If you have watched TV you have seen the Vonage commercials the purport to save you money by switching your home phone to their service. They have a strong brand and were one of the original VOIP (voice over internet protocol – basically internet phone for non-techies) providers and they are still going strong.
Vonage has recently launched a mobile calling app that allows you to keep and use your existing mobile number while making calls using WiFi or your phone’s data connection. I spent about a month using the App on my iPhone 4S and my son’s iPhone 5. The app is feature packed, easy to use and significantly extends the utility of your mobile. The app is also available for Android.
The app was easy to download and install from the iOS app store. It is a small app at 24MB so it won’t hog space on your phone. After the app is installed, you activate it with your mobile number. Vonage will then send a confirmation code via SMS to your handset to finalize set up. This is an important security step because the app permits you to place calls that will appear to come from you mobile…because they do. This is a key difference from other mobile calling apps such as Skype that require you to have a second number. Your callers will never know that you are using a virtual phone app.
With many of us, your author included, paying for unlimited calling plans, you may wonder why having the ability to call using WiFi would be relevant or important. In our real life testing, my home office has spotty cell coverage and callers will often complain that they can’t hear me clearly. While using the Vonage app over my WiFi, I was able to make crystal clear calls without any trouble.
The app also included the ability to place video calls to other Vonage app users similar to Apple’s FaceTime or Skype mobile. The calls connected quickly and clarity was typically very good. Of course, your results will be tied to the quality of your data connection, either through WiFi or your mobile DATA plan. There is the option to send a text message to others that have the app. How useful this will be in a world with so many different text message options is debatable.
The video calling seems redundant as well to your author, a FaceTime user until you consider that not everyone has an iOS. The ability to start a video call to someone on another platform without having to remember their Skype ID, but just use their mobile number is simple and easy.
The app can link to your contacts if you give it permission, conveniently tells you the quality of your data connection and has a user interface that is clean and easy to use.
Call to other Vonage app users anywhere on the planet as the calls are always free to an international destination much less costly than your mobile rates or, incredibly, even Skype. If you want to call internationally from your mobile without pinching your wallet, you simply cannot beat the ease and reliability of Vonage. Call credits can be purchased from the app and billed to your iTunes account.
Vonage is running a limited time promotion that includes 3000 calling minutes each month for calls in the US. This really extends the utility of the app and permits you to limit the use of your plan minutes if you are not on unlimited.
I use many apps and can highly recommend Vonage Mobile Calling to help extend the usefulness of your phone.
Get The App:
Stay Connected:
- Visit the Vonage Mobile Website
Giveaway: CLOSED
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED: WINNER KATHIE C
One reader will receive a $50 iTunes or Google Play Gift Card. See form for Entry Details. Open to U.S. You must be 18 years old to enter to win. Ends 9.6.13
Disclosure: An email address is required to enter. The winner will be chosen randomly through Giveaway Tools and contacted via email. A reply to the winning email is required within 48 hours before a new winner is chosen. One person entering per household, please. U.S. only. This giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on Sept 6, 2013. I was provided with product for this review. All views and opinions with regard to Vonage Review or the company are my own and were not influenced by the company.
Jill H
August 22, 2013 at 8:50 amI would love for my kids to be able to call my family whenever they want. With the app, they could call them themselves.
Darby
August 22, 2013 at 10:07 amI would call my mom and hubby!
Kelly D
August 22, 2013 at 11:13 amI would talk to my parents, I like that the calls are so clear.
wendy b
August 22, 2013 at 3:31 pmI would like to talk with my niece. This looks like an awesome plan.
ellen casper
August 22, 2013 at 5:05 pmI would like to talk or text for free with the Vonage App with my son who is a senior in college in another state.
Stacy T
August 22, 2013 at 5:10 pmI’d like to let me kids talk/text to their grandparents that live out of state.
molli vandehey
August 22, 2013 at 5:15 pmi would talk to my mom. she lives 3000 miles away, so we dont see each other often.
lisagee1234
August 22, 2013 at 5:18 pmI’d like to call my brothers.
