Broadband phone services, called VoIP (voice-over-IP) are services offered by different companies, as an alternative to landline telephones or even mobile phones. Either way you look at it, you’re going to find these services cheaper than a basic landline telephone service. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be better in terms of quality. Not to mention that some might simply not enjoy using their computer to make their phone calls.

Not arguing why you should or should not give this type of services a try, we’re going to provide you a short list of benefits of Broadband Phone Services and also a couple of disadvantages, so at the end of this article you’ll have a little more insight of how things are with VoIP services.

Broadband Phone Services Pros:

Reduced costs. Since the process of VoIP calls happens over the Internet, the infrastructure and communication costs are greatly minimized. Just think of how much you pay per month for your landline or mobile phone and compare that to how much you pay for your Internet access per month.. You see, the classic telephone calls are charged per minute or second, depending on the provider company. Voice-over-IP calls, or the Internet calls are charged per megabyte (MB that is), meaning per amount of data sent across the Internet and not the time spent to send that data.

It’s very flexible!  Leaving aside those companies that offer even video calls for the same charge as the common VoIP calls, we’re presenting just the major advantage of being able to take your toys with you anywhere you travel. Providing that the Internet signal is of some decent quality in the places where you decide to travel, VoIP calls can be made from pretty much anywhere because nowadays broadband phone services offer portable devices that you carry in your pocket. These devices may vary in size and form, but the most common models will easily connect to your (or anyone else’s) computer’s USB ports, pretty much making the annoying landline phone cables ugly history.

Those being the major advantages of Broadband Phone Services technology (believe us, you don’t need more than these), we’re moving on to the disadvantages, so that you’ll know to be aware how to make your choice regarding broadband phone services.

One problem is the fact that once your Internet is down or the power runs out, you’re left without a phone. Also, poor Internet signal will significantly decrease the quality of your calls, if not make them unavailable at all. You should really keep this aspect in mind, in case you decide to take your VoIP with you on your mountain climbing trip.

Another aspect you should be aware of is the fact that, due to VoIP portability features, some emergency call services might not work for you in different areas and that is because it’s not always easy to keep track of an IP, especially a dynamic one. However, there are good quality VoIP providers out there who will advise you what’s the best way to keep the emergency call services updated with your location.

So if you’re considering getting on board with broadband communication services, be sure to do a lot of research before settling down with one company. Check a lot of websites which provide you users’ reviews of such services, ask your friends and trusted ones and ultimately, read extremely careful the agreement contracts before signing them.

Faxing with Vonage

Faxing with Vonage is one of the features of owning a Vonage account. It saves you from having to go to your local office store to send or receive faxes. To use the faxing feature, Vonage must first give you a fax line which you can use on any machine to send and receive faxes. You can receive unlimited faxes on all plans. The amount of faxes you can send will however, depend on your monthly plan.  In the small business plan, you can send up to 500 free minutes of outgoing faxes while you can only send 250 free minutes in the residential plan of $9.99 per month. International faxing rates depend on Vonage world plan rates. Faxing is not the only smart feature of Vonage. Vonage voicemail also makes it easy for you to manage calls.

Vonage Voicemail

One cool thing about Vonage voicemail is the convenience of getting your voice mail in more than one format. You can listen to it, print it out or have it sent as an audio file to any email address. This helps you never miss important messages or misunderstand anyone. You will need to know how to set it up properly so that you will not have problems in receiving or listening to your voice mails. Vonage has made it so easy to use their services that they provide many ways of assisting you through their Vonage support section. Let’s see exactly how Vonage support works.

Vonage Support

Vonage supports their customers 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week.  You can contact support in more than one way. You can get help through their phone using 1-VONAGE-HELP (1-866-243-4357), by sending them email, through their support forum or their facebook fanpage. You can also search through the support section on their website for guides, videos and step-by-step instructions for how most parts of their services are used.  Knowing how to get support will help you resolve your technical issues and billing issues fast and easily. Vonage has been known to provide excellent customer support over the years. For technical issues, try to be close to your device when calling so that support can point you in the right direction as fast as possible.

You’ve seen that Vonage VoIP services are one of the best in the industry. Specifically, you’ve seen how their faxing and voicemails will benefit you and how to get support when you run into problems. If you have not been using them, try to start using them to their fullest potential so you can enjoy the most value for your money.

