For a regular casual landline user, I recommend switching to a VoIP line, if you can live with 95% reliability, and your broadband connection is reliable… and you have a cell phone as backup. The features you get free – state/US (and beyond depending on plan) calling, simultaneous call forwarding, voice mail, caller id, call waiting, etc., far outweigh the reliability.
As for Broadvoice vs. Vonage, it’s not fair to compare a softphone (on wireless) to a dedicated adapter with analog, so I’m wussing out, and letting you see what Slate and a News.com story have to say.BroadVoice Follow Up 0
Posted by jason
I was gently reminded that I haven’t written findings for Broadvoice. I have Broadvoice (9.99/month statewide calls plan) enabled as as a softphone over 802.11b and Vonage($24.99/month premium) as the primary office dial-in line. Vonage forwards simultaneously to a landline at the office, and my cell phone. Broadvoice, I’ve kept for outbound calling. We work in an older building, where the broadband access is sketchy, so I need to leave the Vonage phone adapter at home, and can’t use it for outbound dialing. Unless we move to a T1, or move out, we’re married to SBC. Whenever I’m telecommuting at home, it works great, and I’m happy as a clam. Eating ham. But not Spam.