14 DAY TRIAL // Although a few months ago, rumors had it that Google wanted to enter the market of Voice Over IP communication solutions, now, another important player enters the scene. America Online launched yesterday a VoIP solution in over 40 areas from United States and the solution will be extended in other zones too.
AOL partnered with Level 3 Communications to administer the VoIP infrastructure, allied with Sonus Networks to develop the VoIP application and with Linksys and NETGEAR for the necessary hardware components.
AOL members are not the only ones that can use this service; for the Local Plan, which offers unlimited local calls and international calls with 0.04 USD per minute, the price is 18.99 USD, for the Unlimited Calling Plan, which offers unlimited local calls but also unlimited long distance calls (United States and Canada), the price is 29.99 USD. Last but not least, the Global Calling Plan, which offers conditions similar to the Unlimited Calling Plan: unlimited local calls and unlimited long distance calls (United States and Canada), also provides connection to international networks for "very small prices" which are not specified.
The service, which offers a reliable alternative to classic phones (unchanged for a century), transforms all voice calls into data packages that are transmitted online. The majority of VoIP solution suppliers also offers additional services which are not provided by classic fixed or mobile telephony companies. To benefit from these communication services, the user must have a broadband connection and a router. The router is connected to an adaptor which is plugged in a regular phone line jack.
AOL also tries to promote this service through the fast dial function of the emergency number 911. This function instantaneously transmits the IP address to the operator who takes the call. This solution will be included in the VoIP offer, not separately as in Vonage's case.