Vonage vs. Skype

Carson, I just wanted to thank you for sharing all of this great information. I will be looking into doing this, as well, when I move late summer since my family are all in the US and will need an inexpensive way to contact me!

First of all, your very welcome and thanks for the compliment.
- Suggestion, if I were you I would buy the Vonage unit while in the US and get it all setup there. Why? When you get here, just connect it to your internet connection and you're live! (Simple Solution) As I experienced, my first Vonage unit had a technical defect and if I lived in the states, I could have returned it for an exchange instead of paying additional shipping to have another one sent.
Just remember, you need to pay for it with a US Credit/Debit card. So you may want to make payment arrangements before you leave and last, if Vonage finds out you are living in a foreign country (They only will if you tell them) they may disconnect your service.

So, Carson, would you be willing to make a detailed, itemized list of what to buy, where to buy it, detailed instructions on how to set it up, and then come over and maybe install it?! Come to think of it, you could start yourself a nice little business doing this...there's a built-in client base right her on this forum!

Thanks too for the compliment, as technical as this may seem, it is much easier than you think. As for as an itemized list goes, if you like - no problem. Installation? Humm, I can walk you through it pretty easily, it's honestly not that difficult. Little business? Thanks again, but I would feel guilty taking money from people in the same situation.
Seriously, if you would like more information, send me a message and I'm happy to answer any questions you can come up with.

Thanks again and best of luck!

Thanks, Carson, I appreciate the offer. I'm hoping to have some down time after next weekend so plan to do some serious research and decide who to go with, Skype or Vonage, then. Keep us posted on how it's going, okay?!

Carson - I'm still struggling with why this is so much better than skype? I have skype and I bought a US phone number - $38 for 1 year subscription. I bought a phone connector for the computer that plugs my cordless phone into the USB port on the computer - $35 (with shipping). Download skype for free.

So total cost for skype and using my cordless phone is $73 ~ 42GBP for 12 months. And I don't have to pay a monthly subscription. The only advantage I see that you get with vonage is that you can turn your computer off. I never do this anyway so that's not a big deal for me.

The above is for incoming calls. If you want to make out going calls then it's free to someone else who has skype or you can also use this set up on google talk, yahoo with voice etc. If you want to use it to call a land line it's 2p per minute which is in line with the other cheap rates out there.

I perfer to pay for what I use. 12GBP a month every month is a lot I think. I'd have to make 600 minutes of calls to the US every month to justify that and I just don't make that many calls. Plus the setup seems difficult and pricy too.

I just don't see how it's better?

Thanks for the reply, you do have some really good points.

I have to say I had the same thoughts and almost went with Skype, but there are several reasons I chose Vonage over Skype.

1. PC - Let's say my pc crashes, gets a virus, or needs to be repaired, possibly replaced? Vonage doesn't connect to a pc, only the internet modem. Basically it is a No PC solution to Voip. (Major points on this one as I have enough software on my pc already using system resources)
2. Yes - My Vonage phone adapter did cost $85.00, but I got all of it back in a rebate check last week. (Free Equipment)
3. Outgoing Calls Free - If I call someone with Vonage (In the US), the call is free for the both of use regardless of what calling plan we are on. As far as calling landlines, I pay $14.99 a month for 500 minutes (However I might change plans based on usage). Yes - It is a little higher than 2p per minute, but the audio quality I have to say is better than my BT landline.
4. Moving? As both companies go, moving is quite simple as long as there is high speed internet. So someday when I return to the states, Vonage will go with and I plan on using it there.
5. Repair - If the phone adapter breaks, Vonage will replace it. Skype won't repair my pc if their software causes a conflict and damages my Windows operating system.

If you use the phone for an occasional call every now and then, and don't mind the audio quality of the pc microphone/speaker system. Then your right, Skype is the best solution.
Now if you want to use your good old regular phone, just like you're used to on the old fashoned landline. Then Vonage may cost a little more, but is a great solution.

Installation: Very simple, plug it into your modem, and your pc plugs into the phone adapter. (That's it!) Activate it on-line and give it 10-15 minutes for completion, then pick up the handset and you have a dial tone. There are some odd things that can happen, but I think I have solutions for them all.

Hey Neeps, thanks for the reply and if you ever decide to go with Vonage, I will do anything I can to help you with the install.

Take care.

3. Outgoing Calls Free - If I call someone with Vonage (In the US), the call is free for the both of use regardless of what calling plan we are on. As far as calling landlines, I pay $14.99 a month for 500 minutes (However I might change plans based on usage). Yes - It is a little higher than 2p per minute, but the audio quality I have to say is better than my BT landline.

