VoIP

We have been very interested in VoIP for awhile now. Almost to the point where we may start working on our own service. But we're busy enough already and not sure if we want the extra load that a project like this would take. There seems to be VoIP providers popping up all the time. Most seem pretty good but with some differences. We have been looking at three for the most part and actually started beta testing them to see if we could use them for our customers and clients. The first one is Skype. It can be used for both computer to computer talking for free, or recently they started offering pc to phone. We have used pc to pc calls and the quality was great each time. Pc to phone we haven't tried mainly because they do charge you and we're looking for a totally free service. Next is FWD or Free World Dialup. Not much to say here, voice quality is good. And the latest being Stanaphone. STanaphone is interesting, it's new and it allows pc to pc for free, free incoming calls from pstn (regular phone lines) free voice mail via email and free call fowarding. Plus you get a normal phone number with a NY area code. I would imagine more area codes will come soon.
The biggest draw back so far with these program, as far as our needs go is for example, Skype to Skype calls are free, all day, everyday, all over the world. But you can't call say a FWD subscriber. So far these and all VoIP providers are proprietary. Now FWD is what's call SIP based and could call to a few other services, but this will usually cost you and you would have to get what I'll call a gateway service to allow the transfer. (Don't quote me on the terminology). Anyway, so right now we are testing Skype, FWD and Stanaphone and wishing all three could be combined into one somehow.