is there such thing as HIGH QUALITY VOIP service?
 

I want to get away from the expensive landlines I'm currently using, but I can't find a GOOD sounding VOIP service.

I'm trying out Nextiva right now, and it's decent... but I'm still getting mixed reviews from the people I talk to. Some hear a slight lag, some hear a faint echo.

Talk to me, GFY. Give me your thoughts.

I've been using Packet 8 for about 4 years. Service has always been good but I think the biggest factor is your Internet connection.

Double post

No way in hell would I rely on VOIP for phone service. The old, "you get what you pay for" comes to mind.

VoIP is a great concept, but isn't going to be nearly as reliable as an old school PSTN connection. The reason for this is that as soon as the VoIP call leaves your LAN, you no longer have control over it. On your LAN, you can use VLANs or QoS to ensure high voice quality, but you have no control over the routers/switches/etc. that your call passes through out in the open Internet.

If you do want to go with VoIP, there are a few things you can do to make everything work better together:

1. Use a SOHO router with QoS...there are many new models with all the bells and whistles for under $150 bucks.

2. Have a solid Internet connection - VoIP calls take 80Kbps UP and DOWN...make sure you have enough to cover however many concurrent calls you need to have at any given time.

3. Some providers I like: bandwidth.com, voicepulse.com, teliax.com

4. For a business, your most reliable setup is going to be a trixbox Pro system with PSTN connectivity. I set these up for a living...if anyone is interested, PM me and I'll fill your head with a ton of info.

-Schw00d

I'd love to PM you, but you can't PM on this board.

my email is wolfyman-at-gmail-.-com

I just got Comcast here in Northern California. I'm not sure if this is considered a true VOIP, but it is working great, as good or better then AT&T. I've also used Skype. Skype isn't quite as good, but it's cheap as hell to use when I'm in Thailand.

Aptela is great.

If you have cablevision, Optimum Voice fucking rocks. My only complaint is no call waiting caller id. Aside from that it beats a regular landline every way I can think of.