Is an Internet Phone Right for You?

VoIP services are cropping up all over the place. We answer your questions about this new breed of phone services.

The VoIP Players

Pricing of Internet phones services varies, but virtually every provider offers an unlimited domestic dialing plan that provides a nice point of comparison. Here's a look at some of the best-known VoIP services.

AT&T CallVantage
$29.99 a month
Plan: Unlimited
A safe VoIP choice, AT&T gave Internet phone services instant credibility when it jumped onto the scene. Prices are a bit high, but users rave about the quality of service. AT&T no longer markets traditional consumer phone services, so its commitment to VoIP seems real.

Broadvoice
$19.95 a month
Plan: Unlimited World Plan
Just another VoIP pure-play? Sure, but Broadvoice has been at it for awhile, and the company offers one of the best international dialing plans around.

Broadvox Direct
$19.95 a month
Plan: Residential Unlimited
This provider is operated by an IP network services company, giving it a bit more heft than other, bargain-minded services competing at the $20-per-month level.

Lingo
$19.95 a month
Plan: Unlimited Plan
A newcomer, Lingo has made a splash with its innovative services. The price is right too.

Packet 8
$19.95 a month
Plan: Freedom Unlimited
One of the pioneers in consumer Internet phone services. Despite solid underlying technology, the company hasn't marketed itself as aggressively as fellow front-runner Vonage. Parent company 8x8 has been in digital video conferencing and communications for years.

Verizon VoiceWing
$34.95 a month
Plan:VoiceWing
With the highest pricing of any major VoIP player and a me-too set of features, VoiceWing looks most attractive for conservative adopters and Verizon DSL subscribers.

Voiceglo $29.99 a month
Plan: Home
Unlimited VoIP pure play offers superior per-minute rates on international dialing.

VoicePulse
$34.99 a month
Plan: America Unlimited
At $34.99 the service is pricier than most, but a $24.99-per-month one-year promotion brings the price in line with most others.

Vonage Digital Voice
$24.95 per month
Plan: Unlimited
The company that pushed VoIP over the top, Vonage offers a compelling blend of low cost, reasonable features, and excellent nationwide coverage. This fast-growing service has suffered glitches in the past, which should give adopters cause to think.