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Packet8 VOIP gateway offers superb video and audio quality over a high-speed broadband connection, another player in the VoIP gateway market. This service provides a phone having a 4-by-3-inch screen and user needs to have about 256 Kbps of bi-directional bandwidth for the best quality.

User is charged one-time activation fees of $29.95 but after paying this you have the option of choosing pretty much any area code you want. You can even use local number portability to switch your current phone number over to Packet8 service. The VOIP gateway service includes conference calls, call waiting, call forwarding, voice mail, and of course, video service. The Packet8 phone service uses advanced compression technology from 8x8 that is based on G.729, international voice compression standard. Many factors associated with your broadband connection including delay, packet loss and bandwidth can affect audio quality. Generally, the best results are obtained with upstream and downstream bandwidths of greater than 64 kb/s in both directions. Telephone service can be obtained below 64 kb/s but audio quality may be adversely affected. Each active voice line uses approximately 23 kilobits/second of total data throughput, upstream and downstream.

This VOIP gateway provides quite good voice quality as compared to other VoIP players and that can be enhanced if you use an external desktop microphone, especially in a conference room. The main drawbacks of VoIP service are removed in this service but yes you need to shell out some extra money for availing this service. The normal functioning of the VOIP gateway is implemented the same way as done by others, it enhances the service by using the Digital Telephone Adapter (DTA, a box to plug regular phones into your router), and then, you have a phone from which you not only can make calls but also gets a regular number on which other people might contact you. The DTA-310 has one phone jack that can support up to three phones. You could buy a multiple analog jack extension connector and plug it into the DTA-310 phone jack. This connector would allow you to use up to three phones on a single Packet8 line. Call quality is consistently clear, rivaling that of front-runner Vonage. And as it is with most of the VOIP gateways, however, if your Internet connection goes down or the power goes out, you lose the use of your phone, which isn't the case with a POTS line. Basically VoIP is the service that not restricts you to calling to people having computers or ordinary phones; this technology works equally fine with both of them.

Packet 8 provides service plans for heavy users and have also customized their plans for personal use, like the $19.95 monthly rate for unlimited U.S./Canada long-distance calls with unlimited connections to PSTN phones; this fee is lower than that of Vonage's similar plan by a considerable amount. Besides residential plans, Packet8 offers plans tailored to businesses, videophone service plans, and flat-rate plans for callers to Europe and Asia. Packet8 also offers four flat-rate monthly packages, ranging from $39.95 to $79.95 per month, for unlimited calling to Europe, Asia, or the Philippines. These monthly plans are a blessing for frequent overseas callers. Regardless of the plan you choose, you'll get features that include voicemail, call waiting, caller ID, three-way calling, call forwarding, and a choice of area codes within the large Packet8 coverage area (only Alaska, Iowa, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont are not yet included).

Like other Internet telephony services, this also requires the usage of broadband Internet connection such as cable or DSL. If you have acquired it, then be assured of setting up Packet8 as it is simple: you just need to plug the phone adapter into your network router, and you're ready to go. User can keep a check on the account usage through a Web-based interface, through which common functions of changing your personal information, upgrading your rate plan, viewing your activity, forwarding calls, changing your voicemail password and the answering speed, and disabling or enabling international calling can easily be performed.

When you subscribe to Packet8 VOIP gateway, you get a test and try period of 30 days, and if because of any reason you choose to discontinue your service within this time, you will not have to pay a disconnect fee, but if you discontinue service after the 30 day trial period, but prior to completing 12 months of service, you will be liable for paying a $59.00 disconnect fee. Shipping and handling charges paid are not refundable. You will be responsible for any international (calls to non-Packet8 telephone numbers outside the United States and Canada) per-minute charges incurred during the 30-day period.

Packet8 provides a 24*7 support both by phone 888 898 8733 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it respectively. Also it provides a large selection of FAQs, covering topics that range from virtual-office components to operating instructions, troubleshooting tips, installation procedures, and details about features.

Billing is online here as well, and it saves your last 3 months of bills (including your current month's bill updated in real time) online on it's website. Your online bill has the same level of detail (call logs, information on how each call was billed, etc.) as a cell phone bill.

Unfortunately, Packet8 does not support virtual numbers as yet, neither does it support fax services or 911 calling, but it is anticipated that these features will be soon incorporated. The Web interface needs to be reworked a bit, because information is deep buried in the site and as does not support 911 calling so it can't replace a standard phone. Still, with its minimal rates; exceptional geographical coverage; and efficient, error-free call quality, this VOIP gateway has bounty to present if your prime goal is to lessen your monthly phone bill.