IMO, there are only two (non-PC) VOIP choices that provide the best value when it comes to calling India. Based on my experience, here’s how these two choices compare. Of course, there are also VOIP companies like Vonage/ Net2Phone/BroadVoice that provide calling to any US/Canada phone number, and require a recurring monthly fee.
I’ve setup up a Philips/Skype Cordless phone for my folks in India. We’ve been using it for the past few months & we are very happy with the voice quality (requires no PC & no monthly fees).
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. | | Philips/Skype Phone (or a similar device) | GrandStream 496 ATA with GizmoProject/GrandCentral (or a similar SIP device) |
. | Initial Cost | Upfront cost of approximately $99/per device |
Upfront cost of approximately $40 for the device + additional cost for a phone that needs to be connected to it. Other SIP devices are available, starting at about $25 |
. | Ease of Setup | Extremely easy to configure & Setup (my non-techie mom-in-law was able to configure/setup this phone with limited instructions from my side) | Configuration of the device for the very first-time was hard, even for me -- mostly because I could not find much instructions on the internet. Even after the initial setup, I had many problems (I could hear the other side, but they couldn't hear me, etc). I had to find someone who had done it before to get it to work. But, once you know the instructions to setup, it's a ereasonably asy process for a techie person. Would not recommend a non-techie person to configure/setup the device. |
. | PC required? | No | No |
. | Voice Quality | Excellent; as good as Reliance | Not bad at all -- sounds like an OK cell-phone call |
. | Calling users with a similar device/software | Free calls to any Skype user (either on the SkypePhone, PC or a Windows Mobile phone) | Free calls to any user of a SIP client (eg: GizmoProject) |
. | Cost of calling a US phone number | approx 2 cents/minute + a conection fee of 3 cents for each call | approx 2 cents/minute (no connection fee) |
. | Cost of receiving calls from any US phone number
| approximately $3/month (you can also get non-US phone numbers) | Free (with a GrandCentral account). You can't get non-US phone numbers |
. | Input Voltage | 110v | 110v/220v |
. | Ease of use | Very simple to use (if someone can use a simple cell phone, they can use this device) | As easy as the phone that you connect to it |
. | Ubiquity of the software | Most of my friends/family members are already on Skype | Gizmo what Project? |
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Visibility of "Online Status" | Online status of other Skype users can be viewed on the LCD screen (very similar to the Skype buddy list) | No online status is provided |
. | Long term viability | If Skype goes out of business, this phone can only be used as a regular cordless phone | If one of the SIP providers (Eg: Gizmo Project) shus down, you can configure the device to work with another SIP provider |
. | Experience for my folks in India | Working fine even after many months of usage |
The configured device that I sent to India did not work when they set it up. Since I didn't have a techie person to debug the issue, I gave up. I know a couple other people who haven't run into this issue. |
. | Support for open protocols | Skype uses a propeitary protocol | SIP devices use the open SIP protocol |
. | Other comments | This phone seems ready for use by a general consumer; the phone looks/feels good | Questionable based on my experience (but I assume that it's mostly my experience). Initial configuration requires a techie |
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. | Links for more info | http://www.amazon.com/Philips-VOIP841-PC-Free-Wireless-Phone/dp/B000ND75FW | http://www.grandstream.com/ht496.html |
. | | http://www.skype.com/ | http://gizmo5.com/pc/ |
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