take a look at your phone service bills from the past year. Take note whether your make more long distance calls or if local and/or toll calls take a bigger bite out of your budget. Knowing what kind of service you need is the first step in taking control of your phone service costs.

    If your long distance phone service is costing you an arm and a leg, here’s a secret—you can make those calls for free. There’s a new technology called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) that lets you make long distance calls over the Internet. Because the signal is not carried over land-lines operated by a phone service, the only charge you pay is your regular bill to your Internet service provider. To use VoIP instead of a traditional phone service, you must have a computer with broadband, or high-speed Internet access. The cost for this access may see high at first glance, but when you realize you save the money you would normally pay for long distance phone service, the true cost comes way down.

    You can also use VoIP in place of your local phone service. One of the great things about VoIP is that you can save money using it even if the person you are calling only has regular phone service. Another way to save money on local phone service is to use a cellular phone instead of a land-line. This tactic takes a bit more consideration, because if you don’t have a good cellular service plan, using your cell instead of a local phone service can end up costing you more. Before you decide to shut off your regular phone service for good, be sure to crunch the numbers and make sure a cellular phone or VoIP is the best way to handle the number of local calls you make on a regular basis.

    Voice over Internet Protocol calling makes good sense for most small businesses. Large business spend enough money on their phone service to work out the best deal, but many small businesses don’t have that clout. Using an alternative phone service is one way small businesses can put their profits where they do the most good.

    Craig Whitley is a freelance writer and Internet entrepreneur. He is a featured columnist for numerous business-related websites, including Your-Phone-Service.info.

    VOIP Magic: Living With Virtual Telephone Numbers In A Virtual World

    August 28th, 2007

    When I was a kid I could call someone and ask if their refrigerator was running and not worried about getting caught. Nobody had caller ID them. To figure out who you were, the police had to actually trace your calls. The TV shows would show smart felons counting the actual time it would take to trace a call and hanging up just before the time ran out. Well the times are quite different now.

    With the advent of caller ID, people can know at least the telephone number from where someone was calling and guess who it is that called. However, the world is again changing with the advent of VOIP and Virtual Telephone Numbers.

    It is now possible to have a telephone number anywhere in the world. These numbers are called Virtual Numbers. It is possible to for a company to have local Telephone Numbers in New York, Florida, California, and Washington and have them all call somewhere in the middle of Wyoming up in a mountain cabin over the Internet. While this seems like it may be deceptive on the part of a company, it can also be a very powerful tool.

    Let’s say you have an aging Mother who lives in Indiana and you live in Washington. In this case you would like your mother to be able to call you at anytime without worrying about long distance charges. Well you can get a virtual Indiana number and have it will ring your Washington Telephone. She can talk to you as long as she wants for the charge of a local call. Never again will she have to pay long distance to call you. With the advent of new VoIP telephone companies like USP Connect, Vonage, and other providers, you can always call her for free because of the Free Unlimited Long Distance Offered in many of their plans.

    Not only can you get virtual local numbers, but you can get virtual 800 numbers as well. Imagine giving a child away at college your 800 number to call you. They can never say they could not afford to call you from anywhere. Many students have cell phones, but sometimes the batteries die or they run out of minutes and it way too expensive to call you. Not anymore, they can find a payphone or a friend’s phone and call your virtual 800 number any time.

    There are many uses for virtual numbers. One of the best things is they are relatively inexpensive usually $5 to $10 a month depending on the type and number of minutes you give to them. Truly the world is becoming a local call!

    Wilford Lee
    Engineering Consultant
    http://www.Free4LifeCalls.com

    VoIP and E911

    August 5th, 2007

    In the event of an emergency, are you capable of receiving the emergency response from calling 911 that you normally expect when using a traditional phone line? In the United States as well as Canada, a 911 call placed from your telephone is routed to PSAP (Public Safety Answering Points). Your number and location are reported when this call is placed. Knowledge of the phone number allows the 911 dispatcher to return the call if necessary and the location is of obvious importance to route an emergency response team. But what happens when this same 911 call is placed over a VoIP line?

    There have been reported incidents where existing 911 calls placed from VoIP don’t get through to the primary PSAP and at times are routed elsewhere. The dispatcher also wasn’t receiving the additional information such as phone number and location. This can slow emergency response services to a critical level.

    The FCC has mandated that all new subscribers have access to E911 service. The Enhanced 911 service provides the same level of information to the PSAP as described above. Currently there are some VoIP subscribers who do not have this service. The
    FCC originally order a disconnect for all existing VoIP users without the E911 service. Recently the FCC has backed off that order (the original deadline for disconnect was Nov 28, 2005). Instead the FCC has now mandated that all ‘new’ service be equipped with E911 service. Those remaining VoIP providers not offering E911 service will be unable to market or sell new services until such time that they implement the E911 service.

    When researching possible VoIP providers, you should make sure that this service is available. The government is mandating that it be available, but as an informed consumer this is information you should know. What good is saving money on your monthly phone bill if it’s at the expense of the safety of you and your loved ones?

