CNET editors' review
-
CNET editors' rating:
3.0
stars
Good
Detailed
editors' rating
Setup and interface
: 7.0
Features
: 6.0
Performance
: 9.0
Service and support
: 5.0
Overall
score: 6.8
(3.0
stars)
- Reviewed by:
Stephanie Bruzzese
- Edited by:
Felisa Yang
- Reviewed on:
04/24/2006
- Released on:
11/03/2005
While cutting-edge technologies certainly have their allure, there's something to be said for basic products that just work well. Case in point: NetZero's new
VoIP service, called simply NetZero Voice. The service lacks many bells and whistles found on its rivals, including videoconferencing and
avatars, but in terms of core call quality, NetZero Voice is one of the best we've tested recently. And it's not without its perks, including free PC-to-PC calls, voicemail, instant messaging, and an e-mail account with 1GB of storage. For those who value call quality above all else, NetZero Voice is an excellent choice; users who are willing to forgo a bit of the call quality in favor of more advanced features should check out
Skype. Anyone who is looking for a full-service landline replacement service (and those who want to make VoIP calls using a regular phone instead of through a PC) should check out a service such as
Vonage or
SunRocket.
NetZero Voice is available in a number of flavors. The free, baseline version provides no-cost, computer-to-computer calling between NetZero Voice users. (This is the same model used by Skype.) If you'll need to use the service to call landline or cell phones, you must purchase one of NetZero's for-pay choices, which start with a pay-as-you go option, appropriately called NetZero Voice Pay-As-You-Go, that lets you add credit to your account in $5, $10, and $20 increments. (Skype calls its similar service SkypeOut.) You may then use this credit to call cell phones and landlines in hundreds of countries, each of which has been assigned a competitive
per-minute rate by NetZero.
There are also two monthly plans. NetZero Voice 100 costs $3.95 per month and includes 100 PC-to-analog minutes when calling analog phones located anywhere in the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico. The top-shelf option, NetZero Voice Unlimited, sells for $14.95 per month and includes unlimited analog calls to the aforementioned areas. With the two monthly plans, call fees to cell phones and landlines outside of these areas are subject to the same per-minute rates as those associated with the pay-as-you-go plan. The Voice 100 and Voice Unlimited plans also give you a personal telephone number, with your choice of area codes, at which you receive incoming calls on your computer. With both plans, incoming calls from telephones are unlimited.
The NetZero Voice setup process is no more difficult than downloading, installing, and configuring a simple software program. After choosing your service plan, you download the Voice application from NetZero's Web site, then install its drivers and dashboard control interface on your PC. A brief but handy configuration wizard subsequently pops up, helping you test whichever headphone and microphone devices you'll use (the service doesn't yet support accessories such as the
Actiontec Phone Wizard, which lets you make VoIP calls through your landline handset). Note that NetZero Voice works over dial-up Internet connections (most VoIP services require broadband), which is a boon for anyone who hasn't made the switch to an always-on Internet connection.
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