Cisco PAP2 Phone Adapter for Vonage Internet Phone Service

• Unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada only $24.99 per month, other plans as low as $14.99
• All plans include call waiting, caller ID, voicemail, call forwarding, and many more features
• Voicemail can be checked online or by phone or forwarded via email
• Use your current phone; keep your existing phone number or choose a new one
• 2 ports for analog phones or fax, so you could have 2 separate phone numbers

The Linksys Phone Adapter enables high-quality feature-rich telephone service through your cable or DSL Internet connection. Just plug it into your home Router or Gateway and use the two standard telephone jacks to connect your existing phones or fax machines. Each phone jack operates independently, with separate phone service and phone numbers — like having two phone lines. With an appropriate Internet telephone service provider, you’ll get clear telephone reception and reliable fax connections, even while using the Internet at the same time for normal data operations.With Vonage, you can make calls through the Internet, potentially save on long-distance charges, and access a rich assortment of call features. Plans start as low as $14.99

Vtech CS6219-2 DECT 6.0 Expandable 2-Handset Cordless Phone System with Caller ID and Handset Speakerphone (CS6219-2)

• DECT 6.0 Digital technology provides the best sound quality, security and range in cordless phones
• Two handset system – includes 2 handsets and requires only one phone jack
• Expandable up to 12 handsets using only one phone jack – uses CS6209 accessory handset
• Handset speakerphone
• 50 name and number phonebook directory

Dect 6.0 Cordless Phone caller perpid speaker 2 handsets

List Price: $ 34.95

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Cisco PAP2 Phone Adapter for Vonage Internet Phone Service

• Unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada only $24.99 per month, other plans as low as $14.99
• All plans include call waiting, caller ID, voicemail, call forwarding, and many more features
• Voicemail can be checked online or by phone or forwarded via email
• Use your current phone; keep your existing phone number or choose a new one
• 2 ports for analog phones or fax, so you could have 2 separate phone numbers

The Linksys Phone Adapter enables high-quality feature-rich telephone service through your cable or DSL Internet connection. Just plug it into your home Router or Gateway and use the two standard telephone jacks to connect your existing phones or fax machines. Each phone jack operates independently, with separate phone service and phone numbers — like having two phone lines. With an appropriate Internet telephone service provider, youll get clear telephone reception and reliable fax connections, even while using the Internet at the same time for normal data operations.With Vonage, you can make calls through the Internet, potentially save on long-distance charges, and access a rich assortment of call features. Plans start as low as $14.99 p

List Price: $ 59.99

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Are There Problems with the Quality of Vonage Internet Services?

Some of the major problems with the quality of Vonage internet services include call quality being low, the calls cutting off in the middle of a call and call not even going through in some cases. For call quality being low, the most likely cause is when you are in an area where the internet connectivity is not strong. That is, the internet Wi-Fi network signal strength or the 3G network is weak. In this case the call quality will become low. You will immediately notice that you cannot hear the other party clearly, or the other person cannot hear you clearly. On the other hand, when there is no network in an area, Vonage services will not work as it fully depends on the availability of an internet connection. Now that we’ve seen some of the problems affecting the quality of Vonage internet services, lets see how internet speed can affect Vonage services.

Is the Internet Speed Fast Enough with Vonage Internet?

Vonage allows you to test your internet speed on their website to see if you can use Vonage services. The advantage of this to you is that if your internet speed is not fast enough for Vonage services, the test results will show it and you will be advised to either not use Vonage or you should try to increase your Internet speed. According to them, the recommended Internet connection upload speed (bandwidth speed) needs to be at least 90 Kbps (kilobytes per second). A lower upload speed could affect the quality of your calls when using Vonage phone service. If your internet speed is not up to this, then you cannot enjoy using Vonage. Let’s now find out about Vonage’s major business competition.

Who are Vonage’s Major Business Competition?

There are many VoIP services competing with Vonage. The list keeps growing every year. Vonage VoIP services can be compared with others using many criteria. However, when it comes to features, Vonage is among the top. It offers features that are suitable for business and non-business use. For business uses, competitors that offer features that are close to those of Vonage are Jive, RingCentral, Vocalocity, Apptix  and Nextiva. This comparison is based on the cost for their unlimited services and the features attached to them.

