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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.
I would love for my kids to be able to call my family whenever they want. With the app, they could call them themselves.
I would call my mom and hubby!
I would talk to my parents, I like that the calls are so clear.
I would like to talk with my niece. This looks like an awesome plan.
I would like to talk or text for free with the Vonage App with my son who is a senior in college in another state.
I’d like to let me kids talk/text to their grandparents that live out of state.
i would talk to my mom. she lives 3000 miles away, so we dont see each other often.
I’d like to call my brothers.
I would like to talk with my niece. She texts all the time!
I would use the app to talk to my parents.
I would love to talk with my best girls over on the east coast!! we could have a blast 🙂
Would like to talk with my sister in law. She is stationed in Virginia so it would be great to talk to her more.
I’d like to talk/text with my daughter who live across the country!
Definitely my three favorite people; my grandchildren!
my mom we would love to use it!
I would like to talk with my sister, my niece and my nephew.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I’d have fun texting my niece.
I would love to talk to my grandma, I only get to see her once a year because we live so far apart
My son who lives several states away
Love it!
I would love to talk with my Uncle using Vonage.
I would call my BFF in WA. We can sure yap! lol
My 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!
I’d call my cousins in Italy
I would talk to my younger sister and nephew in Oklahoma.
I 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!
I would like to talk to my mom who moved out of state with the Vonage App.
I would love to talk and text with my cousin with the app!
My niece in the US Navy!
I would like to talk to my mom
I have the same problem with spotty reception in my home office that’s located in the basement. What a perfect solution this would be!
I would love to use it for talking to my family on the east coast.
I live in a different city than my parents, so I would probably use it to talk to my mom and dad.
I would love to talk to my cousins. Can’t pick just one.
I 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!
I’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!
I would love to call my grandmother more often – she lives in a different continent!
I would like to text my son.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
My 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.
old friends
i would like to talk to my cousins
Well. there are 3 people I would like to talk to~my children who are all grown up and live far away from me.
This app is neat I would love to let my kids talk to their grandmother with this app.
My sister’s kid, Adrianna is just starting High School. I just want to be a helpful voice of reason for her
My BFF in WA we would love to use this service!
I’d like to talk to my mother in New Mexico for free.
I would call my mom.
My sons who are grown and don’t live at home anymore
I 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.
I would like to talk to my family in Mexico. Thanks.
I would call my mom and husband!
I would text my son and my husband.
id call my mom and dad
My son in New York would be my main Vonage recipient
I would like to talk to my great aunt
8/25- I would like to talk to my mom who moved out of state with the Vonage App.
My parents down South
We would be calling our family in Oregon. We have no long distance so cannot call them often.
I would use this app to talk to my daughters.
I would call my Mom & Hubby
I would call my sister
I’d talk to my aunt in Kansas
I would call my grandma the most! She is 92 years young and I cherish every single call with her.
My 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,
I’d like to talk to my brother in Florida.
I 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!
I’d like to talk to my mom
8/26- I would like to talk to my mom who moved out of state with the Vonage App.
id call my mom and dad 8.26
There are a few people I call. I have a good friend in Texas, for instance.
I would like to talk to my brother more
I would love to talk and text with my husband for free using vonage! We would save a lot of money for sure!
I’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.
I would love to speak with my family in Canada. We normally only talk over email, so that would be a nice change!
i would talk to my best friend or husband with it.
I would call my cousin amy with the app!
I’d like to use the Vonage app to talk to my Dad when he is in Cozumel Mexico.
My mom and dad in California!
8/27- I would like to talk to my mom who moved out of state with the Vonage App.
my sis who’s across the country
My hubby travels a lot, so this would be perfect for us to be able to keep in touch while is is away on business
I 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 🙂
I would call my parents. They only live an hour away but we do not get to see each other very often.
8/28- I would like to talk to my mom who moved out of state with the Vonage App.
I would call my cousin in California
my family over in alaska,,,,Thanks
i’d like to call my sister and her little girls becauase they’re so cute
Happy 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.
i would love to talk to my cousins
8/29- I would like to talk to my mom who moved out of state with the Vonage App.
I want to talk to my parents for free.
I would like to talk to my nephew.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I would love to talk to my cousins in michigan
I would like to chat with my cousins.
I would like to talk to my grandma.
That 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.
I would like to talk for free to my nephew.
Janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I would like to talk to my brothers
jenhedger at hotmail dot com
I would love to talk to my parents!
I would be calling my parents and my sister who lives overseas.
I would like to chat most with my DAD! I love talking to him
My mother and my husband.
my family
I’d like to talk to and text my 2 daughters and my husband for free. And of course my best friend.
I have family all over the place.
I 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.
I’d like to talk to my Mom with the plan. I like that it works with Skype.
I would love to talk to my sister who lives across the country. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway 🙂
Renee
fattybumpkins at yahoo dot com
i would talk to my grandparents who are in their 80’s if their home telephone was not working, which is pretty often.
My Kid, in Africa
I would want to talk to my parents!
my husband and mother I would talk to for free.
I would call my friends
I would like to talk (& text) my Brother. Thanks for the information on the Plan.
I live close to all of my family but I would use it to talk to all of them thanks for the chance.
Calls from our little one to grandma.
I would like to talk and text with our family in Wisconsin.
I would like to talk to my Aunt.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Hubby and my parents
I would call my family
my cousin or best friends back home in CA
I could use it to talk to my sister!
i’d like to use this to talk to my dad, who lives in another country.
I would call my family!
I would use it to talk with my mom and sister!
I would like to talk or text my husband using the Vonage app.
I would call my mom
I would like to text my niece.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I would like to talk to my family in CA. We moved to KY 2 years ago and they they are all very missed.
I would talk to my sister in Texas
all my family in florida
I would talk with my cousins in California.
I would love to have more phone time with my best friend, Gayle, since she moved away this year.
I would love to talk to and text my oldest daughter who lives out of state with the Vonage App.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
id love to talk to my cousins 9.5
I would like to talk and text with my wife for free.
I’d talk to my best friend!
I would like to talk to my mom and my aunt.
My 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.
I would talk to my parents and family in Europe.
My best friend. We do not talk as much as we used to
I would love to talk to my cousins in michigan!
I would talk to my best friend, Kat.
I would talk to my girl Erin.
I’d text my sister and we’d be able to talk/ text for longer.
9/6- I would like to talk to my mom who moved out of state with the Vonage App.
I would talk to my cousins 850 miles away 🙂
I would like to talk to my sister in law in Texas
I have family in 3 different states, it would be a blessing to communicate that way!
My 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