10. Vonage V-Phone

by Ed Tittel

Whenever wireless networking and voice over IP (VoIP) converge, the following equipment choice must be addressed to enable users to put their network connection to work in placing or receiving phone calls over the Internet: what kind of headset do I use? For those grads or dads with no existing VoIP service contracts nor specific service allegiances, or for those who already use Vonage but who may not be satisfied with their current selections, the Vonage V-Phone can be an attractive and perhaps even compelling offering.

The Vonage V-Phone looks very much like a USB Flash drive (and is even subject to the same vexing "lost cap" issue), until you notice the headphone jack on the left edge of the device body.

In fact, the Vonage V-Phone actually is a Flash drive, at least in part, because it is advertised as coming with supporting Vonage Talk Software pre-loaded, and its "250 MB usable portable memory storage" feature confirms that supposition. But the detachable earbud headphone/microphone combination (much like you'd get with a standard cellphone) lets you know this unit does more than simply store information. This setup makes it a snap to take your V-Phone with you, even if you use multiple notebooks, or for use on both desktop and portable PCs. You'll also get a new and unique Vonage phone number with each V-Phone, to make it easy to place and receive calls. You'll also get Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, and other advanced features as part and parcel of this Vonage phone service offering.

The V-Phone is a standard unpowered USB device, so it needs no batteries. It draws its power from your notebook PC (or any other device into which it's plugged: it will also work quite happily on a desktop PC in the office, in fact). Sound quality is OK, but not superb, mostly thanks to the low-cost headset that Vonage bundles with this unit. You can replace that with any 2.5 mm headset you like, if you want to untether yourself from the V-Phone.

At $40 for this compact unit - monthly service plans cost extra, of course - this is a gift that any dad or grad who travels with a wireless notebook PC can both appreciate and use. With service plans from $15 to $35 a month, this could provide mobile phone service at rates lower than many national cellphone calling plans, too. Check it out on the Vonage V-Phone Web page.