Vonage Internet Services

You’ve been able to discover how Vonage uses the Internet to offer their services. You’ve also seen the problems associated with internet quality and the most acceptable minimum speed needed to use Vonage internet services. By knowing the major business competition to Vonage, you can always switch to the one that offers you the best benefits in terms of call quality, features and cost.

Cisco PAP2T Internet Phone Adapter with 2 Ports for Voice-over-IP

• Former Linksys Business Series
• Two standard telephone ports for analog phones or fax machines that serve as separate lines, complete with unique phone numbers
• Call Waiting, Cancel Call Waiting, Call Waiting Caller ID
• Caller ID with Name/Number (Multi-national Variants)

Subject to customer authorization by Linksys. The Linksys PAP2T Internet Phone Adapter enables high-quality feature-rich VoIP (voice over IP) service through your broadband Internet connection. Just plug it into your home Router or Gateway and use the two standard telephone ports to connect analogue phones or use one of the ports for a fax machine.

List Price: $ 65.99

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Cisco PAP2 Phone Adapter for Vonage Internet Phone Service

• Unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada only $24.99 per month, other plans as low as $14.99
• All plans include call waiting, caller ID, voicemail, call forwarding, and many more features
• Voicemail can be checked online or by phone or forwarded via email
• Use your current phone; keep your existing phone number or choose a new one
• 2 ports for analog phones or fax, so you could have 2 separate phone numbers

The Linksys Phone Adapter enables high-quality feature-rich telephone service through your cable or DSL Internet connection. Just plug it into your home Router or Gateway and use the two standard telephone jacks to connect your existing phones or fax machines. Each phone jack operates independently, with separate phone service and phone numbers — like having two phone lines. With an appropriate Internet telephone service provider, youll get clear telephone reception and reliable fax connections, even while using the Internet at the same time for normal data operations.With Vonage, you can make calls through the Internet, potentially save on long-distance charges, and access a rich assortment of call features. Plans start as low as $14.99 p

List Price: $ 59.99

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Voice and Messaging Services

Vonage mobile services for your android phones involve voice calls and instant messaging. Once you install the application, you will need to follow the necessary instructions before you can start using them. Your voice and messaging call rates will depend on the plan you select. You can use them to call your phone contacts and social networking contacts on social websites like facebook once your phone is compatible with the Vonage mobile application.  For making voice and messaging calls using facebook, you need to know exactly how it works.

Vonage mobile for Facebook

Through Vonage mobile application, you can enjoy extra ordinary value by keeping in touch with your facebook friends. This new service was launched on 4^th of August 2010. Once you download the application, you can call your facebook friends who also have the application on their phones. To call your friends on facebook, you need to do the following.

• Download the Vonage mobile application for facebook from the iTunes Store, Android Market, the Vonage fan page on Facebook or vonage.com/talkfree.
• After downloading and installing the application on your android phone, you need to login to facebook with your username and password. (You will enter your facebook details this one time only).
• Once you login, you will see all your facebook contacts divided into two groups; those who have downloaded the application and can be called for free and those who have not downloaded the application.
• You will see the Vonage logo beside your contacts that have downloaded the application. Those who have not can be automatically invited to download the application at Vonage fanpage on facebook or vonage.com/talkfree
• Once you touch the names of those with the Vonage logo, their numbers will be automatically dialed even if their application is closed.

Vonage mobile for facebook does not only allow you to make calls to your facebook contacts, it also lets you make unlimited international calls to them if they have the application. Without it, you can make unlimited calls if you meet the conditions below.     `

Unlimited International Calls

You can make unlimited international calls with your android phone or other compatible mobile phones. Once you subscribe to the Vonage world plan for $24.99 per month, you can make unlimited international calls to about 60 countries. You will be charged according to the rate per minute of the individual countries. When you are in Wi-Fi within the US and internationally, your calls use your phone’s Wi-Fi internet connection so that you don’t use your phone’s cellular minutes. This helps you to save money on international calls. You must however note that your unlimited calling is limited to non-commercial use.  Carrier, SMS and cellular minutes may apply as stated in their terms of use.

