The following table compares the features
of several VoIP telephony services. Using your computer as a telephone
is a great tool to help reduce your monthly long distance telephone
bills.
|
URL |
Cost |
Landphone
or mobile |
System requirements
|
OS |
Voice mail
|
| Gizmo
Project |
gizmoproject.com
4.1 Mb download |
FREE
computer to computer free SIP number. (note: your calls can
even be recorded). $5/mo. To buy a specific area code number
for calls in |
Callout;
1.8 cents/min. US. 550 min/$10; 3-5 cents International calls
|
33kmodem,
broadband, 128 Mb RAM, P400 or faster |
XP,
2000, Mac, Linux in August |
free…it
sends the recipient an email with a .wav attachment |
| SIPPhone |
sipphone.com (related
to GIZMO Project) |
|
2 cents/min US; 3-5
international; 5 FREE min/day |
128 Mb RAM |
XP, 2000, Mac |
free with SIPphone
# $19.95/yr. |
| Skype |
skype.com 7.4 Mb download
|
FREE compter to computer
|
2 cents/min US; 3-5
international; buy SkypeOut minutes (10 Euro for 10 hrs.) Actual
cost fluctuates with the exchange rate |
56k modem, broadband.
128 Mb RAM |
XP, 2000, Mac, Linux
|
included when buying
Skype In # 30 Euro/year |
| Vonage |
vonage.com They send
you a setup cd when you signup |
$14.95 basic 500/24.95/unlimited
+ 9.95 for optionalcomputer softphone |
3-6/min. cents world-wide
|
adapter for broadband
modem for phone. Read fine print. Adapter is $39.95 if account
is cancelled after 15 days |
broadband |
by phone, web or email
attachment |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Notes:
|
You need
a microphone (noise cancelling type is best) and sound. I like
using a digital USB headset (about $20 online). |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| VoIP
is better suited to broadband users. However if you have a fast
and stable dialup connection, it can be used successfully if
you turn off any apps that might try to access the Internet
in the background (Windows update, virus definitions, etc.).
Dialup users may find more variation in sound quality. I used
it daily for 3 weeks on dialup in NJ and on most days had acceptible
connections. |
|
| sound
quality. I used it daily for 3 weeks on dialup in NJ and on
most days had acceptible connections. Because it allows freedom
from phone bills, it's worth a little experimentation. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Gizmo
Project is a beta release and a little buggy, but I love their
Callout service to regular phone numbers. The people I have
called say it sounds like a telephone call to them. I found
SkypeOut minutes difficult to obtain and after waiting 5 days
told them to cancel my order. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| I use
free Skype computer to computer calling daily and like it better
than a phone. Computer to computer calling on Skype or Gizmo
Project is totally free to other softphone users anywhere in
the world. |
| .Skype
users can only call other Skype users for free. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Wireless
digital headsets are now available for Bluetooth laptop connections.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| This is
emerging technology that will probably be built into the next
release of Windows. |
