I’ve been looking recently (Dec 2009) at getting VOIP to replace my landline, because it’s cheaper and AT&T is ridiculously convoluted and annoying to deal with.
Some links:
http://howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=247
http://www.dslreports.com/gbu - reviews of VOIP providers
Here’s some info on VOIP providers as of 12/2009. I read the entire terms-of-service of each to put this summary together. I’ve left out some providers who are either clearly to expensive or too ghetto.
VOIPO:
howard forums people say it’s good, with good service.
They ship you an adapter for free.
$15 per month monthly, or $8.25 if paid yearly. With taxes, $18/month or $136 per year. $10 late fee if they don’t have your CC on file.
3000 minutes per month is about their limit.
Return the Adapter when cancelling or pay $50.
Porting numbers appears to be free.
Forward to another number if internet is down or power is out (this is probably a feature of most voip providers)
Phonepower:
$20 monthly, $8.25 if you pay for 2 years. $17 if you pay for 1 year. $3.50/month in taxes.
Pay 2 cents/min on minutes over 5000 per month (never happen).
In the terms they say 4 cents/min over 3000 per month (why is it different, wtf)
Return the adapter within 30 days of cancelling or pay $100.
Within 30 days you can upgrade or downgrade to any plan.
They have really long terms of service with tons of random fees for weird shit.
VIATALK:
$20/month or $99/year for unlimited minutes. (plus taxes)
2 cents/min over 5100 minutes.
Return adapter before cancelling or pay $50, (get it back if returned within 30 days).
some kind of crazy $50 cancellation fee if not cancelled within 14 days of something. Kind of weird.
CALLWITHUS:
no frills pay as you go, top off, no fees, seems to be run by knowledgeable geeky dudes who are helpful.
Need to buy your own adapter that you plug into the router.
2000 or 3000 free incoming minutes, and about 1 cent/min to all US numbers.
Assuming half incoming and half outgoing: .5 cents a minute up to 4k or 6k minutes total.
- 1 hour a day: 1800 minutes = $9
$3-$5 per month for the phone number.
Future Nine:
provide your own device or buy one from them.
can forward to another phone # when your internet is down.
$5 and 1c a minute outgoing, 3000 free incoming
or $7/month, 3k free incoming, 250 free outgoing (need to talk 900 outgoing minutes before it’s worth upgrading to the next plan - 30 minutes a day outgoing)
or $13.50 for 3k in, 3k out.
Some weird beta test BS in their terms of service.
$15 cancellation fee no matter what. WTF?