I'm looking to get VoIP service here at my house, and I want to know if there are any sites out there that offer comparisons of each of the different VoIP providers. Or, I would like to get a list of the different providers so I can compare the plans myself.

I know of vonage and packet8, those are the only 2 that I know of.

Here is what I would like to do. I want to be able to use a regular phone, cordless if possible. I would also like to be able to use this service for the same number in multiple locations. So if I am at home, the phone rings at home. If i'm at the office, the phone rings at the office etc.

Eventually, I will be getting a toll free number, and want a system that says "press 1 for sales, 2 for support" etc, and have it either ring different, or forward to a different phone number for support (ie a cell phone). This is a few months down the line though.

Who else provides VoIP services other than vonage, and packet8? I'd also like to get a (218) area code for Duluth, I see on packet8's website, they have Duluth listed, but Vonage does not.

I woudl have to recommend that you go with Vonage as they're your best option and provide the best service. Here I have the Vonage system and the Cisco phone (http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/phones/ps379/ps5440/index.html) for business calls which runs through our VOIP system.

Well, vonage doesnt have the Duluth/218 area code, and that is one of my major decision factors. It does me no good to get VoIP if everyone local has to call long distance to a twin cities number (minneapolis/st.paul)

I just got off ATT's website with their callvantage, and that looks pretty slick, especially with their locate me service that can have 5 phones in up to 5 locations ring simultaneously, so my phone at home will ring at the same time with my phone in the office, as well as my cell phone.

Originally posted by BitOMagic
I woudl have to recommend that you go with Vonage as they're your best option and provide the best service. Here I have the Vonage system and the Cisco phone (http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/phones/ps379/ps5440/index.html) for business calls which runs through our VOIP system. According to vonage they dont support voip phones only their phone addaptor? How are you able to use the cisco ip phone? Just curious because I like their service but I already have a IP Phone I got from my old job that I love and would like to use...

Also Aaron you could use their toll free service for an extra $5/month to eliminate the long distance problems for your customers...

VoicePulse also is another option you can look at. They may be willing to work with you to setup your existance phone. I know a company using them with Asterick for all kinds of fun stuff.

I have vonage and they now are sending out the Motorola V1000 Adaptor. You can upgrade for free if you have the old Cisco Adaptor and send it back. You can always contact them about integration with other equipment.

Originally posted by Haddy
According to vonage they dont support voip phones only their phone addaptor? How are you able to use the cisco ip phone? Just curious because I like their service but I already have a IP Phone I got from my old job that I love and would like to use...

Also Aaron you could use their toll free service for an extra $5/month to eliminate the long distance problems for your customers...
You can use an IP phone with Vonage; they just don't support them (meaning if you have trouble getting it to work, they won't help you). I've heard of several people using IP phones with Vonage.

Regards,
Waylon

Originally posted by amish_geek
I'm looking to get VoIP service here at my house, and I want to know if there are any sites out there that offer comparisons of each of the different VoIP providers. Or, I would like to get a list of the different providers so I can compare the plans myself.

I know of vonage and packet8, those are the only 2 that I know of.

Here is what I would like to do. I want to be able to use a regular phone, cordless if possible. I would also like to be able to use this service for the same number in multiple locations. So if I am at home, the phone rings at home. If i'm at the office, the phone rings at the office etc.

Eventually, I will be getting a toll free number, and want a system that says "press 1 for sales, 2 for support" etc, and have it either ring different, or forward to a different phone number for support (ie a cell phone). This is a few months down the line though.

Who else provides VoIP services other than vonage, and packet8? I'd also like to get a (218) area code for Duluth, I see on packet8's website, they have Duluth listed, but Vonage does not.

Most recent reviews I've found of 3 providers (Vonage, AT&T, and VoicePulse):

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1630778,00.asp

Hope that helps some.

Regards,
Waylon

Isn't Level3 offering VoIP these days? Maybe it's just wholesale, but I thought I saw an announcement of consumer service as well.

Originally posted by BigBison
Isn't Level3 offering VoIP these days? Maybe it's just wholesale, but I thought I saw an announcement of consumer service as well.
Yes, but to service providers and for those who want to provide VoIP services. From what I read, it's not for the consumer, but for being able to offer it to a consumer.

Hopefully that made sense, it's a bit late here.

Regards,
Waylon

Here's several more to look at.

http://www.fonality.com/
http://www.broadvoice.com/
http://www.broadvoxdirect.com/
http://www.lingo.com/

Honestly, If you have a lower volume of calls sometimes its just cheaper to go with a normal toll free number.

Originally posted by z280 Hosting
Honestly, If you have a lower volume of calls sometimes its just cheaper to go with a normal toll free number.
Yeah, but he's not looking for that right now. He just is looking for VoIP providers.

I have been using myphonecompany.com which is a sipmedia company for a while now. I love this service! It is a little higher then packet8, but they support data and fax which packet8 does not. They offer number portability, so I was able to move my existing home number. And they had our area which was great.

I can't complain, great service so far and great voice quality. I do cisco VoIP implementations all the time for my job and ughh I wish things would sound as good as this service does. Then again we are rolling out 20 cisco ip phones on a 512k circuit, versus this one device on a 4mb cable broadband service.

Just thought I would chime in with my support of this companies service, as I dont see any mention of them which is baffling me.

vonage is good but they share caller ID numbers amongst customers

Lingo.com has a great deal right now. $19.95 a month for unlimited local/long distance service plus selected Western European countries.

They have an offer of the first 3 months free, which pays the cost of the hardware and then some.

Tiger Direct had a free packet8 box and two month free deal so I hopped on it and signed up about a week ago and I can say it that is really sucks big time, not working 30-40% of the time, sometimes when I call someone they say it called them 5+ times and just sits there, incoming calls now going through with just dead air on the callers end etc.

I am going to deal with it for the two months so I can get my $70 rebate for the box but I will probably cancel if things do not improve, too bad because I was really looking forward to using the business plan they offer.. will probably try vonage next if I dump this and then back to good old Verizon if I get the same results from them.