Packet8 Review

The following Packet8 review covers their current plans, pricing, and features. I also provide an editorial review of their residential service plan.

Packet 8 is one of the most popular and reputable VoIP providers. Their plans are listed under three categories: Residential, International and Business.

Residential Plans

Consumers can now enjoy unlimited local and long distance calling by adding Packet 8 Broadband Phone Service (VoIP) to their high-speed Internet connections. There are several residential plans from which to choose, starting with Freedom Unlimited.

Freedom Unlimited: This plan costs $19.99 per month and offers unlimited local and long-distance calling in the United States and Canada.

Freedom Unlimited: For callers outside the United States, the Freedom International plan also costs $19.99 per month and provides a number in a U.S. area code and 1,000 minutes to U.S. and Canadian numbers. Each plan includes a $29.99 activation fee.

Freedom Unlimited Video Phone: Residential subscribers who want to add pictures to their words, they can subscribe to the Freedom Unlimited Videophone plan. Using Packet8 Videophones and video and voice over Internet protocol technology, allows consumers unlimited time to see and hear loved ones worldwide for a mere $19.99 (US) per month. The Videophone cost is $149.99.

Whole House VoIP Solution: The Uniden Whole House VoIP Phone System (UIP1868P) is an easy to install cordless phone. It comes with one handset and is expandable up to ten cordless handsets. The phone sells at a discount price of $79.99. For details click here.

All residential plans normally include a $29.99 activation fee.

Freedom Unlimited Global: Includes unlimited calling in the US and Canada as well as the following international locales (non-mobile and non-premium): Europe, Asia, Latin America and Israel. International rates apply to all other locales. Monthly service is $49.99. A one time $29.99 activation fee applies.

Freedom International: For consumers who live outside the U.S., the Freedom International plan allows you to have a U.S. phone number and make up to 1000 minutes of calling to U.S. and Canadian phone numbers for just $19.99 (US) per month. There is a one time equipment cost of $39.99 and activation of $29.99.

Business Plans

Virtual Office: This plan is a Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX service, small business phone system alternative that allows small to medium-sized businesses (SMB) anywhere in the world to employ an unlimited number of extension options and enjoy geographic independence and flexibility. Click here for details on the Packet8 Virtual Office.

Business 2000: A business class telephone service including 2000 business calling minutes/month in the US and Canada. Very good international rates. Business phone features including voice mail. Caller ID, call waiting and many more.

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Features & Services

Features:

Packet8 offers many basic features like voicemail, Caller ID, call forwarding, etc. Packet 8 recently released several new features that are available with their residential service. Some of these new features are,
• Voicemail to email notification. Where voicemail wav files can be forwarded to any email address.
• Follow-me - Find-me; This is a combined hunting and multi-ringing function that allows you to enter up to five phone numbers to ring in sequence. If there is no answer, the call can then be guided to your voicemail box.
• Simultaneous Ringing on multiple phone numbers: The Simultaneous Ring feature will allow multiple phone lines to ring at the same time, including standard PSTN numbers. With this feature, you will never miss a call.

TOLL FREE SERVICE PLAN

Packet8 offers an inexpensive way to have toll-free number service for your business or for your personal use. We offer toll-free number service with our unlimited calling plans that provide your callers the ability to phone you for no charge regardless of their location inside the US or your location worldwide. Packet 8's toll free service costs a fraction of what traditional telephone service providers charge. Their toll free service plan offers you a flat monthly fee that includes 100 minutes of inbound toll-free calls and an industry low 4.5 cents a minute thereafter for inbound calls.

DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE

With Packet8 you can now call 411 to connect to the National Directory Assistance and Reverse Directory Assistance public operators enabling you to check telephone numbers, addresses and reverse look up services across the nation. There is a $.75 per call fee that will be charged for the service and all you will have to do is call 411 for local or national directory assistance. Cost: $0.75 per call.

Enhanced 911

Packet8 VoIP service is among the best value service available. VoIPNet and BroadVoice also offer comparable plans at this price level. Packet8 also offers Enhanced 911 (E911) emergency response. This is the same type of 911 service you get with a traditional landline phone. The E911 provides that an emergency operator will receive caller information on his or her screen when you call.

Enhanced 911 service cost an additional $1.99 per month but Packet8 is in the process of offering this service as part of their standard service.

Customer Service:

If you read the customer review about Packet8's customer service they are far from being positive and there appears to be a lot of room for improvement. From my review noted below I had a positive experience when I spoke to their customer service rep.

You can reach their service and technical group via email or phone. Their customer service is available from 5:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. PDT Monday through Saturday. Their technical support is available from 5:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. PDT Monday through Saturday.

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Packet8 Review:

I have been a Packet8 subscriber for about five months using the Freedom Unlimited calling plan. I received the adapter within a week after signing-up on line. Installation was as simple as plugging in the adapter and entering the activation code that was provided.

My Internet connection was a Comcast residential service. My router was a D-Link DI-524 wireless router. Approximate Connection speed was 1803 Kbps download and 357 Kbps upload.

The quality of the calls for the most part has been equal to a regular landline phone. I have had several dropped calls during the past five months and they were mainly during peak time (early evening & late morning). There were also a few calls where the caller could hear me but I could not hear them.

My experience with customer service was positive when I called them regarding questions that I had using the VoIP features. They were readily available via the phone and knowledgeable enough to answer my questions.

Generally my experience with Packet8's VoIP service has been quite good. Like many VoIP services the quality of the calls is often related to the broadband connection or other factors not necessarily controlled by VoIP provider Packet8.

Therefore, if having a few quality issues from time to time is acceptable to you than paying $20 a month for a phone line with unlimited local and long distance plus an array of features is an excellent choice. The VoIP technology and quality will only get better in the future.

Ken Swift
Hosted-Voice-Solutions.com


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