Slate - Bon Vonage, Baby Bells
You simply plug the same phone you have now into a little adapter box that connects to your DSL or cable modem (OK, through a router and then to your modem), and you get a dial tone. That's it. There are no special phones to use, no talking through a PC using a microphone, no weird lag time or decrease in call quality. Technically, you don't even need a computer to use VonageÛall you need is a broadband connection. And you can even keep your phone number.
Although it is not supported in the Vonage terms and conditions, my plan is to sign up with Vonage, get a 212-area code number, bring it to Tokyo and have it ring there as a local NYC number. How cool is that!
I have been a vonage customer for about a year now; I travel to London a lot and I take my vonage phone with me itÌs great. I love being able to place/receive calls on my US phone wile on other countries has saved me a lot of money.