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AOL to Enter the VoIP Ring

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the everyone-else-was-doing-it dept.

FiveDollarYoBet writes "Looks like AOL is entering the VOIP racket. The service is free but it's really a Skype clone with a copper local number. They're also going to offer an unlimited version for $14.95 a month but you have to make the calls from your computer. It'll be interesting to see if it's more of a IM live chat or a true VoIP. The article also outlines their plans to take on MySpace in the near future."

2 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Ya! by zakezuke · · Score: 4, Interesting

    > And once again AOL offers us another paid service any person can spend 15 minutes learning
    > to get absolutely free and legal! Pity time and warner.

    According to TFA you get an inbound phone number with this sucker, for free. That's kind-of spiffy, that's almost worth running AIM. Think about it, your stuck at an airport abroad but you have your laptop and WiFI. You need to contact your non-technical person so you hit the website and msg their mobile, and boom "you've got a phone call".

    Now color me ignorant, but show me another service that would permit free incomming calls without a monthly fee.

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  2. Re:Ya! by Fred_A · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What's odd is that their current offer in France is an ADSL modem with an (optionally) included voip handset meant to replace your regular phone.

    Why don't they do the same in the US ?

    In France having a lot of stuff included is the norm for ADSL offerings and I know the US lags a bit because of the low population density, but adding a handset to a modem isn't that hard. Or do they target dialup users ?

    And for 6.90€ extra, you can change the colour of the modem! Yay!

    The ISP that typically sets the trend for bundling gadgets here is "Free". Currently their ADSL2+ offering comes with a kit consisting of the ADSL2+ modem with 1 USB port, 5 Ethernet ports, a WiFi Mimo interface, a phone interface. Then there is the multimedia hub with the TV tuners (including HD), a terrestrial digital tuner, a number of connectors (SCART, etc, including HDMI, S/P DIF), WiFi link to the ADSL modem and a remote. All of this is actually Linux based ;)
    You can also stream your computer's content to your TV on your LAN through VLC via the multimedia hub.

    The kit comes with the TV (through ADSL in a VLC like stream), free phone and ADSL2+ for 30€ per month.

    Why anybody would pick AOL over something like that is beyond me...

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