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Introduction
| BroadVoice BYOD VoIP Service | |
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| Summary | VoIP provider with unique BYOD plan that lets you provide your own SIP device. |
| Update | None |
| Pros | • Supports a wide range of SIP devices
• Low cost plan for low-volume users |
| Cons | • Documentation errors can complicate setup
• Local number availability relatively slim |
Most VoIP providers support a limited set of hardware that they either "loan" to you, or that you purchase outright in the form of a "retail kit". This approach serves the VoIP companies well, since it allows them to focus their support infrastructure around a small number of devices. But one of the dirty little secrets of VoIP is that if you purchase your hardware outright, you usually end up with an expensive doorstop should you ever decide to change service providers (see sidebar below).
Like other VoIP service providers, BroadVoice offers a number of consumer and small business plans. But they're the only VoIP provider I've found that will let individual subscribers supply their own VoIP devices - an option they call Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).
This review will cover my experiences with BroadVoice's BYOD service and also cover the features of their non-BYOD plans.
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User reviews
Average user rating from: 1 user(s)
Broadvoice changes plan after 2 years due to "possible abuse"
I've had the Unlimited World Plus Plan for almost 2 years. Received an email indicating “possible abuse” from them and that they had changed my plan due to “more than normal activity”.
I explained that my wife makes international calls to her family regularly (as she's done for almost 2 years thru Broadvoice) and was recently out of the country visiting them for about 6 weeks. I asked them to compare current activity to activity prior to March. They did and agreed to restore my plan on the phone, but later sent another email saying I'd have to agree to some terms before they restore my service.
I agreed to continue to pay for the service I've had since Oct '08, but didn't agree to their new plan. So, they charged my credit card about $70 (in addition to the $42 monthly payment already charged 2 weeks ago). I've had no response from them for at least 3 days.
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