Now that you have seen the benefits of Vonage on a android phone, you can bet that this is the best time to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Android Phones

Samsung P1000 Galaxy Tablet Unlocked Android Powered with 3 MP Camera, 7-Inch Touchscreen, 16GB Memory–International Version with No Warranty (White)

• EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, HSDPA 7.2Mbps/HSUPA 5.76Mbps Tri-Band 900/1900/2100 MHz
• 7 inch WSVGA (1024 x 600) 16M TFT
• Ebook, GPS/Geo-tagging, DLNA, Bluetooth, Android
• 3MP AF Camera + 1.3MP VT Front Camera. Full HD (1080p) Playing
• 4000 mAh battery

Samsung P1000 Galaxy Tab is Samsung’s move onto the tablet warfield and luckily we are right here in the battle fray to give you first-hand scoop from the announcement event. Some might argue that it’s rather a step down from laptops but the Samsung Galaxy Tab smartphone DNA is obvious from the moment you touch it. The 7-inch Android tablet has full phone functionality and the only thing that separates it from being called an insanely oversized cell phone is the fact that you cannot make phone calls by holding it next to your ear. The rest of the specs sheet looks like it belongs to a cell phone if you don’t mind the oversized screen.

List Price: $ 999.99

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HTC EVO 4G Android Phone (Sprint)

• Android-powered phone with 4G wireless connectivity for download speeds up to 10x faster than 3G (also compatible with 3G networks)
• Sprint TV and Amazon MP3 Store enabled; GPS turn-by-turn directions via Sprint Navigation; access to thousands of apps from Android Market
• Wi-Fi networking (with optional hotspot capability); 8-MP camera with HD video capture; front-facing 1.3-MP camera for video chats; microSD expansion to 32 GB; Bluetooth stereo music
• Up to 6 hours of talk time; released in June 2010
• What’s in the Box: handset, rechargeable battery, charger, USB cable, 8 GB microSD memory card, quick start guide, user manual

The world’s first 3G/4G Android handset, exclusively from Sprint, HTC EVOTM 4G, offers a rich mobile Internet experience with a fully integrated suite of services built on the Android 2.1 platform. HTC EVO 4G includes a blazing-fast 1GHz Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM processor, the award-winning HTC Sense user experience, an 8.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera. The large vibrant 4.3 inch display, built-in kickstand, 3.5 mm headset jack and HDMI output make HTC EVO 4G an unparalleled platform for wireless entertainment. Download music, pictures, files, or videos in seconds – not minutes – and watch streaming video on the go on a network with download speeds that are up to 10 tim

List Price: $ 499.99

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HTC DROID INCREDIBLE Android Phone (Verizon Wireless)

• Slick, thin smartphone with 3.7-inch SLCD screen
• 8-megapixel camera with flash
• Android 2.2 OS with Google and multitasking
• 1 GHz Snapdragon processor for outstanding performance
• Backed by a 1-year limited warranty

The Droid1 Incredible by HTC2 is the future of computing in the palm of your hand. The super-sleek phone is less than a half-inch thick, yet it packs powerful components such as a 1 GHz processor, 8-megapixel camera, and a large high-resolution screen. Featuring the Android OS with Google, the Droid Incredible provides easy access to all your social networks, websites, and thousands of applications, including Google Navigation with turn-by-turn directions.

The high-resolution 3.7-inch SLCD screen is ideal for watching videos and movies. View larger. Sleek Form Factor with Powerful Processor
The Droid Incredible by HTC features a racecar-inspired body design that measures just 4.63 x 2.3 x 0.47 inches (HxWxD), making

List Price: $ 599.99

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What are Vonage’s Conference Call Features?

Vonage’s conference call features include its being cheap, time saving, convenient and flexible. This means your conference calls are included in one monthly plan. Instead of dialing one person, hanging up and redialing another person, you can all arrange a meeting time and discuss or brainstorm issues together and come up with a solution. You don’t even need any complicated instructions or setup. All you need is to dial, press the appropriate buttons on your phone and call the other parties until you are all ready to take off. You can conference call at anytime of the day or night and it doesn’t even matter if the calls are local or international. The conference call is a premium feature of your Vonage monthly package. Now that you’ve seen what the Vonage conference call features are, let’s see exactly how Vonage 3-way calling, otherwise known as conference calling works.

How do You Use Vonage’s 3-Way Calling

Using Vonage’s 3-way calling is very easy. You, the caller will have to dial the other two parties with your phone. To start 3-way calling, you will first dial the first person, then press the hold button and dial the number of the second person. After the second person answers the phone, you press the hold button again. While on your second number, view the options list and click “Join” or “Connect” or “Conference” to include all callers in the call. You can us Vonage’s 3-way calling locally and you can also use 3-way calling to make international conference calls. This is one of the best ways international business associates can brainstorm together to handle critical issues over the phone.