Candice
August 22, 2013 at 5:38 pmI would like to talk with my niece. She texts all the time!
RJ Legamaro
August 22, 2013 at 5:50 pmI would use the app to talk to my parents.
Becky Richied
August 22, 2013 at 5:52 pmI would love to talk with my best girls over on the east coast!! we could have a blast 🙂
Julie Lynn Bickham
August 22, 2013 at 5:59 pmWould like to talk with my sister in law. She is stationed in Virginia so it would be great to talk to her more.
Janet W.
August 22, 2013 at 6:24 pmI’d like to talk/text with my daughter who live across the country!
Carrie Phelps
August 22, 2013 at 7:40 pmDefinitely my three favorite people; my grandchildren!
laurie nykaza
August 22, 2013 at 8:07 pmmy mom we would love to use it!
Janet F
August 22, 2013 at 8:36 pmI would like to talk with my sister, my niece and my nephew.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Tina
August 22, 2013 at 9:34 pmI’d have fun texting my niece.
Jennifer B
August 22, 2013 at 10:16 pmI would love to talk to my grandma, I only get to see her once a year because we live so far apart
Marian Boll
August 22, 2013 at 10:21 pmMy son who lives several states away
candy kratzer
August 22, 2013 at 10:33 pmLove it!
rich morris
August 22, 2013 at 11:06 pmI would love to talk with my Uncle using Vonage.
kymi a
August 23, 2013 at 2:52 amI would call my BFF in WA. We can sure yap! lol
Lacey Burd
August 23, 2013 at 8:45 amMy dad’s entire side of the family lives in TN, so I would use it to talk to them. I don’t have an iPhone, so we would definitely use the video chat when talking to my grandparents. I think this would be a great way for my daughter to get to know her great-grandparents!
Julienne
August 23, 2013 at 9:41 amI’d call my cousins in Italy
dynab1
August 23, 2013 at 10:19 amI would talk to my younger sister and nephew in Oklahoma.
Adrianne B
August 23, 2013 at 11:17 amI would like to talk/text with my mother for free. It would be great to not have to worry about the bills seeing as I talk to her every day!
Thomas Murphy
August 23, 2013 at 11:34 amI would like to talk to my mom who moved out of state with the Vonage App.
Amanda Sakovitz
August 23, 2013 at 11:39 amI would love to talk and text with my cousin with the app!
laurie damrose
August 23, 2013 at 12:15 pmMy niece in the US Navy!
chris z
August 23, 2013 at 1:42 pmI would like to talk to my mom
Jennifer Aldridge
August 23, 2013 at 4:26 pmI have the same problem with spotty reception in my home office that’s located in the basement. What a perfect solution this would be!
Jill Edwards
August 23, 2013 at 5:06 pmI would love to use it for talking to my family on the east coast.
latoya
August 23, 2013 at 5:17 pmI live in a different city than my parents, so I would probably use it to talk to my mom and dad.
Susan White
August 23, 2013 at 5:39 pmI would love to talk to my cousins. Can’t pick just one.
Olivia D Hamilton
August 23, 2013 at 7:56 pmI would love to talk or text my mother more often. She lives about a 45 min drive away so i dont get to see her much. Thank you for the chance!
Karen
August 23, 2013 at 9:02 pmI’d love to talk to my mom. I call her almost every day. She’s one of my best friends, so we talk a LOT. So free calling would be fabulous!
Daraya
August 23, 2013 at 11:48 pmI would love to call my grandmother more often – she lives in a different continent!
Janet F
August 24, 2013 at 1:51 amI would like to text my son.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
isis
August 24, 2013 at 4:39 amMy whole family is abroad so this would really help! It’ll make it easier for me to talk to my mom, my brothers and sisters.
mike b
August 24, 2013 at 5:49 amold friends
Amanda Sakovitz
August 24, 2013 at 11:07 ami would like to talk to my cousins
Irene Cypher
August 24, 2013 at 3:22 pmWell. there are 3 people I would like to talk to~my children who are all grown up and live far away from me.
