|
Service Name
|
Endpoints
|
Features
|
Price
|
Estimated Users
|
| AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) |
Client software (Windows, Mac, Linux) |
Computer-to-computer voice and IM within the same network; testing video chat |
Free |
53 million monthly users (ComScore) |
| AOL Internet Phone Service |
Regular phone via cable/DSL adapter, PC client software |
Incoming and outgoing PSTN, related services |
$30/month plus $10/month AOL subscription (does not include broadband access) |
Unknown but probably few—introduced in Apr. 2005 |
| AT&T CallVantage |
Regular phone via cable/DSL adapter |
Incoming and outgoing PSTN, related services |
$20 to $50/month plus per-minute charges for outgoing calls |
53,000 at end of 2004 |
| Cablevision Optimum Voice |
Regular phone via cable modem |
Incoming and outgoing PSTN, related services |
$35/month plus broadband access fees; per-minute charges for outgoing international calls |
478,000 (Kinetic Strategies) |
| Google Talk |
Client software (Windows only; clients for other OSs provided by third parties) |
PC-to-PC voice and IM; network is based on open standards, allowing other clients to connect |
Free |
Unknown, but probably few—launched in Aug. 2005 |
| MSN Messenger |
Client software (Windows only) |
PC-to-PC voice, video chat, and IM within the same network; incoming and/or outgoing PSTN likely by end of 2005 |
Free (although PSTN functionality might cost extra) |
23 million monthly users (ComScore) |
| Packet8 |
Regular phone or Packet8 video phone via cable/DSL adapter |
Incoming and outgoing PSTN, video calls, hosted PBX |
$20 to $50/month, some plans add per-minute charges for outgoing calls |
90,000 |
| Primus Lingo |
Regular phone via hardware adapter (cable or DSL) |
Incoming and outgoing PSTN, related services |
$15 to $100/month; some plans add per-minute charges for outgoing calls |
70,000 |
| Skype |
Client software (Windows, Mac, Linux, Pocket PC) |
Computer-to-computer within same network; instant messaging (IM); outgoing PSTN; incoming PSTN (beta); voice mail |
Basic service free; incoming PSTN €30/year; voice mail €15/year; per-minute charges for outgoing PSTN |
54 million free monthly users, 1.8 million subscribers |
| Teleo |
Client software (Windows) |
PC-to-PC within same network; incoming and outgoing PSTN; integration with IE, Outlook |
US$3 to $5/month; per-minute charges for outgoing PSTN |
None—beta ran from Mar. 2005 to June 2005 |
| Time Warner Cable Digital Phone |
Regular phone via cable modem |
Incoming and outgoing PSTN, related services |
$40/month plus broadband access fees; per-minute charges for outgoing international calls |
614,000 (Kinetic Strategies) |
| Vonage |
Regular phone via cable/DSL adapter, PC client software optional |
Incoming and outgoing PSTN, related services (e.g., voicemail, caller ID, three-way calling) |
$15 to $50/month |
800,000 |
| Yahoo Messenger |
Client software (Windows, Mac, Linux, FreeBSD) |
Computer-to-computer voice and IM within the same network |
Free |
22 million monthly users (ComScore) |