How Do You Use Conference Calling for International Calls

Vonage Conference Calling

Conference calling with Vonage for international calls is similar to those for local conference calls. The only difference is that the calls must be within participating countries according to each country’s international rate. You can even conference call using their Vonage talk feature on the Vonage device. With Vonage Conference Calling, you can connect with two other parties at the same time. The three of you can talk at once. Here is how it works.

1.      Dial your first party as you normally would.

2.      Once connected, click the Conference button on the Call Window and the first party is put on hold. Dial the second party.

3.      After the second party is connected, click the Conference button again, and you’re all connected.

You can place both calls on hold by clicking the conference button again. One more click of the conference button reactivates the conference call.

If you are calling internationally, your call will be billed incrementally based on that country’s rate, but there will be no extra fee for making the Vonage Conference Calling.

What Mobile Phones Work Best With Vonage

Vonage does not work with all types of mobile phones. It only works with selected mobile phones. Plans are underway to make it available to as many types of mobile phones as possible. Some of the mobile phones that are compatible with Vonage Smartphones like Android, iPhone (R), BlackBerry(R) and iPod touch. You will have to download the application from iTunes or Vonage website to use on these selected phones. These phones provide seamless, low-cost international calling while on Wi-Fi or cellular networks. Now that you know the mobile phones that work best with Vonage, let’s explore the types of calls that can be made with them.

What Types of Calls Can be Made?

You can make local and international calls with your Vonage compatible mobile phones; just like any other mobile calls, but without using and depending on plans. International call rates are cheaper than normal calls. Always ensure that you have a strong 3G or Wi-Fi signal in order to have high quality clear calls. Weak networks normally cause unclear calls. Here are the types of calls that can be made with Vonage world mobile plan for only $24.99 per month.

* Unlimited international calling to more than 60 countries around the world and great     low rates everywhere else with Vonage World Mobile.
* Free unlimited local and long distance calls over Wi-Fi networks
* If you only need to make international calls occasionally, select the Vonage Mobile Pay Per Use plan and get our everyday low rates. You don’t have to have Vonage residential service as the Vonage Mobile works independently.

How to Download Vonage Mobile Applications

This is exactly how to download Vonage mobile applications. First of all make sure you have a Vonage mobile compatible phone. After that, go to the Vonage mobile website and go through the list of available mobile applications. After that, select the application you need.  Once selected, click on “Download App” on that page and enter your phone number when prompted. Vonage will send you an SMS (text message) with a link to download Vonage Mobile. Then just follow the simple steps on your device to install. (Standard text messaging rates may apply.)

Vonage for Cell Phones

Vonage took the VoIP services by storm when it extended its services to cell phones. You’ve seen the types of cell phones that work best, the types of calls that can be made and how to download Vonage mobile applications. You now know exactly what Vonage for cell phones is all about.

Apple iPhone 4 Black Smartphone 16GB (AT&T)

• Does not include AT&T service contract
• Facetime
• Retina Display
• Multitasking
• HD Video Recording
• 5MP Camera

When creating iPhone 4, Apple designers and engineers didn’t start with a clean sheet of paper. They started with three years of experience designing and building the phones that redefined what a phone can do. iPhone 4 is the result of everything they’ve learned so far. And it’s all contained in a beautiful enclosure a mere 9.3 millimeters thin, making iPhone 4 the world’s thinnest smartphone. Locked to AT&T.

Price:

Apple iPhone 3G 8GB – Black – Unlocked

• 8GB of internal storage
• 3.5in widescreen Multi-Touch Display
• 2MP Camera
• 802.11b/g WiFi
• Includes charger and original box.

ORIGINAL UNLOCKED RELEASE 3G IPHONE. NO CARRIER LOGO OR BRANDING

With fast 3G wireless technology, GPS mapping, support for enterprise features like Microsoft Exchange, and the new App Store, Apple iPhone Black 8GB mobile phone 3G puts even more features at your fingertips. Like the original iPhone, a combination of three products in one revolutionary phone, a widescreen iPod, and a breakthrough Internet device with rich HTML email and a desktop-class web browser. The Apple iPhone 8GB mobile phone 3G. It redefines what a mobile phone can do again. The 2.0 software is, in many ways, the most important feature of the iPhone 3G. And it’s excellent. The extra width also makes typing on the iPhone with two thumbs slightly more comfortab

