| PRICES | | | | QUALITY OF SERVICE |
| -U.S. Calling | | | | -Call quality |
| Skype is free for calling other U.S. users of Skype. | | | | Skype requires a fast internet connection for good call |
| Vonage charges a monthly fee of $24.95 for unlimited | | | | quality. If you access the internet wirelessly, the call |
| calling to any U.S. phone number. | | | | quality suffers at the reduced speed. |
| Skype also offers a monthly subscription plan that | | | | Vonage does deliver what their monthly fee promises, |
| allows unlimited calling to any U.S. number. The plan is | | | | good quality as it is almost indistinguishable from a |
| currently $2.95 per month. | | | | regular landline. However, calls are over the internet |
| -International Calling | | | | and subject to the same interruptions and slowdowns |
| Skype charges for international calling when users | | | | web surfers encounter, whether the issue is with the |
| purchase additional service packages and these | | | | DSL/Cable Modem provider or a major outage in a |
| packages will also allow a per-minute rate for calling | | | | central hub located anywhere in the world. |
| U.S. numbers that are not Skype users. Skype | | | | -Billing/customer service |
| charges sometimes half of what Vonage charges for | | | | Skype leads the way with prepaid call credits for the |
| international calls. | | | | infrequent international caller while heavier users can |
| Vonage does include 60 countries free along with their | | | | choose among a number of packages. |
| U.S. unlimited $24.95 package, but these countries are | | | | Skype offers live computer chat and e-mail support. |
| already cheap for direct dialing from a home or cell | | | | Vonage has a toll free line available to speak to a real |
| phone such as the UK, China, and Mexico. Calls to | | | | live person, although you may spend a significant chunk |
| international cell phones are often not included and | | | | of your life waiting for one to come on the line. |
| almost half of international long distance calls originating | | | | As with any telecom provider, one must always be |
| in the U.S. are destined to a cell phone. The high | | | | ready for billing errors, bill cramming, early termination |
| demand U.S. International calling destinations like Asia | | | | fees, rebate cancellations, etc. And worse, to try and |
| (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Philippines) and Central | | | | resolve these problems users will often be speaking to |
| America (Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua) are | | | | a customer service rep in reading from a script and |
| cheaper with Skype. | | | | has little ability to interpret what is actually going on or |
| MAIN FEATURES | | | | what the issue is. |
| Skype must be used with a computer, but this also | | | | Many Vonage complaints stem from early cancellation |
| allows simultaneous sending of files and even chat and | | | | fees and rebate recovery if a user doesn't stay long |
| free video calls. The downside is access to some 911 | | | | enough, with many users complaining that the contract |
| and 411 services. Other services like voice mail are | | | | period is not clearly defined until you try to terminate. |
| offered for a fee. You can get a local number using | | | | Let's face it, if you continually have problems hearing |
| the Skype Out service. | | | | the other party, you should not be charged an early |
| Skype is downloadable to smart cell phones and many | | | | termination fee. Potential customers should study the |
| Wi-Fi and cordless phones already have Skype built in. | | | | terms of service carefully before signing up for any |
| Vonage is feature rich and advertises their features as | | | | monthly fee, because once the money comes out of |
| the reason why users should want to pay $24.95 a | | | | a bank account or is charged to a credit card there is |
| month because they get call waiting and forwarding | | | | little one can do except rant on a blog. |
| and have access to emergency (911) and information | | | | Bottom line |
| (411) services. The Vonage $24.95 monthly fee | | | | Skype is best for callers that make a lot of |
| includes 25 features such as voice mail, caller ID | | | | international calls. Vonage is best for users that want |
| blocking, caller ID with name, call return and many | | | | an inexpensive alternative to their local phone or cable |
| others. | | | | company's phone service. |