Packet8 Comments from 8X8 CEO

In an open letter to shareholders on July 5, internet phone service provider Packet8’s - (a part of 8X8, Inc.) chairman and CEO Bryan Martin discussed a few points about Packet8, and I have made some of my comments as well.

· Packet 8's small business hosted IP PBX service called Virtual Office is experiencing rapid growth. It is mainly sold to small businesses with 3-30 lines, but lately several medium to large businesses have purchased the service, and 8X8 expects this trend to continue. Virtual Office saves businesses an average of 50% on phone bills, and many companies now using traditional phone service and PBX systems are looking to switch to VoIP in an effort to cut costs.

I totally agree that more and more small businesses are going to be turning to VoIP service, because it’s a perfect way to save money as well as create a “big company” image. With the Virtual Office system from Packet8, you get pretty much all the features of a full-blown PBX system without the hassle and high cost. You can read my review of Packet8’s Small Business VoIP services here: http://www.long-distance-savings.com/p8business.html

· He mentioned that Packet8 video phone service is a really unique service, and because of this it has drawn a large customer base. Packet 8 has had trouble keeping a supply of the special DV326 videophone, and now confirms that this product will be available again in August. Customers can "pre-order" the videophone this month for August delivery. The videophone lets you see and talk at the same time, and is perfect for families living far apart from each other.

The video phone is really cool, and I don’t know of another residential VoIP provider that is offering this type of service. I can see why they sold out of the DV326, and why have a “waiting list” for Packet8 videophone service. To read my review on Packet8 Videophone: http://www.long-distance-savings.com/p8video.html

· Unlike most other VoIP service providers, Packet8 internet phone service is developed with the company's own internally developed technologies. In 8X8's opinion, these technologies enable them to provide the high "quality and reliability of service that is second to none".

I personally subscribe to Packet8 residential VoIP service, and have used this as my one and only home phone for about a year and a half now. I can honestly say the quality is superb, and Packet8 customer service and technical support is fast, courteous and knowledgeable. From what I’ve read in forums and user reviews, most Packet8 users feel the quality of service is great. Vonage and Sunrocket users seem to feel their service is good and reliable too. I think VoIP technology as a whole is really good now, which is why so many people are switching from land line service to VoIP.

If you want to know more about Packet8 and 8X8, see my Packet8 review: http://www.long-distance-savings.com/p8review.html .

If you’re ready to subscribe to Packet8 VoIP service now, go here for a special discount: http://www.savewith8.com.

Sunrocket VoIP - Free International Calls!

Sunrocket announced a new unlimited international calling plan called Sunspots Edition. At $299 per year for unlimited local, long distance and international long distance calling, Sunrocket is definitely winning the VoIP price wars by offering unlimited international calling for less than $25 per month.

Sunrocket's Sunspots Edition unlimited international calling now lets subscribers call free to most of Europe, China, Israel, Portugal, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico City, Caracas, Argentina, and many more locations. This is an incredible deal on VoIP phone calling, and one that's hard to beat - especially if making free international calls is important to you.

VoIP SoftPhone - Computer Based Internet Phone Service

Software-based internet phone service works through your computer, via special software you download and install. Softphone VoIP is great for occasional use at home or for traveling.

You have to have a PC with a sound card, speakers and microphone. For the best quality, you will want to use a headset with microphone, or a special device called a USB phone. If you have an internet connection, just start your VoIP software program to make and receive calls.
Although it is possible to make internet phone calls over a dial-up connection, broadband internet is recommended for the best quality.

Most software-based VoIP companies provide free software account setup. With most IP phone companies, “in network” calls are usually free, and you only pay if when you make calls to outsiders. Softphone VoIP is often referred to as Free VoIP for this reason. You can get really cheap international long distance rates with internet phone service, and many people use it solely for this purpose.