    Other things you should keep in mind is that VoIP runs over your existing broadband connection. If your broadband connection goes down, so does your phone line. Your broadband signal also needs to travel through your modem, so in the event of a power
    outage, your broadband is down as well. (because the modem would be without power). You may want to review having a battery backup in the case of power outages and perhaps a second traditional phone line or a cellular phone in order to place emergency calls.

    Michael Weaver http://www.fullservice-broadband-provider.com
    The Full Service Broadband Provider service offers unbiased and informative information on broadband as well as local/long distance and cellular services. This service is made possible through Try Right Technology, Inc.

    VoIP Phone Systems - A Step Above Traditional Phone Lines

    July 27th, 2007

    The words are; cost effective, portable, and flexible. And hey it comes with array additional new features too! No it is not our regular PSTN phone connection. The buzz word here is; VoIP phone systems.

    It is the technology that transfers your voice from over the internet using specially designed call signal protocols in a much efficient manner. Efficient in terms of its low cost, the number of additional features that it offers, the convenience with which the call can be placed from anywhere at any time and for as long as you want!

    The advent of the internet, bought the world closer. And it swept each one of us by our feet and today we are completely dependent on it for our day to day activities. Walking a step closer VoIP system has been developed! And it will completely revolutionarise the traditional way of making phone calls.

    It’s smart, convenient, cost effective and absolutely relevant with the times we live in. How much on an effort is it, to switch on your laptop and make a call! Practically nothing! While at the same time it offers us a chance to talk for as long as we want without having to worry about the long bills!

    Traditional analogue phones are a lengthy network of wires used to facilitate calling from one end to the other, and while a call takes place that particular wire system is dedicated to that one call. This is the reason; phone bills are higher on international calls. While VoIP Phones System work on the broadband connections. Once a call is dialed the analogue voice data is converted into small packets of digital audio data and transferred using special internet protocols from one end to the but delivered to the person in a comprehendible analogue format

    Truly VoIP telephony is a step above the traditional phone lines and not far from now it would completely change the way we make long distance calls!

    Webmaster
    VoIP Termination

    Get the Most Out of Your VoIP Provider

    July 21st, 2007

    Features and pricing are the two prime considerations in selecting your VoIP provider and deriving the maximum benefit from the product. With most VoIP users, all the features available in a particular product will rarely if ever be used. All leading service providers promise a range of features that look impressive as a marketing strategy, but often do not deliver as practical options. “Features” do not always translate as “benefits.” Pricing is also a relative factor and is linked to “quality” in the long run. Let us look closely at the packages offered by three market leaders of today: Skype, Lingo, and Vonage.

    Skype has three basic usages: a PC-to-PC call, which is free voice communication between two computer users across the world with an Internet broadband connection; a paid SkypeOut voice call from a Skype user to a landline/mobile phone; and a paid SkypeIn call from a landline/mobile phone to a Skype user. For a home requirement of chatting with family and friends, the Skype PC-to-PC free call delivers on most promises made on the official Skype website, including voice quality. If you are not against being “wired” to your computer with your multimedia speakers and headphone, this free offer is the best option in this category.

    However, if your requirement is for a full-scale voice service that caters to PC-to-telephone and telephone-to-PC services, you need to step up to the paid categories. SkypeOut offers a flat global rate of € 0.017 per minute for some of the most popular destinations worldwide, and has specific rates for other destinations. SkypeIn, which is still in Beta, makes it possible for your family, friends, and business acquaintances to reach you from a landline by dialing a number assigned to you. SkypeIn charges are independent of your location; if you are assigned a Chicago number but are currently in Japan, the party making the call only pays for a call to Chicago. If you buy a Skype number—an annual subscription will cost you € 30 and a quarterly subscription comes at € 10—you also get Free Skype Voicemail bundled in the package.

    Skype’s cost plans are uncomplicated, and making a choice is relatively simple. Compare this with Lingo’s Home, Office, and International plans, and the corresponding plans from Vonage:

    From this analysis, Lingo emerges as the service that will save you more on your telephone bill. However, to get more out of your VoIP, you need to look at the international pricing because that’s where VoIP scores over a traditional connection. If you make frequent international calls to Asia, you can take advantage of Lingo’s Asia package. Lingo’s international rates to individual countries are also lower than those of Vonage, but higher than Skype. Here is a comparison of the rates for three destinations:

    Skype has the lowest call rates, but is limited in features. At the other end of the spectrum is Vonage, which offers the most consistent call quality and delivers on features, but is heavier on your pocket. Although it loses out on voice quality, Lingo has the features to match Vonage.

    There are a few other features mentioned by both Lingo and Vonage—such as Anonymous Call Rejection and Do Not Disturb in Lingo, and Click-2-Call and Call Hunt in Vonage—but these are more in the way of cosmetic embellishments than utility tools.

    The features are many, the utility diverse. To get the most out of your VoIP provider, you need to place the key factors of pricing and features at both ends of a see-saw, and weigh them with the cornerstone of quality—that will position you enticingly in making the right choice and getting the maximum out of your service provider.

    Hamesh Brown enjoys writing about VoIP. See http://www.voipreviewsonline.com/2005/10/comparison_ling_1.html for a comparison of Lingo, Skype and Vonage.

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