By Mike Anderson
Want to know more about Vonage competitors? Interested in some other options besides Vonage?
The Internet phone service that Vonage provides is not proprietary or exclusive to them. It is is offered by some of the companies listed below and functions in a nearly identical manner. You will see the term VoIP used and that stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol which is simply a technical term for Internet phone service. You are given an adapter box to plug into your Internet connection, just like Vonage, but you'll need to use a different adapter instead of the one Vonage uses. Most Internet phone service companies will often provide you with an adapter for free.
What's the next step? Well, take a look at the top 4 companies below. You can click on the reviews below to compare rates and prices for each of the companies. Once you have decided which one is the best fit for you, you can place an order directly through their website. Phone Power, ViaTalk, ITP and Lingo will provide you with a new adapter at no charge. However, you may pay a small nominal shipping fee for the adapter. Once you receive the adapter in the mail, you should be able to plug it in to your Internet connection and can start making calls. Do you have an existing phone number that needs to be ported or transferred over? They can do that when you provide that phone number within their easy online order process. The companies below have millions of happy customers enjoying phone calls through the Internet. The alternatives to Vonage that we recommend are listed in the top 4 below which include Phone Power, ViaTalk, ITP and Lingo.
Vonage has been a dominant force in the broadband phone service market since its inception. Though initially launched in 2001, the company signed up its first residential customer in 2002, one who is reportedly still a happy customer to this day. This broadband phone provider seems to make significant improvements to its service each year, starting in 2003 with the first software to enable 911 calls over the internet. In 2004, Vonage began offering its service in the retail market through a partnership with Circuit City. Later that year, the broadband phone provider launched its service in Canada which has since reached other nations including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Ireland and Spain.
Over Two Million and Counting
Today Vonage is a leading VoIP provider with an estimated 2.5 million subscriber lines worldwide. Despite internal hardships, the company continues to thrive, leveraging an amazing internet technology that allows anyone to make calls virtually anywhere by picking up the phone and using a broadband connection. Vonage offers its customers an array of features with broadband phone service plans that are cost effective for business and residential users. Due to its popularity and continued success, you can now purchase this service through a number of nationwide retailers including BestBuy, WalMart and Target. Vonage is well known for its broadband phone unlimited local and long distance calling plans with useful features such as call forwarding, call waiting and voice mail - all available for one low monthly fee.
While Vontage can surely take most of the credit for revolutionizing broadband phone services, competition in the market is becoming quite fierce as more providers have emerged onto the scene. As the technology continues to evolve, Vonage’s competitors are likely to get closer in the race with the ability to deliver advanced VoIP solutions.
The Current and Future State of Broadband Phone Service
Competitors are gaining ground quickly as many are leveraging 3G technology, the next generation in wireless communications. With the prices on these new handsets dropping rapidly, more consumers are bound to take advantage of the speed and efficiency that comes along with the 3G network. There has also been mentioning of a 4G implementation with broadband internet phones in the near future.
According to experts, the integration of VoIP and mobile handsets is only the first step. The growing number of Wi-Fi spots and increasing range of internet connectivity has essentially broadened the scope for VoIP providers as more people are likely to use broadband phone services over traditional cell phone networks. One development that will offer benefits to all broadband phone service providers is WiMax. WiMax is set to be a citywide wireless network capable of operating at speeds much higher than what we currently enjoy today. If WiMax becomes a success, the broadband phone service market is likely to flourish right along with it.
Another possibility VoIP providers are looking into is free internet telephony services. Not only would you be able to make free calls, but also send email, share photos and files all without incurring any additional charges from your broadband phone provider or ISP. This concept makes perfect sense when you think about it. After all, you shouldn’t have to be charged for simply exchanging data, especially when you are already paying for the broadband phone service and internet connection.
Conclusion
As of now, nothing is certain when it comes to the future of Vonage or its competitors. What you can assume is that VoIP providers and broadband phone services are here to stay. The field is highly competitive and based on a technology that still has a lot of room for advancement.
Comments
Post new comment