Phone.com Comparison and Review

Phone.com Review

Pros:

Low monthly fee
30-day free trial
Unlimited local minutes provided
Unlimited toll-free minutes provided
Free (800) toll-free number
International numbers available
Free vanity numbers
Free to port existing number into service
Voicemail to text transcription
24/7 Phone support
Mobile applications available for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry

Cons:

At the time of the most recent review, there were no notable cons

Conclusion:

Phone.com provides an excellent value for one of the highest quality services we’ve reviewed. At $23.99 per unlimited minute extension per month, Phone.com provides some of the cheapest pricing for unlimited calling in the business VoIP market. The company does, however, charge a base fee of $9.99 per month (first month after the trial is free), which includes 100 metered minutes. This can be used for anything, but it makes sense for a confernece room phone or other non-call heavy line. Additionally, Phone.com provides (800) area code toll-free numbers and vanity numbers for free with your account, going above and beyond many providers. It also provides at no extra cost features such as conference calling, Internet faxing, and mobile applications.

Pricing

Phone.com charges a base rate of $9.99 for each customer, which includes 100 shared minutes and charges one flat fee of $23.99 for each unlimited minute extension you need. Customers that don't need unlimited minute extensions or want to save money through metered billing can also use pay-as-you-go minutes starting at 3.9 cents per minute. This service allows you to purchase as many lines as you need, all with unlimited minutes for calls made from these lines and their extensions. Phone.com provides virtual extensions with each plan that allow you to forward and receive calls within your system to phone lines serviced by other providers, such as your cell phone, home landline, or Internet-based soft phone. There is no start-up fee for the Unlimited User plan and Phone.com even offers a 30-day free trial for users to try out its service before paying a cent. They also are currently offering waiving the $9.99 first month base fee after the free trial.

Online Features

The online interface is a vital part of any Business VoIP system. By signing into the interface, you can create and maintain your phone system, as well as view past calls, listen to voice messages, and much more. Phone.com has a high quality online interface and a setup wizard to walk you through the activation process. Phone.com includes call logs of past calls that can be sorted, filtered, and saved for up to 12 months. You can also download recorded calls and send voicemails as emails. In addition, Phone.com has a voicemail-to-text transcription service available for $1.50 per month for automated transcriptions or $0.25 each for human transcription.

Phone Numbers

Phone.com has local numbers in all 50 states as well as Washington, D.C. If you’d like a toll-free number, you can get a true 800 number, vanity number or 855, 866, 877, or 888 number for free. Phone.com has international numbers available for an additional $4.88 to $12.88 per month depending on the country. You can also get a vanity number or port in an existing number you already own for free.

Technological Requirements

Phone.com requires a high-speed Internet connection to provide Business VoIP service. It requires at least 80 Kbps of bandwidth per concurrent call. Modern cable service provides generally provide at least 1000 Kbps of bandwidth, so most cable or T-1 internet users will not require any service upgrade with Phone.com usage. The service will not work with a dial-up connection.

Technological Accessories

Phone.com provides an IP enabled phone from Cisco at no charge. Phones with additional features such as HD Voice and multiple line support are also available starting at $99.95. When ordered in conjunction with your service, Phone.com’s phones come preconfigured for your account. Phone.com also provides softphones that you can download and use with their service. A softphone is computer software that acts as a phone with the use of a microphone and speakers (or a headset). Phone.com also provides free Analog Telephone Adapters (ATAs) that connect standard telephones to IP-based data networks, although such a system is generally of poor quality.

Conference Calling, Internet Faxing, and Mobile Apps

Conference calling and Internet faxing are extra services often built into Business VoIP systems. Phone.com includes conference calling with up to 500 people on a call. However, the conference call "bridge" number is not one you get to choose, as it comes with its own pre-determined area code. This service also allows you to both send and receive Internet faxes. You can store an unlimited number of faxes with either of Phone.com’s Business VoIP plans. These plans also include mobile apps that work with iPhones, Android, and Blackberry devices. With its mobile app, you can make calls, listen to or read voicemails, view faxes, check call histories, send SMS messages, and even block certain callers.

Customer Service

Phone.com’s phone support is available 24/7, which meets our Market Standard. Phone.com also has email support, forums, FAQs, and tutorials. Its customer support is located in the US and of high quality. Phone.com has redundant servers to ensure minimum service interruption in case one goes offline.

Let Us Hear Your Feedback

Phone.com's Pricing
Reviewed Plan	Unlimited User
Monthly Fee 1 line	$23.99
Monthly Fee 5 lines (per line)	$23.99
Monthly Fee 10 lines (per line)	$21.99
Monthly Fee (per line)	$23.99 (1-5 lines)
Monthly Fee (per line)	$19.99 (20+ lines)
Included Minutes	Unlimited
Activation Fee	Free
Free Trial Period	30 days
Extra Fees	Yes
Contract Required	No
Basic IP Phone Cost	$99.95
Phone.com's Numbers
Local Phone Numbers	Free
Toll Free 855, 866, 877, 888 Numbers	Free
Toll Free 800 Numbers	Free
Vanity Numbers	Free
International Phone Numbers	$4.88-$12.88/mo
Port Existing Number Into Service	Free
Phone.com's Features
Voicemail	Yes
Voicemail by Email	Yes
Internet Fax	Send and Receive
Set Call Handling Rules	Yes
Set Call Handling Rules	Yes
ACD Queues	No
Dial-By-Name Directories	Yes
Conference Calls	Yes
Auto-Attendant	Yes
Softphone Provided	Yes
Mobile App	iPhone, Android, Blackberry
HD Voice	Yes
Phone.com's Customer Service
Phone Support	24/7
Country of Phone Support	USA
Customer Service Quality	High
Server Redundancies	Yes

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