List Price: $ 999.99

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Cisco-Linksys WRT54GL Wireless-G Broadband Router (Compatible with Linux)

Cisco is one of the top manufacturers of wireless routers. The Cisco-Linksys Wireless routers is one of the most popular routers that is used worldwide. It can share a single internet connection and other resources with Wireless-G and –B devices. It also has built-in 4-port Switch and Wireless-G Access point. These and other features make this product extremely popular. It has over 700 positive 4-star reviews on amazon.com. It works with most manufacturer’s adapters and DSL/cable or modem. When you order, you will receive a box with WRT54GL wireless routers, power supply, Ethernet network cable, CD-ROM software and the user’s manual on CD-ROM too. Once you follow the installation instructions, you can be up and running in no time.

D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Gigabit Wireless Router

This wireless router from D-Link is one of the most popular. With over 1,000 positive reviews on amazon.com, you can be sure that this will be a no-brainer investment for you if you decide to get this one for your Vonage service. Some of the features include 14x faster speeds and 6x farther range. It is perfect for streaming HD video and multiple applications simultaneously. For security purposes, it is integrated with dual active firewalls and wireless security wizards. There are other cool features that make it the perfect choice for anyone who is serious about having a wireless router that is fast, secure and very effective. Once you purchase, you will find the following items in the box; The D-Link DIR-655 wireless router, 3 detachable antennas, CAT5 Ethernet cable, power adapter, CD-ROM with installation wizard and operating instructions.

Medialink – Wireless N Router – 802.11n – 150 Mbps – 2.4 Ghz – NEW Design w/ Internal Antennas

his wireless router is also among the best selling with hundreds of satisfied customers and positive customer reviews. It is attractively designed with internal antennas. The wireless data transfer rate is about 150 Mbps. It supports all security protocols and fully complies with wireless standards. Microsoft certified that it is compatible with all versions of windows. The signal strength is fantastic and has outperformed many other routers. One of the cool things about this router is that set-up is a breeze. You will be up and running within minutes when you follow the installation manual accordingly. Many people love this wireless router because the price is quite affordable and the features are great.

You have seen that routers from Cisco, D-link and Medialink will work well with Vonage to give you excellent service. Check them out for yourself and see other smart features that will convince you that you are getting the best value for your money when you buy any of these Vonage Wireless Routers.

Wireless Routers

Medialink – Wireless N Router – 802.11n – 150 Mbps – 2.4 Ghz – NEW Design w/ Internal Antenna

• E-Z Connect Setup Wizard Guides Through Step By Step
• WHQL Certified by Microsoft To Be Compatible with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and 7
• Attractive Contemporary Design with Internal Antenna
• Supports All The Latest Security Methods Incl. WPA, WPA2 and WPS
• Backwards Compatible With 802.11b/g Devices

Medialink – Wireless N Broadband Router – 150 Mbps – 2.4 Ghz – 802.11n

This router is the perfect solution for adding a wireless network to your home or business. It fully complies with wireless standards and is guaranteed to work with any manufacturer’s 2.4Ghz wireless adapter and most manufacturers’ DSL/Cable modem (Not Compatible with some Satellite Modems Including the HughesNet HN7000s and HN9000).

Specifications

- Wireless Data Transfer Rate: 150 Mbps
- Supports 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n Adapters Operating on 2.4Ghz Wavelength
- Includes 4 Port Ethernet Switch, Wireless Access Point, and Firewall
- Wired Data Transfer Rate: 10/100 Mbps (Ethernet 10 Base-T)
- Routing and Firewall Protocol: DHCP
-

List Price: $ 79.99

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D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Gigabit Wireless Router

• Delivers up to 14x faster speeds* and 6x farther range* than 802.11g means Greater Coverage for Your Entire Home or Office
• Ideal for streaming HD video or streaming multiple applications simultaneously
• Intelligent QoS technology prioritizes both wired and wireless Internet traffic to enable enhanced gaming and phone calling (VoIP) experience
• Gigabit Ports for Incredible Wired Network Speeds
• Dual active firewall protection (SPI & NAT) helps block malicious attacks on networks from the Internet.

