Vonage Review
Once reputed as being the best VoIP provider around, Vonage has slipped a great deal since and lost many loyal customers, largely thanks to what users feel is poor customer service.
Buying and Setting Up
Vonage comes with a handset rather than just a router. This makes its use identical to that of an analog phone as opposed to IM based VoIP systems. The handsets currently offered by Vonage are Motorola VT1005v and Linksys RT31P2.
Product Features
911 Dialing
Vonage routs emergency calls to a PSAP and uses the registered contact details for providing the required emergency address. The facility needs to be enabled on activation of the handset.
311 Dialing
Comes with the 311 service in metro cities and can be used to get local city information, like a yellow pages service.
Virtual Phone Number
At an additional charge of $4.99 per month, users can own a second number anywhere in the USA, Canada, Mexico City and in certain parts of the United Kingdom. This allows for a great reduced call rate for the person calling the user as it is treated as a local call in the city of hosting.
Toll-free Number
Users can get a 800 number for $4.99 per month which buys 100 free minutes for the incoming caller. This is available only for calls made in the USA.
Other General Features
Vonage also offers other basic VoIP facilities such as :
- Caller Number and Name Identification
- Call Waiting
- Call Forwarding (to alternate number in case original number is busy or unanswered)
- Call Return
- Three way Conference Calling
- Voicemail (By Email as .wav audio attachment)
- Fax Line (Free for business users, $9.99 for home users)
- Free Vonage to Vonage calling
Call Quality
In this department, Vonage has mixed reviews. While its call quality has been known to closely resemble that of an analog line, it seems to be facing problems since its initial days of glory. While many VoIP systems work well on DSL connections, Vonage is one of the few where quality is distinguishably better on a cable or FOIS internet connection. Though it does not happen often, the Vonage modem sometimes slows down ones internet usage speeds to bothering levels.
Call Plans
Vonage is far more expensive than many of the newer VoIP offerings in the market. There is also an activation cost of $29.99, shipping charges of $9.95 and low federal taxes. It offers multiple plans for both home and business users. No contract or binding terms are imposed upon the user.
- Premium Unlimited Plan: Unlimited calls to USA and Canada at $24.99 per month. 500
Residential Plan: 500 allotted minutes to USA and Canada at $14.99 per month. Additional minutes charged at 3.9 cents per minute.
- Unlimited Business Plan: Unlimited calls to USA and Canada at $49.99 per month.
- Limited Business Plan: 1500 call minutes to USA and Canada and 3.9 cents for every minute thereafter.
There is no specific international calling plan. Instead, long distance calls are charged as per the published schedule and are highly competitive for most countries.
Customer Service
Vonage hosts a detailed FAQs section on its website, which is sufficient to resolve basic or frequently occurring glitches. It also has an email technical support system. Customer service executives are available 24/7 via a toll-free line. Besides, customers also have access to various call related information on a user-friendly web account page. Inspite of all this, customers have complained of a terrible drop in the quality of call center service ever since the company outsourced this department.
In conclusion, Vonage is still one of the best VoIP option for most and is especially suited for those who are attached to their old telephone line’s look and feel.
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