Alyshia
August 24, 2013 at 5:55 pmThis app is neat I would love to let my kids talk to their grandmother with this app.
peter gladue
August 25, 2013 at 4:27 amMy sister’s kid, Adrianna is just starting High School. I just want to be a helpful voice of reason for her
kymi a
August 25, 2013 at 4:42 amMy BFF in WA we would love to use this service!
Chris Martinez
August 25, 2013 at 4:58 amI’d like to talk to my mother in New Mexico for free.
Cindy
August 25, 2013 at 5:27 amI would call my mom.
Kelley Chapman
August 25, 2013 at 9:13 amMy sons who are grown and don’t live at home anymore
Debra S
August 25, 2013 at 12:57 pmI have a daughter who had to move to Florida… we live in MN. So I love to call her often!! And the two grandkids there now. *sigh* So happy when the kids DO super well in life, but sad when it entails long distances.
Sharon Kaminski
August 25, 2013 at 1:17 pmI would like to talk to my family in Mexico. Thanks.
Nia Lawrence
August 25, 2013 at 1:52 pmI would call my mom and husband!
Rebecca Turner
August 25, 2013 at 2:06 pmI would text my son and my husband.
Amanda Sakovitz
August 25, 2013 at 2:14 pmid call my mom and dad
Michelle Hudak
August 25, 2013 at 2:39 pmMy son in New York would be my main Vonage recipient
Paol Trenny
August 25, 2013 at 2:47 pmI would like to talk to my great aunt
Thomas Murphy
August 25, 2013 at 4:59 pm8/25- I would like to talk to my mom who moved out of state with the Vonage App.
tracy
August 25, 2013 at 5:48 pmMy parents down South
Katrina A.
August 25, 2013 at 10:25 pmWe would be calling our family in Oregon. We have no long distance so cannot call them often.
Kim Pinch
August 25, 2013 at 10:33 pmI would use this app to talk to my daughters.
Crystal Medina
August 26, 2013 at 12:03 amI would call my Mom & Hubby
Tiffany
August 26, 2013 at 12:06 amI would call my sister
Michelle Hudak
August 26, 2013 at 12:50 amI’d talk to my aunt in Kansas
Jamie Herda
August 26, 2013 at 3:37 amI would call my grandma the most! She is 92 years young and I cherish every single call with her.
lolaphong
August 26, 2013 at 7:49 amMy boyfriend. I’m love him, but these long-distance relationships are tough. Never enough time in the day to
accomplish every thing I want to,
tracey byram
August 26, 2013 at 8:45 amI’d like to talk to my brother in Florida.
Sacha Schroeder
August 26, 2013 at 2:46 pmI would love this app to talk and text with my step mom. We talk on a daily basis so this would be perfect for us!
Addison Kat
August 26, 2013 at 2:56 pmI’d like to talk to my mom
Thomas Murphy
August 26, 2013 at 3:57 pm8/26- I would like to talk to my mom who moved out of state with the Vonage App.
Amanda Sakovitz
August 26, 2013 at 7:30 pmid call my mom and dad 8.26
cole
August 26, 2013 at 7:45 pmThere are a few people I call. I have a good friend in Texas, for instance.
tina reynolds
August 26, 2013 at 8:23 pmI would like to talk to my brother more
Victoria Carlson
August 26, 2013 at 10:10 pmI would love to talk and text with my husband for free using vonage! We would save a lot of money for sure!
Jennifer P
August 27, 2013 at 3:04 amI’d like to talk to my best friend Marc. He’s going to be moving to Hawaii soon. Vonage would make keeping in touch easier. Thanks for the giveaway.
Tamra H
August 27, 2013 at 12:10 pmI would love to speak with my family in Canada. We normally only talk over email, so that would be a nice change!
angel d
August 27, 2013 at 12:30 pmi would talk to my best friend or husband with it.
Amanda Sakovitz
August 27, 2013 at 1:46 pmI would call my cousin amy with the app!
Stephanie Hirsch
August 27, 2013 at 6:20 pmI’d like to use the Vonage app to talk to my Dad when he is in Cozumel Mexico.
