AIM Phoneline and Skype 2.5 Review and Comparison by PCWorld
AIM Phoneline and Skype are both software-based Internet VoIP phone services. In AIM Phoneline which used together with AIM instant messaging Triton IM client, users are given a local phone number called AIM Digits for free, and the AIM Digits allows anybody to call the Phoneline users from any landline, mobile or public phone. AIM Phoneline Digits also allows users to screen calls, answer the calls you want, and talk as long as you’d like for free. When you’re not online, the calls will go to voicemail and are delivered to your e-mail. For $9.95/month in Unlimited plan, users can make unlimited outgoing calls to any phones in US, Canada, and some international countries.
Skype 2.5 is the latest version of the popular peer-to-peer voice service. Skype is also a software-based VoIP service, but its free calls are limited to PC-to-PC phone calls, and the receiving party must also has Skype installed and be online. With SkypeOut, Skype users can call landlines and mobiles phone all over the world for a small charge based on usage (US users can now call fixed line phones in North America for free), while SkypeInSkypeIn gives you a real phone number which your friends can call you in Skype, literally. When you’re busy of offline, Skype Voicemail will takes the messages from the callers.
PCWorld gives good rating of 79 to AIM Phoneline and concludes that it’s a good deal for AIM users who intend to make tons of calls (domestic and international) from their PC. For Skype, PCWorld writes that it’s worth the upgrade if you’d find the incremental enhancements useful; great for Skype users who need voice chat rooms for very big groups.
After comparing AIM Phoneline and Skype 2.5, PCWorld says that either AIM or Skype is a good place to start. If you’re a fan of AOL’s instant messenger, then you might want to download the new service and give it a try. If you have friends and family that are already using Skype, then it’s certainly worth a try, too. Before you opt for either service’s pay-based plans, you should use the free services first, to judge call quality for yourself.
However, in PCWorld’s tests on AIM Phoneline and Skype 2.5, PCWorld found that Skype has more-usable service, offering better overall call quality, fewer dropped calls, and no annoying advertising.
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Entries (RSS)
September 15th, 2007 08:32
AIM Phoneline is the WORST type of telephony service you could get. They are a NIGHTMARE. Do NOT do business with AOL when it comes to telephony. Their programmers and customer service people are based in the Philippines, however, although they speak English, none of them know what the Hell they are doing. Twice they have cancelled my number due to errors on their part and once that number has a block on it or is deactivated, you CANNOT get it back. I have talked in ONE DAY to over 17 Customer Service Reps who kept referring me to 2 separate numbers for help. When I call one number, that person says they are not the one to handle that problem and instead refer you to the other number. When you get to the other number, the same thing happens, like a dog chasing his tails. The company just DOESN’T GIVE A DAMN.
March 2nd, 2007 14:59
[...] which was first launched in 1998. However, it’s soon overtaken by competitor products such as Skype which is immensely popular. Still popular especially in Asia, MediaRing Talk is an effort to regain [...]