As I was headed out for dinner I picked up the mail and grabbed this month's Entrepreneur magazine and flipped to the article "Tying the knot" thinking it was something to do with weddings but to my surprise it was an article on our new phone service! Vonage!

I figured I'd post part of it up for everyone to read! ...and don't forget you can get a month free if you sign up with me!

QUOTE

Tying the Knot With a new generation of routers, VoIP and Wi-Fi form a union to benefit your business. Entrepreneur magazine - February 2005 By Mike Hogan Want the productivity boost and cost savings that both VoIP and wireless networking deliver? Now you can get a helping of both in a single piece of hardware. Wi-Fi and VoIP providers are working together on a new generation of Wi-Fi routers that set you up for internet calling and wireless networking at the same time. A good example is the Vonage Internet Phone Starter Kit, which includes Linksys' Wireless-G Broadband Router (WRT54GP2). The WRT54GP2 makes the usual broadband modem connection for wireless internet access and 54Mbps data transfers among a dozen or so PCs. But it also has two phone ports and the electronics necessary to let you make internet calls using a traditional telephone. The co-branded Linksys/Vonage package includes the router and a CD-ROM to walk you through network setup and phone service. Its materials are well-illustrated, easily followed and backed up by good technical documentation. But expect at least one call to tech support--with all the variations in desktop configurations, there's always some hitch configuring a wireless network. Vonage offers more typical monthly service plans, one of which includes unlimited internet-only calling worldwide and unlimited long-distance calling over the traditional phone network within North America for $25 per month. All its plans come with free caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, three-way calling, voice-mail forwarding to e-mail, simultaneous ring on multiple numbers and a single phone line. Vonage software enables you to use your broadband connection for your usual traffic and for up to two separate phone "lines"--one of which could be a fax. The router gives priority to voice packets, so you get traditional call clarity even when using both phone lines and internet connections simultaneously. Add a multistation cordless phone set for about $100, and you have free-ranging wireless calling around your office or the old homestead.

Full Article

Just a quick plug ... I signed up with DJ on Vonage and am stoked. The "voicemail sent to my email" function alone was worth it. I definitely recommend Vonage.

And, get the hookup from DJ if you're going to sign up. It's a total win/win because DJ gets a month free and so do you if you sign through him. I did it and just got another month free from a friend who signed up this morning. No pyramids going on. Just a sweet service that gives a modest kick back and leaves everybody glad they joined on.

I can't believe I had a phone line when this was available to me!

That's awesome Dane! I'm glad you're enjoying it!

It definitely makes financial "cents" - haha - I'm gay.

...and the features are super cool too!

I was goin to be mean, but I'm nicer than you DJ
TRicia

haha... It already emailed me what you wrote first!

I hate that you know everything!!!!
TRicia

How much does this phone service cost a month?

There are two different services for residential use, which is what we're using.

1. $15/month for 500 minutes

2. $25/month for unlimited - this is what we have because we make a good amount of calls.

...from what I've heard this is cheaper than what most people pay for a standard phone line without all the features and without long distance!

You can also get a toll free number for $5 a month more and all the bells and whistles (like call waiting, three way calling, voicemails emailed to you, caller id, etc., etc.) are included. I don't even think there's tax added.

So for $5 a month, plus an extra $5 on top of that, I could have all the bells and whistles and a house phone? Right now I just have a cell phone, but let me tell you how much that sucked when my cell phone died and wasn't replaced for a solid two weeks.

Here are the two residential plans that I'm aware of...but there are other VoiP services that offer a per call service...but I don't think they're as good as Vonage...

1. $15/month for 500 minutes

2. $25/month forunlimited - this is what we have because we make a good amount of calls.