There are many good softphone internet phone service providers to choose from, including
Skype, Net2Phone and WebPhone. Vonage, who has up until recently been a hardware-based VoIP provider, is now also offering software VoIP service. See my page on VoIP SoftPhone service for more information.

Is VoIP for You?

VoIP internet phone service is great, but it’s not necessarily for everyone. There are some requirements and drawbacks to internet phone service that may or may not influence your decision to switch. Most people consider the potential issues associated with VoIP to be minor, and find that the low cost and free features of broadband phone service far outweigh any negatives.
Potential Issues With VoIP
Although internet phone service looks and acts just like regular phone service, there are some technological differences that can cause issues with your service from time to time.

1. E911 Dialing is a “must have” for anyone using VoIP as their main phone line. This allows emergency calls to route to the closest 911 dispatch office and identifies your location to the emergency operator. Although in 2005 the FCC mandated that all VoIP companies provide E911 service to all subscribers, not all VoIP companies are offering this yet. It’s important to choose a VoIP provider that has E911 service available in your area – your life could depend on it. You are responsible for keeping your E911 address current in order for this service to work properly. If you move and forget to change your address with your VoIP provider, emergency services will not be able to locate you.


2. A “live” internet connection is required in order to use VoIP, because calls are transmitted over the internet. This can present a problem when your internet service is down. Broadband is also required by most VoIP providers, because internet phone service needs to have enough bandwidth in order to work properly. Be sure you have reliable broadband internet service through a reputable provider if you’re planning on using VoIP as your primary phone.


3. Power is required in order to use internet phone service. Without power, your cable/DSL modem won’t work, and your VoIP adapter won’t work – you will have no phone service. If you live in an area that is prone to power outages, this might be a big issue for you.


4. Existing phone wiring will not work with your new VoIP service unless you make some modifications. Traditional telephone wiring is designed to transmit to/from the phone company switch, not the internet. If you want to use your existing phones and phone jacks with VoIP you need to disconnect and reroute the telephone wire coming into your house. This is a fairly easy task but beyond the scope of this article. If you use an expandable cordless phone system with VoIP however, this totally eliminates the need to fool with any wiring.

Is Broadband Phone Service Right for You?
With 10 million VoIP subscribers in the United States alone, it’s obvious that the downside of VoIP is not keeping people away. When you consider the tremendous cost savings, free long distance calling and all the free calling features you get with internet phone service, most find that it’s no problem dealing with a few occasional inconveniences.
If you’re thinking about subscribing to VoIP internet phone service, read my free report first!  Learn about all the pros and cons of broadband phone service so you can understand what’s involved.  If you then decide to subscribe, you’ll find information on the absolute best VoIP providers for the money within the report.  Use this as your “short list” when comparing providers and be assured you will get the best quality internet phone service possible.  By subscribing to my monthly newsletter “VoIP News and Deals”, you will get this free report and also receive valuable information on “limited time offers” and special deals that providers like Vonage, Packet8 and Sunrocket are offering.

Get the report:
What Every Consumer MUST know before subscribing to VoIP Internet Phone Service …..

Our New Website - Best VoIP Providers

Our new VoIP website long-distance-savings.com is now up and running. I've also been hard at work creating a special report detailing all the things you need to know before subscribing to internet phone service.

This exclusive report called "What Every Consumer Must Know before Subscribing to VoIP Internet Phone Service" is available to subscribers of my monthly newsletter "VoIP News and Deals".

This once-a-month publication will give you the latest information on top VoIP providers like Vonage, Packet8, Sunrocket and more. It will also include info on any "limited time offers", rebates and special deals on VoIP service and related products. You can subscribe to the newsletter and get the free report by going here: http://www.long-distance-savings.com/voipdealssubscribe.html

I encourage you to read the information in this report before signing up for VoIP internet phone service. It will tell you about all the advantages to VoIP as well as all the things marketing people don't tell you about. Internet phone service doesn't "fit" for everyone, and you need to be aware of some issues with the technology before making a decision to switch to VoIP.