The D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit Router (DIR-655) is a draft 2.0 802.11n compliant device that delivers up to 14x faster speeds* and 6x farther range* than 802.11g while staying backward compatible with 802.11g devices. Connect the Xtreme N Gigabit Router to a cable or DSL modem and provide high-speed Internet access to multiple computers, game consoles, and media players. Create a secure wireless network to share photos, files, music, videos, printers, and network storage.   Powered by Xtreme N technology and equipped with three external antennas, this router provides superior wireless coverage for larger homes and offices, or for users running bandwidth-intensive applications. The DIR-655 also includes a 4-port 10/100/1000 Gigabit switch

List Price: $ 110.99

Price:

Cisco-Linksys WRT54GL Wireless-G Broadband Router (Compatible with Linux)

• Linux-based Internet-sharing Router with built-in 4-port Switch and Wireless-G Access Point
• Shares a single Internet connection and other resources with Ethernet wired and Wireless-G and -B devices
• Includes four Fast Ethernet ports for your wired computers and devices
• Wireless signals are protected by industrial-strength WPA2 encryption, and your network is protected from most known Internet attacks by a powerful SPI firewall

The Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router is really three devices in one box. First, theres the Wireless Access Point, which lets you connect both screaming fast Wireless-G (802.11g at 54Mbps) and Wireless-B (802.11b at 11Mbps) devices to the network. Theres also a built-in 4-port full-duplex 10/100 Switch to connect your wired-Ethernet devices together. Connect four PCs directly, or attach more hubs and switches to create as big a network as you need. Finally, the Router function ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection. Once your computers are connected to the Router and the Internet, they can communicate with each other too, sharing resources and files. All your computers can prin

List Price: $ 79.99

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What Vonage Routers?

A router is a piece of electrical equipment that lets you connect more than one piece of equipment (like computers) to your DSL or cable modem in order to share one Internet connection. Some ISPs supply combination of modem and routers. To say the least, when you have two or more computers connected to the Internet, it means you have a router. The connections are normally done with cables that come with the routers. Instruction manuals or video normally show how the router should be connected to the given devices for it to work properly. Routers cannot only be connected with cables; they can also be connected without cables. This will lead us to the next question.

What is a Wireless Router?

If a router is a device that lets you connect a computer or equipment to a modem which is then connected to the internet using cable wires, the wireless router is a device that does the same thing without the use of cables or wires. It does it by wireless access point and a network switch. The best way to select the wireless router that is best for you is to consider the speed limit in terms of megabytes, popular brand matching with network adapters, warranties, your budget, size and style.  Since brand names play an important role in helping us decide the kind of routers to get, let’s now explore the top five router manufacturers out there.

The Top 5 Router Manufacturers

There are many manufacturers of routers in the market. Routers can be purchased either offline or online through the individual websites of the manufacturers or through.Amazon.com and Buy.com.

The top five router manufacturers are given below.

Cisco

Cisco is an American-based multinational company. It is one of the world’s biggest consumer electronics, networking and Communications Corporation. It was one of the first to sell commercially successful routers supporting multiple network protocols. Today, Cisco’s routers are primarily used to deliver IP packets.

D-Link

D-Link Corporation was founded in 1986 in Taipei as Datex Systems Inc. It took off as a network adapter vendor and has gone on to become a designer, developer, and manufacturer of networking solutions for both the consumer and business markets in general. D-Link’s products are geared towards the networking and communications market. Its business products include switches, security devices and business wireless devices while consumer products cover consumer wireless devices, broadband devices and the Digital Home devices.

Belkin

Belkin International, Inc. is a global manufacturer of computer hardware that specializes in connectivity devices like routers; audio, video and computer cables, power protection, wireless networking, iPod accessories, desktop and mobility accessories. Belkin’s headquarters is in Playa Vista, Los Angeles, California.

NetGear

Netgear was founded in 1996. It is a US manufacturer of computer networking equipment and other computer hardware. Their lines of products include gateways, modems, routers, wireless routers and adapters, and specialty products for homes, businesses and service providers.

TP-link

TP-Link is a manufacturer of computer networking products, including routers, switches, wireless equipment, ADSL modems, and network adapters for PCs. They claim to be the #1 market share leader in China, where they are based.

Vonage Routers

As you can see, these router manufacturers are not small companies. Their products are distributed worldwide. Whenever you want to get the best vonage routers for your use, try to get them from any of these manufacturers whose products have stood the test of time.

