Reviews

PCWORLD.COM- ZNet Review- Skype Announcement for Skype Users: Skype has annnounce a serious bug that allows hackers access to your computer and network systems through their program. Skype isn't a true alternative to a desktop phone. It's a software-based service that runs on Linux-, Mac-, and Windows-based systems. It requires a broadband connection and a headset. Skype is free only when used to make a PC-to-PC calls to another Skype user, but users can be located anywhere in the world. We found the audio acceptable, though hardly of landline quality: We noticed some clipped sentences, yet voices were audible. Calling a conventional phone from Skype using the SkypeOut service--which lets users make calls to landline, cell, and VoIP phones--is a different story. We experienced low volume, clipped sentences, and garbling. Vonage Vonage is US based and prefers not to service accounts outside of the United States. A problem we experienced is customer support was sometimes non-existant, or curt. Outside the US, don't even think of using Vonage, you can't get support, and Vonage will not accept credit cards based outside of the United States. Vonage requires a US based address. If you experience equipment problems that's another story outside the USA, you have to return the device to the USA and wait for the new unit to arrive plus you might have to pay an import tax on the device or it might even be confiscated by customs. If you purchase your device in the USA and transport it to another country, there maybe import taxes required, or the device might not even be allowed in that country. Our suggestion is if outside the USA use a local service provider, that can provide immediate support and local service for replacement of adapter, otherwise you could wait months to get you device back and operational. "A Vonage representative said the company has rules in place that could limit just such scenarios. For instance, customer service isn't available to Vonage customers that move outside North America and keep their original Vonage account, the representative said" Vonage Service Contract forbids USE OUTSIDE THE USA in their own service contract they have the right to terminate your service immediately if they determine you are using their service outside the United States. Vonage Terms of Conditions http://www.vonage.com/features_terms_service.php 2.6 Use of Service and Device by Customers Outside the United States. Although we encourage you to use of the Service to place calls to foreign countries from within the United States, we do not presently offer or support the Service in any countries other than the United States and Canada. If you use the Service or the Device outside of the United States or Canada, you will be solely responsible for any violations of local laws and regulations resulting from such use. We reserve the right to disconnect your Service immediately if we determine, in our sole and absolute discretion, that you have used the Service or the Device outside of the United States or Canada. VoiceNetLink VoiceNetLink, provides service in the USA and most Latin American Countries. New to the market they seem to be moving ahead of Vonage and Skype as an alternative to VoIP providers outside the USA. The quality of their product was excellent providing clear and crisp calling with both the home version and the newly announced WiFi handheld. We experienced only a few echo's on the phone but that was when the internet provider's speed would drop below 100KB. Their suggested speed is 128KB or higher for clear calling. VoiceNetLink has local offices in Panama, Lima Peru, soon to open in Costa Rica, Venezuela, Bogota Colombia, Santiago Chile. Another advantage of VoiceNetLink was they were the only provider offering instructions over the phone and a web sight to check your account in Spanish and Spanish speaking customer support representatives. They have just announce a Global Unlimited Calling plan for as little as $129. Unheard of in the VoIP markets. VoiceNetLink offers a host of various plans, unlike the alternatives listed. So you have greater calling flexibility.