So who offers the best VoIP Service for me?

Well as always there is no easy answer to this question. It will of course depend on the service that you want and your own individual circumstances. However, to help you make the right choices ,we have created a selection of introductions to the main VoIP service providers currently operating in the U. K. Please check back regularly as more service providers are are added to our guide.

Skype

Overview

You must have heard of Skype. If you haven’t heard of them then allow us to introduce you to one of the most popular (and the most quirky) service providers out there! Skype focuses its efforts upon distributing its free application which allows users to see when other users are online and talk to them for free. Other services, such as the ability to call and receive calls can be added on to any user’s account in a modular manner in the form of the Skypein and Skypeout services.

Is it for me?

If you want a free, easy to use VOIP service with no strings attached then Skype is for you. You will be in good company joining a huge user base and there is quite literally nothing to lose. Also since it is so widespread you are likely to find that some people you know are already using Skype.

Skype offers the ability to call and receive calls as separate additions to its free service. These services are easy to set up and the ability to make calls to land lines and mobiles is only charged per minute, there is no monthly charge. Skype’s call charges are amongst the cheapest around.

Furthermore you will find that Skype has created a cottage industry of gadgets designed to make using Skype easier, from dedicated phones and headsets to full PBX devices and cordless phones there is a wealth of Skype hardware on the market which is likely to interest any gadget freak! Most recently '3' the mobile phone network have collaborated with Skype to launch a Skype Mobile Phone which makes using Skype with 3G a reality so now you can truely make skype calls wherever you go.

Drawbacks

Well Skype takes a bit of setting up before you can use it to make and receive calls. For the ability to make calls other than calls to Skype users (ie calls to landlines or mobile phones) you need to buy some credit for the Skypeout system. This operates very much like a pre-pay mobile phone tariff. You buy credit, make calls and top up your credit when it runs out.

This allows for very precise spending control but does mean that you will have to spend some time topping up your credit every so often (Skype Credit has a very long shelf life of 180-days but do bear in mind that it does expire eventually). Skypein is the counterpart service which allows you to receive calls using Skype, this must also be purchased and numbers can be bought for a year or a few months at a time. You cannot, as yet, call the emergency services using Skype.

What is the bottom line?

Skype is a great and very popular way to VoIP. It's free application and modular functionality allows you to pick and choose the way you want to use VoIP and all Skype’s charged services are very, very cheap. The best value can be found in Skype's overseas rates as some other service providers offer more value for money for more local calls.

The addition of the '3' Skype phone range to skype's arsenal is an extremely interesting development and represents a shift away from being tied to computers and Patchy wifi networks. Skype calls using the power of 3G are undoubtedly finally a viable alternative to mobile phone calls.

VoIPCheap

Overview:

VoIP Cheap is a very remarkable, if unpromisingly named, U.K. based VoIP service provider. VoIP cheap lives up to its name as the cheapest VoIP provider around. They are so confident about their prices that they challenge their users to find cheaper rates from other providers and offer to match them.

The most remarkable thing about VoIP Cheap is that they offer an ever changing list of destinations where calls to landlines are free. This absolutely free service to non-VoIP lines is a first outside of the providers that demand a monthly subscription.

Is it for me?

One question: Do you like the idea of calling certain land lines absolutely free? Well of course you do. As far as charges go VoIP Cheap is the cheapest we have found. Its where they make their money from that we can't understand.

What are the drawbacks?

VoIP Cheaps's call quality is surprisingly good but the VoIP Cheap Softphone software suffers from the fact that its not compatible with all USB phones. You will always be able to make calls using your USB phone but some of the advanced features, like the phone dialing pad, will not interface with VoIP Cheap's software as of yet. Also in order to take advantage of free landline calls, at the time of writing, you have to pay a £10 charge which is redeemable as credit on charged calls and which acts as a form of setup charge. Furthermore, if you use the service for free calls or not, voipcheap empties your account of all your credit 6 months after you put it in. This is annoying if you use the free service and still have credit in your account.