Dialling of emergency services (999 and 112)

Voice mail

Call waiting

Ring back

Call hunt

Anonymous call block

Call diversion

International call barring

Ring lists

Withhold caller display

3-way calling

SimulRing

Vonage to Vonage calls

Vonage access

Online account and

Click-2-call.

Keep reading to find out more about each category of Vonage rates.

What are Vonage Rates for Residential Usage?

Vonage rates for home use are one of the cheapest in the Voice over Internet phone services. Many people save up to 50% off their monthly phone bill with these very low Vonage rates. Their home rates cover all the new and innovative features of Vonage. To qualify for one, you will need to subscribe to their services using the residential plan. Their home rates are divided into Vonage Pro, Vonage world, Basic 500 minutes and Vonage Lite plans.

Vonage Rates for the Basic Business Plan

Vonage rates for business are divided into two plans. They include the small business premium unlimited and the small business basic 1500 minutes.

The small business premium unlimited rate is calculated according to zip location. You will have to input your zip location into their calculator to get rates for start-up and estimated ongoing monthly costs. The start-up includes an activation fee. You will pay $49.99 per month which includes the following:

Monthly Service Charge

Emergency 911 and Information Services Fee

Federal Program Fee

Regulatory, Compliance and Intellectual Property Fee and

Sales Tax.

The small business basic 1500 minutes is $39.99 per month. This rate covers all the features of the small business premium unlimited services except unlimited 411 directory assistance. Both plans help businesses to increase their profits by paying less than what they ought to have paid for normal monthly phone services.

Vonage Rates for International Calls

The international phone rates for Vonage are covered by the Vonage world plan.  In this plan, you can make calls to about 60 countries. Each country has their own rates per minute.  No yearly commitments or contracts needed. To know the rate of charge for each country, you will have to check their website under the international per minute rate section. They claim that the rates exclude certain call types such as calls to non-geographic regions and premium numbers. Also, you cannot make calls to cellular phones using Vonage, only to landlines where it is designated as free. Such countries include Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Andorra etc. They state that unlimited calling to international numbers is limited to residential use.

Vonage Rates

When you talk on your phone, the conversation is transferred to a Vonage router where it is digitized and transmitted to Vonage.  Vonage automatically translates the data back into a phone signal which is then transmitted to a phone line anywhere in the world. This happens almost instantly.

People love Vonage phone service because you can keep your normal phone numbers and still enjoy lower rates. Access to 411 phone dialling and Vonage 911 makes the service truly unique. Features like video phone service, virtual numbers, local & long distance and 800 service numbers help business and individuals communicate more efficiently. These features look really attractive; do they really work that way? Let’s find out.

Does Vonage Phone Service Work?

There has been a lot of talk about whether Vonage Phone Service actually works. The answer is yes. First of all, no matter how good a product is, it must have its flaws. This is why improvements are always being added to products and services. When reviewing Vonage service in general, one must consider call quality, features of the service and customer support in case anything goes wrong. The call quality is as good as those of a normal phone; or even better in some instances. The features are great and the customer care depends on people’s individual experiences. The fact remains that if the Vonage phone service service did not work, they would have closed down by now because competitors would be using their inefficiency to create better deals. The best way to know more about their service is to find out more about the Vonage home service and the local and distance calls.

Vonage Home Phone Service

Vonage home phone service is also called the Residential home phone service. It is divided into four plans. These plans have their various features, prices and the duration in which you can call. The plans are called Vonage Pro, Vonage World, Basic 500 minutes and Vonage Lite. A comparison of their features, price, call duration and other services is given on their website.

Vonage Local and Long Distance Service

There are four plans for the local and long distance service. The costs and service provided for each plan are broken down below.

Vonage Pro: With this account plan, you can make unlimited calls locally and internationally if you are in the U.S, Canada or Puerto Rico at $34.99 per month.

Vonage World:  This is the most popular plan. With this plan, you can make unlimited local and long distance calls starting at $14.99 for the first three months, then $25.99 per month.

Basic 500 Minutes: With this plan, you can make local and long distance calls for the first 500 minutes, then 3.9¢/additional minute at $17.99 per month.

Vonage Lite: This plan allows you to make local and long distance calls for the first 200 minutes, then 5¢/additional minute at $9.99 per month.

You have seen how Vonage phone service works. You have also been introduced to their local and long distance calling plans. When getting one, try to pick a plan that best suits your call needs and saves you the most money.

Vonage phone service