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Zoom GlobalVillage Voip solution is dedicated in cutting the communication costs by mediating the telephonic conversion over Internet, is different from the other VoIP players in the sense that contrasting most Voice over IP (VoIP) services available in the market, Zoom's Global Village lets you shell out money as you use like for 2.9 cents per minute in the United States and Canada as an choice to the typical monthly unlimited-minutes plan.

Once registered with Zoom, you will be shipped with a telephone adapter, for which the user is charged activation fees of around $30. Generally telephone adapter provided by the VoIP service provider's lets you connect a regular telephone to your broadband connection so that you can make and receive calls over the Internet. But unlike other providers Zoom uses its own device, the ZoomTel ADSL X5v, which combines a DSL modem, a four-port router, a firewall, and a VoIP phone adapter. This is undoubtedly a luring factor for those who doesn't have a home network installed as just one device--instead of linking a router to a phone adapter and the adapter to your broadband modem--is pretty convenient. It is comprehended that Zoom will introduce a similar device for cable subscribers later this year.

If opting for Zoom Voip solution you are charged one-time fees of $99 for the hardware to get started, which is certainly a snag because $99 is not a small amount. Zoom device carries out the functions of a DSL modem, a router, a firewall, and a VoIP phone adapter. Apart from the initial investments Global Village doesn't offer supports emergency 911 calling rather suggests that you keep your current local service for such calls. Business-centric features of faxing aren't offered either. Zoom is worth considering if you are a residential DSL subscriber in need of a (wired) router and a modem, where you have the flexibility of paying by minute or by month. But business users certainly should look for other options available in the market like Vonage or Lingo, which have more definitely features and doesn't actually cost much.

Zoom insures the hardware both the phone adapter and router for two years. Customer support is provided in the form of links to questions & answers on the web site, email support is also there which delivers information, which is relevant and concise. Phone support is given through a toll call number and is available from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Saturday. Zoom values customer care and are quick in responding to the user queries.

Zoom GlobalVillage Voip solution offers monthly unlimited-minutes plan at a competitive $24.95 per month. Lets you choose between a pay-as-you-go and an unlimited-minutes plan; single device combines DSL modem, router, firewall, and VoIP phone adapter; competitive per-minute long-distance rates; strong hardware support. It is a viable option for those whose long-distance bills are on the higher side as Zoom provides an inexpensive alternative to your current long-distance service. Zoom Global Village Unlimited U.S. plan provides unlimited calling to anywhere in the United States or Canada for $24.95 a month.

Calls to other countries in the global village incur low per-minute charges similar to those of other VoIP services. As calls to Japan cost 3.9 cents per minute, to China, 9.9 cents (except 5.9 cents to Beijing), and to Sweden, 5.9 cents. The good side is that unlike Lingo, Global Village lets you connect to mobile phones as well, but here the cost is much steeper: 17.9 cents per minute to Japan and 24.9 cents to Sweden, for example. Calls to mobile numbers in China, however, cost the same as regular calls. And calls between Global Village subscribers are free. If you opt for the Choice plan, to receive calls you'll need to keep your regular phone service or pay $3.95 a month for a Global Village number. Zoom maintains a searchable online directory of Global Village subscribers. For standard 411 service, however, you once again need to use your POTS line.

Though Global Village provides you with the choice of area codes but is not compatible with your existing traditional phone, as Vonage can. Global Village currently offers numbers in 39 states and works with only DSL connections not with broadband connections; in this it differs from other VoIP providers, as they work fine with both DSL and broadband connections. Most DSL subscribers get data and voice services and can't cancel the voice without canceling the service entirely. So unless you're one of the very few with naked DSL (data without voice), you'll likely be stuck paying for your current local phone service.

One feature that you will not find in every VoIP provider is that Global Village it allows you to set up a virtual room for conference calls with four other people; a four-digit PIN controls access to the room. Also it allows you forwarding incoming calls to up to three numbers or sends them directly to voicemail. Additionally, the service can send an e-mail notification when a voicemail arrives or send the voicemail itself as an e-mail attachment.

Some stumbling blocks are that it presently offers only two plans; must purchase combo hardware device; no option (yet) for cable subscribers; no local-number portability; and has limited feature set. Certainly Zoom GlobalVillage is lagging behind other potential competitors as it doesn't support blocking Caller ID for all calls, then activate it only for the current call; nor can you have calls from a specific phone number, time, or date trigger a distinctive ring as an alert. Similarly, you can forward your calls if the phone is busy or you don't answer, but you can't choose to forward only certain callers. And other business-centric features of faxing and the controls for filtering calls and conferencing aren't as extensive as those for services such as concurrently ringing multiple lines.