Furthermore VoIPcheap's customer service still seems to be as near to non-existant as makes no odds. If you are looking for a well supported service then look elsewhere but hey it is cheap!.

What is the bottom line then?

It is very hard to fault VoIP Cheap's Prices but the software still needs some work and better USB phone compatibility would be a huge advantage for this service. Also the changing call rates and free destinations can be confusing so keep an eye on VoIP Cheap's website to see what you are going to be paying. Lastly the support and customer service lags well behind other services.

Gradwell

Overview:

Gradwell is a U.K. based company that has been around since the earliest days of VoIP in the UK. With Gradwell you can expect the highest quality service in terms of call quality, customer service and added extras. Gradwell practically invented the VoIP industry standards so you can expect that the services from this small privately owned company will match or exceed them.

Is it for me?

Gradwell offers a variety of calling plans one of which is certain to suit your situation perfectly. Firstly there is a home user service. This basic option allows you to make free VoIP calls to any other Gradwell users and calls from 1.25p per minute to landlines and 10p per minute to mobiles for only £4.00 per month. Gradwel alsol provides business orientated services of varying degrees of complexity . The features of this service are second to none with number porting from BT and very sophistcated call management options Gradwell is first choice for quality service

What are the drawbacks?

Gradwell's call charges are fairly expensive for the market but still very cheap . The service ahs improved its simplicity and ease of use markedly for residential users but it really shines as a business service.

What is the bottom line then?

The Gradwell service is supremely competant, professional and well suppported. It is the Gold standard for VoIP and is an ideal choice for those who value quality of service

Vonage

Overview:

Vonage is one of the larger players on the VOIP stage in the U. K., Canada and the U.S. It is the product of a less radical vision than some other VOIP service providers. Indeed it tries to operate along very similar lines to a conventional telephone company.Vonage seeks to provide a complete VoIP based alternative to normal telephone calls making it as simple as possible for users to convert to VoIP.

Is it for me?

Vonage can offer you a very complete service in a package that will seem very familiar to you if you have ever used a conventional phone company. For a monthly fee, Vonage provides a service with all the hall marks of a regular land line. They will provide you with their adaptor and all the instructions that you need to begin using your normal landline to make VoIP calls. If you sign up you can immediately call and receive calls from land lines and mobiles, dial directory enquiries and call the emergency services direct. You will also find that Vonage’s call charges (those that are not free) are competitive, especially its rates for calling mobile phones.

At Present Vonage offers 3 main residential packages:

• V-Plan 1: £5.99 per month for 6 months with free calls to UK and Ireland Only. Really just an incentive to purchase V-Plan 2.



• V-Plan 2: £7.99 per month with free calls to 15 countries



• V-Plan 3: £9.99 per month with free calls to 25 countries

What are the drawbacks?

Vonage will charge a monthly fee in addition to charging for certain calls that you make. Calls to mobile phones are competitive but other some voip service providers offer better slightly better rates to international lines.

What is the bottom line then?

Vonage's call plans are getting more competative by the day and its 7 days a week support is streets ahead of many other providers who simply cannot offer such good customer service. If you don’t mind paying a monthly charge then you may find that with Vonage you can forget about your land line altogether. Vonage's range of equipment is also expanding and their service benefited greatly from their addition of a plugin and go USB Dongle V-Phone to their range.

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in this guide constitute an accurate and fair representation of the views and experiences of the I-VOIP team. They should be understood as opinion and I-VoIP cannot be held responsible for any use or misuse of these opinions. In each and every case customers should make up their own mind as to which providers and services are right for them. I-VOIP reserves an absolute right to change and alter these opinions as the facts change and as new information comes to light. I-VOIP cannot accept responsibility for any changes made by the VOIP service providers listed above to the services and policies that they offer. I-VOIP also cannot be held responsible for any contracts or covenants made between its customers and the service providers detailed above on the basis of the information contained on this web site. We advise all our customers to visit the web sites of service providers for the most accurate and up to date information.