You have read about VoIP and wish to utilize the service either to get free calls to friends also using the service or for full telephony abilities. Either way, what is the current offers from two big VoIP providers? This article will do a comparison of the three VoIP providers to give the reader a starting point of where they may wish to look for a service.

Skype
With Skype calls to other Skype clients are free regardless of location.

However if you wish to make calls to non Skype clients then this is called SkypeOut. Calls can be made to the 20 most popular call destinations for the one SkypeOut global rate. At the time of writing this rate was 1.7 Euro Cents per minute equating to about 2 US cents or 1.1 pence. With SkypeOut there is no line rental and no contract fees.

The SkypeOut global rate includes the following countries:

Argentina (Buenos Aires), Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Canada (mobiles), Chile, China (Beijing, Guanzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen), China (mobiles), Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hong Kong (mobiles), Ireland, Italy, Mexico (Mexico City, Monterrey), Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland (Poland, Gdansk, Warsaw), Portugal, Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg), Singapore, Singapore (mobiles), South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (Taipei), United Kingdom, United States (except Alaska and Hawaii) and United States (mobiles).

It should be noted that unless specifically mentioned, this rate is only applicable to regular landline telephones with mobiles more expensive. However note that Canada, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and United States are listed under the SkypeOut global rate for calling mobiles.

Other destinations are available and it would be advisable to check this rate prior to obtaining credits or calling.

Skype voicemail is available for a fee of 5 Euro for 3 months or 15 Euro for 12 months.

SkypeIn is where you wish to have a conventional phone number so you can be called from conventional phones. The fee for this service is 10 Euro for 3 months and 30 Euro for 12 months. Voicemail is included free if you subscribe to SkypeIn. (source : www.skype.com).

Vonage
Vonage provides local and long distance calling anywhere in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico for the one price with calls to select European countries free with their unlimited plans.

In this article the two lowest fee packages will be examined. Basic 500 This includes 500 minutes for outgoing calls in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico for $14.99 a month. Unlimited minutes for incoming calls and 3.9 cents for each additional minute over 500 outgoing minutes with rates for other destinations.

Premium Unlimited Plan This plan allows for unlimited local and long distance calls anywhere in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and select European countries (some included below).

Included features in both plans are:
- Voicemail Plus
- 3-Way Calling
- Call Waiting
- Call Forwarding
- Caller ID with Name
- 911 Dialing
- Free phone adapter if you sign up directly from Vonage

Current (per minute) rates have been obtained to compare against the SkypeOut destinations:

• Argentina (Buenos Aires) 5411 - $0.05

• Australia 61 - $0.05 (other prefixes may be more expensive)

• Austria 43 - $0.07 (other prefixes may be more expensive)

• Belgium/Brussels 32 & 322 - $0.06 (other prefixes may be more expensive)

• Chile 56 - $0.06 (other prefixes may be more expensive)

• China (Beijing 8610 - $0.06) (Guanzhou 8620 - $0.10) (Shanghai 8621 - $0.10) Denmark 45 - $0.06 (other prefixes may be more expensive)

• Estonia 372 - $0.07 (cellular and premium 3725, 37270 - $0.45)

• France 33 - $0.04 (free on unlimited plans) (other prefixes may be more expensive)

• Germany 49 - $0.04 (other prefixes may be more expensive)

• Greece 30 -$0.07 (other prefixes may be more expensive)

• Hong Kong 852 - $0.04, Hong Kong (mobiles) - $0.04

• Ireland 353 - $0.06 (free on unlimited plan) (other prefixes may be more expensive)

• Italy 39 - $0.04 (free on unlimited plan) (other prefixes may be more expensive)

• Mexico 52 - $0.12 (other prefixes in Mexico may be cheaper)

• Netherlands 31 - $0.06 (other prefixes may be more expensive)

• New Zealand 64 - $0.06 (other prefixes may be more expensive)

• Norway 47 - $0.06 (other prefixes may be more expensive)

• Poland 48 - $0.06 (other prefixes may be same or more expensive)

• Portugal 351 - $0.06 (other prefixes may be same or more expensive)

• Russia - 7, 70-72, 74-78, 734 - $0.12

• Singapore 65 - $0.05, Singapore (mobiles & premium) - 23223, 23230, 23233, 23235, 23240, 23250, 23276-77 - $0.05

• South Korea 82 - $0.06 (other prefixes may be cheaper of more expensive)

• Spain 34 - $0.06 (free on unlimited plan)

• Sweden 46 - $0.06

• Switzerland 41 - $0.06

• Taiwan (Taipei) 886, 8862 - $0.06

• United Kingdom 44 - $0.04 (free on unlimited plan)

• (Source: www.vonage.com)

Whilst all care has been taken, it is advised to confirm all rates and information via each individual VoIP provider.