Lisa B.
August 27, 2013 at 6:36 pmMy mom and dad in California!
Thomas Murphy
August 27, 2013 at 7:11 pm8/27- I would like to talk to my mom who moved out of state with the Vonage App.
Daniel M
August 27, 2013 at 9:37 pmmy sis who’s across the country
Wendy Pesce
August 28, 2013 at 11:28 amMy hubby travels a lot, so this would be perfect for us to be able to keep in touch while is is away on business
Gina Brickell
August 28, 2013 at 1:05 pmI would love to talk and text with my mother. Even though I see her daily, I still call her on all my breaks and send her texts throughout the day 🙂
Kathie Craig
August 28, 2013 at 2:41 pmI would call my parents. They only live an hour away but we do not get to see each other very often.
Thomas Murphy
August 28, 2013 at 3:32 pm8/28- I would like to talk to my mom who moved out of state with the Vonage App.
Amanda Sakovitz
August 28, 2013 at 3:48 pmI would call my cousin in California
martha
August 29, 2013 at 1:28 ammy family over in alaska,,,,Thanks
sandra
August 29, 2013 at 10:17 ami’d like to call my sister and her little girls becauase they’re so cute
Vicki Hale
August 29, 2013 at 11:34 amHappy Thursday! I would use this to talk with my parents, who live 3 hours away. And, I don’t see them very often. Thanks. Vicki.
Amanda Sakovitz
August 29, 2013 at 4:39 pmi would love to talk to my cousins
Thomas Murphy
August 29, 2013 at 6:40 pm8/29- I would like to talk to my mom who moved out of state with the Vonage App.
Mia
August 29, 2013 at 11:49 pmI want to talk to my parents for free.
Janet F
August 30, 2013 at 6:44 amI would like to talk to my nephew.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Amanda Sakovitz
August 30, 2013 at 5:35 pmI would love to talk to my cousins in michigan
JamD
August 31, 2013 at 8:30 amI would like to chat with my cousins.
April Yedinak
August 31, 2013 at 11:08 amI would like to talk to my grandma.
Rachel McGuire
August 31, 2013 at 3:03 pmThat would be both of my sons. One is in college the next city over and the other one is living across the US. He’s in the army.
Janet F
August 31, 2013 at 6:12 pmI would like to talk for free to my nephew.
Janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Jennifer H
September 1, 2013 at 1:31 amI would like to talk to my brothers
jenhedger at hotmail dot com
Seyma Shabbir
September 1, 2013 at 1:42 amI would love to talk to my parents!
pinky sade
September 1, 2013 at 8:25 amI would be calling my parents and my sister who lives overseas.
Andria L
September 1, 2013 at 1:43 pmI would like to chat most with my DAD! I love talking to him
Linda W.
September 1, 2013 at 5:19 pmMy mother and my husband.
Amanda Hoffman
September 1, 2013 at 7:29 pmmy family
Claire Rheinheimer
September 1, 2013 at 8:09 pmI’d like to talk to and text my 2 daughters and my husband for free. And of course my best friend.
Micah
September 1, 2013 at 8:41 pmI have family all over the place.
Ang MKenna
September 2, 2013 at 12:19 amI would love to call my mom and text with my grown children. I would love to talk to my brothers and sisters. I would love to converse with long lost friends with vonage.
Audra Weathers
September 2, 2013 at 9:34 amI’d like to talk to my Mom with the plan. I like that it works with Skype.
Renee Richardson
September 2, 2013 at 10:12 amI would love to talk to my sister who lives across the country. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway 🙂
Renee
fattybumpkins at yahoo dot com
cindy
September 2, 2013 at 11:14 ami would talk to my grandparents who are in their 80’s if their home telephone was not working, which is pretty often.
LennyG
September 2, 2013 at 12:35 pmMy Kid, in Africa
Mia
September 2, 2013 at 2:15 pmI would want to talk to my parents!
richelle bowers
September 2, 2013 at 6:12 pmmy husband and mother I would talk to for free.