The skpe give great audio quality - haven't had any problems there.

4. Moving? As both companies go, moving is quite simple as long as there is high speed internet. So someday when I return to the states, Vonage will go with and I plan on using it there.

Same applies to skype and the phone connector.

If you use the phone for an occasional call every now and then, and don't mind the audio quality of the pc microphone/speaker system. Then your right, Skype is the best solution.
Now if you want to use your good old regular phone, just like you're used to on the old fashoned landline. Then Vonage may cost a little more, but is a great solution.

I use my regular phone with skype. Just needs a phone adaptor. It has great sound quality I have never had the poor audio quality you refer to - of course I don't use a microphone and speaker system.

Installation: Very simple, plug it into your modem, and your pc plugs into the phone adapter. (That's it!) Activate it on-line and give it 10-15 minutes for completion, then pick up the handset and you have a dial tone. There are some odd things that can happen, but I think I have solutions for them all.

Exactly the same with the skype plus phone adapter. You posted below about all the steps you had to take to set yours up. I downloaded skype for free. Ordered a phone adapter pluged it into the portable phone I already own and volia - it works great.

I'm sure they're both fine for whatever your specific needs are. I hate paying a subscription type fee - as you have to with vonage. Just wanted people to know there's another option out there that achieves basically what you've done.

One other feature that I personally love with Vonage is the ability to have a Virtual Number just about anywhere in the US, Canada, or UK.  This means that right now my friends in the UK can call me in Vegas and it is just like they are making a local call.  On the flipside, once I move to the UK, my family here will be able to call me for free since I will keep my US phone number that I have now.  I'm not all that familiar with Skype so I don't know if they offer this sort of thing too, but for me taking Vonage to the UK when I move is more for my family and friends to be able to call me inexpensively without having to do anything special except dial a phone number.

Just my 2 cents

One other feature that I personally love with Vonage is the ability to have a Virtual Number just about anywhere in the US, Canada, or UK. 

I have this on skype. Cost $38 for 12 month subscription.

I just found this article online comparing the two services.  Very informative in my opinion... it gives a run down of each service and the features/prices of each.  Both look equally good... just a matter of preference I guess.

http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article123.php

I just found this article online comparing the two services.  Very informative in my opinion... it gives a run down of each service and the features/prices of each.  Both look equally good... just a matter of preference I guess.

http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article123.php

Excellent article...very informative! Thanks for posting.

Paula, This is a very good comparison.
- I think we agree that in the end its all a matter of preference.
- As for me, I prefer the stand alone setup and am not too fond of pre-pay accounts.

Thanks for the great link, hopefully others will look it over before deciding whom to choose for Voip service.

Take care. 

I know this is an old topic, but I'm a fairly new user of both Vonage and Skype.  One advantage of Vonage is that you can keep your old US number when you move to the UK.  Skype doesn't let you do that.  It's been so handy to move to the UK and keep my US number and be able to have it when I move back.

I got Vonage just before I moved to the UK from the US and it is incredibly easy to use and set up.  I got the unlimited use plan and am thrilled with it.  I am spending $10 less per month with Vonage than I was with Verizon in the States and getting so much more for my money.

My only problem is that when I use a cordless phone (or use the microwave) my internet connection cuts off so I am restricted to using a corded phone with my Vonage account.

I've tried switching modems/routers, but to no avail.  And it's not a wireless issue bc the Vonage modem is connected to the modem/router with an ethernet cable.

Anyway, I'm a big fan of Vonage and wanted to recommend it highly to UK ex-pats.

I just called Vonage to ask about their plans and they said that they will give a routing number for people to dial before the phone number so they only get charged a local call. For example, for people to call me in the US from the UK they would dial routing number+phone number and won't get charged international fees. 

As long as it works the way they say it should, it'll save from having to pay for an international virtual phone number. 

ETA: The unlimited plan for $24.99/month includes unlimited international calls to select countries (UK, and Ireland included) and very inexpensive calls to other countries as well.

Scarlett516, it does "work the way they say it should." 

I'm in the US and have had Vonage for over a year.  My mother uses the V-access number for her area and calls me often.  She's never been charged, so it does work as a local call.

My only problem is that when I use a cordless phone (or use the microwave) my internet connection cuts off so I am restricted to using a corded phone with my Vonage account.

Sounds like an RF interference problem, quite possibly from the phone/microwave RF being picked up on either phone/DSL wiring or your interconnections between equipment.  It could probably be solved with filters or by using ferrite toroids on some of the cables, but solving such problems can often be a trial-and-error process.

We do have filters but I haven't heard of ferrite toroids.  I'm willing to try anything.  Could you explain a little further?

TIA, Paul.