Vonage is a well known, low cost VoIP provider. You can read a little more about VoIP here. I have been using them for more than a year and find the service to be very good. It has saved me quite a bit of money on long distance (its free!) and has cheap rates internationally.
Recently the company hit a bit of trouble when Verizon claimed that Vonage was infringing on their patents. Verizon won in court. However Vonage is appealing (of course) and there is a stay on enforcing the patents for the time being. Today Vonage revealed that they had a new technology ready to go that would not be infringing on the patents at all.
The Vonage claim is a little dubious since it was conveniently revealed on the same day that it had to report on the company’s finances. As well, their claims have not been evaluated by an objective source.
We can only hope that Vonage can work something out. Vonage and VoIP in general is a great way for phone customers to save money and add interesting features to phone service. Let's hope for either a technology fix that is free of infringement, Vonage cuts a deal with Verizon or the Verizon patents are overturned.
You can read more at Ars.
