VoIP Service Provider Types
VoIP service providers are of different types. VoIP service providers include business VoIP, cable, consumer, satellite, and free providers.
Below is a list of some of the companies presently offering VoIP services:
Free Providers
Skype is probably the most renowned among the VoIP service providers. Skype provides it customers with free peer-to-peer calls with other Skype subscribers. Also, it offers cheap PC to cell phone or landline calls. Likewise, Earthlink provides online calling for free. Earthlink is the pioneer among the ISPs to offer such service.
Business Providers
Having one of the most reputable names in hardware and networking systems, Cisco Systems is also one of the chief business VoIP providers. Asterisk software is a complete PBX system that runs in BSD, Linux, OS X, and Windows. Meanwhile, Packet8 presents a hosted PBX system both for businesses and residential packages. Alcatel offers communication solutions to enterprises, Internet service providers, and telecommunication carriers for the delivery of video, data, and voice applications to their employees or customers. Siemens provides its clients services such as data, image and voice, through DSL broadband. On the other hand, Nortell transports carrier-grade telephony, multimedia and data services in packet networks.
Residential Providers
Among the residential VoIP service providers, Vonage is currently taking the lead in the industry. Packet8 offers it customers unlimited residential calls for a fixed monthly charge and unlimited phone calls within Canada and the US. Standard presents features such as Caller ID, Voicemail, Call Transfer, Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, Speed Dialing and 3 Way Calling. Lingo offers an economical monthly plan with unlimited calls to Canada, the US, and 17 other countries in Western Europe.
Cable Providers
With additional 10,000 clients every day, Time Warner is probably the most renowned among the cable VoIP providers. Also, Cablevision is marking its name in the cable VoIP market as it enrolls 1,000 new subscribers daily in its program. Meanwhile, Cox Communications, one of the nation’s giant telecommunications company, has now become a VoIP cable provider from being a standard cable phone service provider.
Satellite Providers
Net2Phone and Hughes Electronics have combined efforts to put up satellite VoIP services. Vonage and Skyframes have also worked together to offer the same type of service. Multiemedia is presently providing service in Asia-Pacific region, Australia, and the Middle East.