| Good news for VoIP consumers: A seldom-used, | | | | earphones.The unit sells for $40, which |
| but major feature of Internet phone service | | | | doesn't include the $10 activation fee and |
| just got a big boost: the ability to take | | | | $10 for shipping. It's available for purchase |
| your phone with you on the road, to make and | | | | online from Vonage now, and will be sold by |
| take calls from the same number at the same | | | | major retailers in September with a $40 |
| low price.The problem with this idea is that | | | | rebate.Calling plans are the same as for any |
| you usually have to take your adapter on the | | | | normal Vonage account: $15 per month for 500 |
| road with you to hook up a regular phone to | | | | minutes, $25 for unlimited residential use |
| the Internet, or install your VoIP service | | | | and $35 for business service.One important |
| provider's software on any computer you want | | | | point to note is that the device comes |
| to use - typically limiting your options to | | | | programmed with its own number and calling |
| the use of your own laptop computer.Vonage | | | | plan. There is no option offered for having |
| has come to the rescue with a solution that | | | | an adapter and V-phone programmed with the |
| will help users realize the full potential of | | | | same number. This means that if you choose to |
| VoIP: the V-Phone. The V-Phone is a keychain | | | | port your existing home Vonage number to a |
| device - actually an ordinary USB drive with | | | | V-Phone, your home will be without service |
| Vonage software and your user ID pre-loaded - | | | | every time you take the device on the |
| that you can plug into a USB port on any | | | | road.This makes it most practical for |
| Windows-based computer with broadband access, | | | | businesses and other users willing to add an |
| for instant Internet phone service.The device | | | | additional Vonage account, rather than |
| is easy to use: you plug it into a USB port | | | | transfer an existing number to the |
| and the software loads automatically, | | | | V-Phone.This novel product takes mobile |
| displaying a small window with a number pad | | | | Internet-based phone usage to another level. |
| that resembles the keys on a regular phone. | | | | That's great news for Vonage which, as the |
| Online authentication between the keychain | | | | industry leader, is in the enviable position |
| and Vonage's servers typically takes from 30 | | | | of having to fight off rivals who are cutting |
| to 90 seconds to complete.Importantly, the | | | | prices and even giving away phones for free |
| V-Phone does not load any applications to the | | | | in attempt to gain market share.The bad news |
| computer's hard drive during setup, so you | | | | for Vonage is that this device is a |
| don't have to worry about leaving "debris" on | | | | no-brainer - it's surprising that no service |
| other people's computers when you're | | | | provider offered it previously. The |
| finished. Simply unplug the device and all | | | | likelihood of Vonage getting a patent on the |
| icons disappear, along with any trace that | | | | technology is not great, and it's certain |
| you were ever there.The V-Phone comes with a | | | | that rivals will be offering competing |
| jack for plugging in standard cell phone | | | | products soon.That competition could be even |
| earplugs, a set of which are included in the | | | | better news for consumers.Kevin Patterson |
| package from Vonage. This has a couple of | | | | |
| advantages: you don't need to locate the | | | | is a content-based website providing VoIP |
| separate sound and audio ports on the | | | | information for "everyone else." Learn |
| computer, and with desktop PCs, you don't | | | | everything you need to know about VoIP - in |
| need to unplug the speakers to plug in your | | | | plain English. |