Recent events in Canada have made a VoIP phone service an attractive option. The CRTC has ruled that the large local phone companies like Bell and Telus would not be allowed to price their VoIP services below cost to stifle competition. Their smaller rivals like Vonage, Primus, Yak and the cable companies will be allowed to offer unregulated VoIP phone service to foster competition. Naturally, the big phone companies are not happy with the CRTC decision.
Vonage Canada also recently announced local number portability that would allow most customers to keep their old phone number. Over the last few years, VoIP quality has vastly improved (We have VoIP phones at our office).
While VoIP offers a lot of unique features for customers at a lower price, I have decided against it for now for the following reasons:
- Our phone service from Bell Canada costs $22.13 per month (our long-distance bill to Canada and US averages less than $5). The service that would best suit us from Vonage would cost me $39.99.
- VoIP quality is extremely good but I am concerned about reliability. VoIP phone service relies on VoIP service, high-speed Internet and power service working. I haven’t had a phone outage in 6 years (including the power black-out of 2003). I am not sure if VoIP is that reliable.
- Dialling 911 seems to be a complicated affair.
Despite my frustration with Bell Canada, I will be keeping their local phone service till the issues surrounding VoIP becomes a little bit clearer.
