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A Comparison of Different VOIP Companies
Competition in the marketplace
The popularity of broadband internet phones is fast gaining ground as many new
service providers sprout to capitalize on this emerging trend. With this, traditional
telecommunications services providers have no choice now but to follow suit.
With new players and established providers trying their best to gain a piece
of the market share, competition has really increased and therefore the pricing
structures and service levels of these providers have to be up to mark in order
to stay in the market.
Vonage – broadband phone company
Vonage brands itself as a broadband phone company that offers a variety of call
packages at different price ranges, catered towards various types of usage patterns
and call volumes. Prices range from $14.99 a month for 500 minutes of calls
to anywhere in the U.S. and Canada for the residential user, to $49.99 a month
for unlimited calls to US and Canada plus a dedicated fax line for the small
business user. Other perks include unrestricted local area codes and very competitive
international call rates. All these packages however require the user to already
have an existing broadband internet connection.
Verizon – we never stop working for you
Verizon is an online DSL Internet Service Provider that offers its own Broadband
phone service known as the Verizon VoiceWing. Starting from $19.99 for 500 minutes
of calls to anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, existing Verizon Online subscribers
are encouraged to get both DSL and broadband phone service for an attractive
$29.99 per month for a period of 12 months. Additionally, Verizon also offers
the VoiceWing unlimited package that allows subscribers of other DSL service
providers to make unlimited calls to the U.S and Canada via their existing DSL
line for $34.95 a month.
Packet 8 – Communication for the broadband generation
At Packet 8, three different service plans are offered with prices ranging from
$19.95 a month for residential users to $39.95 for business users. The $19.95
plan offers users the option to make Internet phone calls via a Broadband phone
adaptor, with unlimited calls within the U.S. and Canada. On the other hand,
for an additional $99, users can purchase the Packet 8 Videophone that combines
the benefit of audio and video communications. For business users, they have
the option to subscribe to the $39.95 business package, and add $99 for the
Packet 8 Virtual Office, an Internet based PBX service.
iConnectHere – Global Internet Phone Service
Finally, iConnectHere offers 800 monthly minutes to call U.S. and Canada for
$15.99 for residential users and $29.99 for unlimited calls to the same areas.
Subscribers to this service get a free broadband phone adaptor, but are required
to possess an existing broadband Internet connection
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