vonage VOIP Packet8 VOIP review
If you are thinking about trying a VOIP phone service, you are on the verge of a new level of freedom to pick up the phone and call the world. This is an ideal time to learn your options and choose a provider that will treat you well. To compare Packet 8 with other VOIP providers see my detailed VOIP comparison.
Sign up online for Packet8 online - click here
Service quality
Packet8 has been around awhile, and it's one of the top VOIP providers. New VOIP providers often start out with rave reviews then quickly deteriorate when thousands of new users all sign up at once. Packet8 was good before, and it continues to improve and mature.
New providers often start out with rave reviews then quickly deteriorate when thousands of new users all sign up at once. Packet8 was good before and it continues to improve and mature.
If quality is what you want, then Packet8 is a great choice. You should get reliable, clear connections that meet or exceed the quality of regular phone lines. Having said that, you should prepare for exceptional times when the quality falters or the service goes down. These things can and will happen with any VOIP service, so it's wise to choose an experienced provider that has already worked out most of the rough edges.
If you can't tolerate quality fluctuations, I would suggest looking at discount long distance carriers rather than VOIP.
Features
Packet8 comes with a long list of features included in the basic price, like personalized voicemail, call forwarding, 3-way conference calling and call waiting. For a small fee, you can add toll free numbers or additional local numbers in area codes that you choose. Incoming calls can be forwarded to your VOIP phone or to a cell phone, land line, etc.
For business users, Packet8's virtual office plan is designed to replace an expensive office phone system. You get a customizable auto-attendant, 3-digit extension to extension dialing, three-way conferencing, conference bridge, multiple call handling, business-class voicemail, hunt groups, a cool phone, and unlimited calling to the United States and Canada. In case you're wondering, "hunt groups" means that when one office line is busy the service will hunt for the next available line in an order that you specify.
You can also purchase video phones to use with Packet8. They are not cheap, but the video is high quality and this service will be worth the price for some people reading this review.
Packet8 was the first VOIP provider to offer enhanced 911 (E911) dialing. If this feature is setup and working, if you have to call 911 the operator will see your location on a screen for a faster response time. You need to understand that 911 dialing is not 100 percent dependable with any VOIP providers, and E911 may not be available for some users. IF you decide to drop your local phone company and use Packet8 exclusively, then please study this issue and think about having a backup plan (e.g., using a cell phone).
All VOIP phone services are portable. Take your adapter (or VOIP phone) with you anywhere in the world. When you plug it into a high speed Internet connection, your phone is ready to place calls (and receive calls placed to your local number in the USA).
Service plans and pricing
Individual/Family Users
For $19.99 per month get unlimited minutes to and from the USA and Canada including Alaska and Hawaii. I think this is the best value among all the VOIP plans in my comparison. You can also choose a "global" calling plan with unlimited international calls to a long list of countries worldwide.
For $19.99 you can also get a videophone unlimited calling plan. You'll need at least two people to sign up this way, or you won't have anyone to talk to using the video feature. Everything is the same except you have to pay $149.99 for the phone in addition to the regular charges.
International Users
If you are physically located in the USA, pay $49.99 for unlimited minutes to a long list of countries (sometimes cities) in Europe, Asia, Latin American, and the Middle East. That may seem like a lot to some people, but it's not much if you've been spending $100 a month to call a friend in China or a business partner in Japan.
If you are physically located outside the USA, Packet8 offers a "Freedom International" plan for $19.99 that includes 1000 minutes to/from the USA. You can use the service worldwide anywhere that you can find a high speed DSL or cable Internet connection. (Actually, all of Packet8's plans work worldwide, but if you are permanently outside the USA you need to choose either this plan OR one of the higher priced unlimited calling plans. The only plan that won't work long term is the $19.99 unlimited option.)
Business Users
It's okay to sign up your business or home office for the $19.99 residential plan above. You won't get all the features of the business plan, but you'll pay half the price. Packet8 may ask you to switch to a business plan if you have a very high calling volume (that, as they say, indicates you're a business).
For $39.99 the "Virtual Office" plan may actually be what you want. This service gives you the powerful features of an office phone system at a very reasonable price. It comes with a professional "feature rich telephone" with an LCD display and the ability (among other things) to route incoming calls to the extensions of staff located throughout your building. You can build on the "Virtual Office" by adding powerful options depending on your needs.
User experience
Packet8 is well respected with many happy customers. This service has been developing and improving for a long time. If you choose a new and upcoming VOIP provider, then you may have to weather some storms with them. Why not choose a provider that has been through all that and become a symbol of quality along the way? And if you do have trouble, Packet8 is also known for providing good customer support.
Conclusions
Packet8 was an easy "Editor's Choice" in comparison with the other VOIP providers that I've reviewed here. Packet8 excels in the important ways: quality, features, service and price. It's a great choice for personal and business users in the USA and worldwide. If you need a cheaper plan, or a plan with more international options (like "local" numbers outside the USA), then take a look this review before deciding. Otherwise, use the link below to learn more, sign up, and get started. You get a 30 day trial period, so don't forget to save the box and original packaging just in case.
Rated: 4.5/5