Amanda Sakovitz
September 2, 2013 at 7:31 pmI would call my friends
Tammy Woodall
September 2, 2013 at 7:39 pmI would like to talk (& text) my Brother. Thanks for the information on the Plan.
amy williams
September 3, 2013 at 1:30 amI live close to all of my family but I would use it to talk to all of them thanks for the chance.
James
September 3, 2013 at 2:13 amCalls from our little one to grandma.
Tara G
September 3, 2013 at 2:01 pmI would like to talk and text with our family in Wisconsin.
Janet F
September 3, 2013 at 2:40 pmI would like to talk to my Aunt.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Jessie C.
September 3, 2013 at 6:05 pmHubby and my parents
Amanda Sakovitz
September 3, 2013 at 7:40 pmI would call my family
Carey P
September 3, 2013 at 9:09 pmmy cousin or best friends back home in CA
Blessed
September 3, 2013 at 11:25 pmI could use it to talk to my sister!
kolpin
September 4, 2013 at 1:02 pmi’d like to use this to talk to my dad, who lives in another country.
Amanda Sakovitz
September 4, 2013 at 7:17 pmI would call my family!
Heather R
September 4, 2013 at 7:41 pmI would use it to talk with my mom and sister!
Melissa Nagy
September 4, 2013 at 7:54 pmI would like to talk or text my husband using the Vonage app.
kim burnett
September 4, 2013 at 10:51 pmI would call my mom
Janet F
September 5, 2013 at 7:53 amI would like to text my niece.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Samantha Daleo
September 5, 2013 at 10:20 amI would like to talk to my family in CA. We moved to KY 2 years ago and they they are all very missed.
Lesley F
September 5, 2013 at 12:48 pmI would talk to my sister in Texas
Daniel M
September 5, 2013 at 3:05 pmall my family in florida
Kate F.
September 5, 2013 at 3:12 pmI would talk with my cousins in California.
ewhatley
September 5, 2013 at 4:11 pmI would love to have more phone time with my best friend, Gayle, since she moved away this year.
Jill Myrick
September 5, 2013 at 8:17 pmI would love to talk to and text my oldest daughter who lives out of state with the Vonage App.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
Amanda Sakovitz
September 5, 2013 at 8:24 pmid love to talk to my cousins 9.5
David Carlson
September 5, 2013 at 9:56 pmI would like to talk and text with my wife for free.
Anna H.
September 5, 2013 at 11:26 pmI’d talk to my best friend!
Heather
September 5, 2013 at 11:38 pmI would like to talk to my mom and my aunt.
Kari
September 6, 2013 at 8:07 amMy teenage daughter has become friends with a foreign exchange student who is at her school. I know that she would love to be able to stay in touch with her once she goes back home to Taiwan.
Amy
September 6, 2013 at 8:56 amI would talk to my parents and family in Europe.
liz l
September 6, 2013 at 10:56 amMy best friend. We do not talk as much as we used to
Amanda Sakovitz
September 6, 2013 at 4:59 pmI would love to talk to my cousins in michigan!
Camille
September 6, 2013 at 6:43 pmI would talk to my best friend, Kat.
Jacob LaFountaine
September 6, 2013 at 9:17 pmI would talk to my girl Erin.
Jennifer P
September 6, 2013 at 9:23 pmI’d text my sister and we’d be able to talk/ text for longer.
Thomas Murphy
September 6, 2013 at 9:30 pm9/6- I would like to talk to my mom who moved out of state with the Vonage App.
Candace
September 6, 2013 at 10:24 pmI would talk to my cousins 850 miles away 🙂
Kimberly Schotz
September 6, 2013 at 10:40 pmI would like to talk to my sister in law in Texas
Dorothy Turner
September 6, 2013 at 11:07 pmI have family in 3 different states, it would be a blessing to communicate that way!
Tabathia B
September 6, 2013 at 11:45 pmMy cousin’s daughter just had a baby and so she is a first time grandmother plus her mother just died so I would love to be able to talk to her without worrying about calling during a certain time