Via Talk Review
Via Talk is one of the cheapest yet reliable VoIP services available in the market today. With its current user lock-in plan that provides 2 phone lines with unlimited calls for 2 years at $199 USD, Via Talk is a real value for money option for regular VoIP users.
Buying and Setting Up
Once you complete payment for your membership via credit card, you receive the adapter by mail in about a week’s time. The rest is as easy as installing any other plug-and-play device. Via Talk also provides users the option of bringing their own device in order to reduce the fees partially. So if you have used any other VoIP service in the past, you may want to try and unlock the adapter and re-use it.
Product Features
Via Talk’s service is as feature laden as Via Talk’s and hence far more than most other VoIP players in the industry today. Some of its typical features include:
- Caller Identification with name
- Call Forwarding
- Waiting
- Call Rejection
- Voicemail (as well as notification through email or text message)
- Simultaneous Ringing (for multiple incoming calls)
- Emergency calling facilities (chargeable at a nominal monthly rate)
- Do Not Disturb Facility
- Conference Calling
- Custom / Unwanted Call Blocking
- Call Alarm (Wake-Up Call via phone)
In addition, Via Talk has a few unique or not so common features:
- Call Record allows users to record up to 30 minutes of phone conversation per call, which can then be stored indefinitely.
- Toll Free Number at $ 4.95 per month. 5 cents per minute for incoming calls.
- Soft Phone Access that enables the using of a computer to make and receive calls
- Passwords for Call Log, just in case you want to keep your call data confidential
- Virtual Phone Number in most international countries at $3.95 per month
- Fax Service at $9.95 per month
- Priority Support for customer and technical service at an extra fee of $1 per month
- Complimentary 411 Directory Service (all 411 calls charged at $0.95 per minute)
Call Quality
When used on a cable internet connection Via Talk provides superior sound quality without background sound and no call dropping. Dial-up internet connections might record poorer audio output, as is the case with any VoIP software.
Call Plans
Via Talk offers limited and unlimited plans for both home and office users. These are:
VT_500 Plan: 500 call minutes to USA and Canada at $9.95 per month. Extra minutes charged at 3.5cents per minute (2 year package)
VT Unlimited Plan: Unlimited calling to USA and Canada at $15.95 per month (2 year package)
VT Business 1500 Plan: 1500 call minutes to USA and Canada at $29.95 per month (2 tear package). Additional minutes charged at 3.5cents per minute. Fax line also provided.
VT Business Unlimited: Limitless calling to USA and Canada at $35.95 per month (2 year package). Free fax line provided.
It may not be the cheapest VoIP service but it is definitely lower than other players like AT&T, Vonage and Packet 8.
Customer Service
This is where Via Talk has had to pull up its socks. Having had trouble in meeting the exceptional demand it generated in the past, Via Talk faced early user complaints of slow and inefficient customer service and query resolution. In response, Via Talk beefed up their service staff numbers and its customer service center in now equipped to turn around queries in super fast time, with the help of a first come first serve ticketing system. Again, the web based user control panel has been modified and now allows users to gain information and make modifications to key account information online.
In conclusion, though it may not be the cheapest or best provider in the industry, Via Talk comes a very close second and is recommended. Try out their product for free today, and if it doesn’t suit you ask for a refund through their 14 day money back guarantee policy.
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