Although I myself do not have a home phone at my house in the U-District, I used my other Mercer Island address and home phone number to search for these services. After navigating the Vonage and Speakeasy websites, I found that both VoIP providers service in my area and would allow me to keep my current phone number.

         Vonage offers two main residential VoIP plans. The first being their premium unlimited residential plan for $24.99 per month. This plan includes all the advanced features of a home phone (voice mail, call waiting, caller ID, 3-way etc.) as well as unlimited local and long distance calls anywhere in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and select European countries. This includes free calls to Europe – Italy, France, Spain, UK and Ireland and about 1cent a minute for basically all other countries. Their alternative home plan would be a Residential Basic 500 Minutes Plan for $14.99 per month which includes the same advanced phone features, unlimited incoming minutes, 500 outgoing minutes a month anytime to anywhere in the US (including Puerto Rico) & Canada, and 3.9 cents for each additional minute. With both of these plans, the Vonage VoIP phone adapter is included when you sign up for service directly with Vonage.

   Speakeasy VoIP on the other hand, requires a Speakeasy broadband connection as well. Thus Speakeasy VoIP and Broadband will run you $83.90 per month for in home service. This plan includes Speakeasy broadband internet, and VoIP phone service with all basic and advanced calling features. Also including Unlimited calls within the U.S.and Canada, excluding Alaska and Hawaii (.10 per min). The same plan also includes free worldwide calling to 22 countries including: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and different cent per minute rates depending on other countries and locations. I found it interesting that calls to mobile phones are not included in the free worldwide calling, and that calls to mobile phones within outside countries are much more expensive per minute than land lines. I found it difficult to find a clear answer as to whether or not hardware was included in the purchasing of Speakeasy monthly service.

            I thought it was very interesting how both these companies take a different approach in providing VoIP service to intended customers. Speakeasy requires users to subscribe to their own Speakeasy broadband, which they claim is to ensure a “crystal clear” connection. Although this may or may not insure a high quality connection, this turned me off in terms of the service they provide. I would be less likely as a user to sign up for Speakeasy, due to the fact that I would have to change broadband companies, without knowing the true quality of the internet service they provide. The Vonage website is also much more clear when explaining exactly what their plans include and at what cost. I found it very easy to understand Vonage’s services, but was confused when looking into Speakeasy. I would consider Vonage due to its low price and portability, if I was intending on doing substantial nation wide or global travel for long periods of time. Vonage seems to be very portable and even offers a small USB device that allows you to utilize VoIP anywhere a computer is available. All this being said I still do not see myself purchasing either of these services in the near future. If I was to travel, I would look at other VoIP service such as Skype, which seem more convenient for shorter periods of use such as traveling or studying abroad.