Vonage Goes Mobile: New Calling Applications Available

Posts: 2135

-Vonage Mobile Provides International Calling at Low Rates through Wi-Fi and Cellular Networks-

HOLMDEL, N.J., Oct 05, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Today Vonage (NYSE: VG) launched Vonage Mobile, its first mobile calling application for smartphones. Vonage Mobile is a free downloadable application (app) that provides seamless, low-cost international calling while on Wi-Fi or cellular networks*. Once downloaded, the service saves customers more than 50% on calls to dozens of countries versus the rates charged by wireless carriers while providing far more convenience than calling cards. Vonage Mobile will be available for download on the iPhone(R), BlackBerry(R) and iPod touch(R) at vonage.com and the iTunes App Store later today.

With Vonage Mobile you can call around the world from home, a Wi-Fi hotspot, or while traveling around the country. Vonage Mobile is easy to use. There are no access numbers or new phone numbers to give to friends and family. Simply enter an international number or select a contact from the existing contacts on your iPhone or Blackberry and hit send. Vonage does the rest.

This app will give customers exceptional per-minute rates to any country they want to dial. In the fourth quarter 2009, we will enhance the app to include the popular Vonage World plan that was introduced for home service in August. This enhancement extends the ability to make unlimited calls to over 60 countries for one flat monthly fee to mobile users, giving customers the choice to pick the plan that fits them best.

"Our new mobile app is an important step in establishing Vonage as a software technology company that enables high-quality voice and messaging across any device in any location, providing great value over any broadband network," said Marc Lefar, CEO of Vonage.
Vonage Mobile beats the competition on value, convenience and ease-of-use

-- Rates are better than traditional wireless and landline carrier rates
-- Lets you make calls while on Wi-Fi or cellular networks, providing full mobility
-- Uses your existing contact list - just click and dial - no extra steps
-- Utilizes your existing cell phone number so the people you call will recognize who is calling
-- Real-time balance updates and the ability to automatically replenish funds in your account

-- No more trips to the store to buy calling cards, no 800 numbers or access codes, and no connection charges

"When developing Vonage Mobile, we focused on creating a more convenient alternative for customers who use calling cards or Wi-Fi only applications," said Mike Tempora, Senior Vice President of Product Management for Vonage. "Vonage Mobile is easy to get and use, and gives customers the best possible calling experience from a trusted provider."

To follow Vonage on Twitter, please visit www.twitter.com/vonage_voice. To become a fan on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/vonage.

*iPhone allows calls on both cellular and Wi-Fi networks. BlackBerry allows calls over cellular networks. iPod touch allows calls over Wi-Fi networks. Service subject to minimum monthly usage fee, taxes and certain other fees. Forfeiture rules apply. See Terms of Service for details. There are important 911 limitations when using Vonage for Mobile service. See vonagemobile.com/tos for details.

About Vonage

Vonage (NYSE: VG) is a software technology company that enables high-quality voice and messaging services across multiple devices and locations over broadband networks. Our award winning technology serves approximately 2.5 million subscribers. We provide feature-rich, affordable communication solutions that offer flexibility, portability and ease-of-use.

Our Vonage World plan offers free unlimited calling to landline phones in all cities and locations in more than 60 countries with popular features like call waiting, call forwarding and voicemail -- for one low, flat monthly rate.

Vonage's service is sold on the web and through national retailers including Best Buy and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and is available to customers in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. For more information about Vonage's products and services, please visit vonage.com.

Vonage Holdings Corp. is headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey. Vonage(R) is a registered trademark of Vonage Marketing Inc., a subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp.
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SOURCE Vonage

Posts: 43 · Full Forum Member Joined: Nov 27, 2006 Posts: 43

FYI - Just a quick check shows rates are different than home plans. Currently I set forward via the vonage web site to the number I want to call, then place the call, and unset the forward.

For example,

Vonage Mobile:
Argentina 54 $0.021
Argentina (Cellular & Premium) 549 $0.17
Argentina - Buenos Aires 5411 $0.021

Vonage Home (first rate is World, 2nd is regular plans)
Argentina 54 FREE $0.06
Argentina (Cellular & Premium) 549 $0.17 $0.21
Argentina - Buenos Aires 5411 FREE $0.01

It's interesting how Cell and Premium numbers are cheaper via Mobile.

Posts: 34 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 14, 2005 Posts: 34

Can I dial a local number?

If yes, will they charge me?

I have Vonage at my house. This should be free to existing Vonage customers, similar to the way streaming movies to your computer is free to Netflix customers.

Posts: 627 · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:37 am Post subject:

If you have an iPhone you can dial domestic numbers however that would be useless unless your making the calls over a WiFi connection. If your using the GSM network, your always going to be using your cell minutes for any call you make. So while the domestic call would be free through Vonage, you would still be using your normal cell phone minutes. If your using a WiFi connection, making local calls would be OK through Vonage as it would not cost you money or minutes.

The Vonage mobile app is separate from your Vonage home service and is not tied in to one another. That is why you don't have to be a Vonage customer to get the mobile app. Think of Verizon and Verizon Wireless. If you have Verizon at home, does that mean your cell phone should also be free?

Posts: 34 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 14, 2005 Posts: 34

I am looking at this from the perspective of an ipod Touch owner attempting to make a phone call over wifi. Nowhere on your website does it discuss making domestic calls, only international calls.

Personally, I have no need to make international calls. Therefore, the ability to make domestic calls via my Touch would be very beneficial.

Posts: 627 · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:01 am Post subject:

Yes you can make Domestic calls from the iTouch at no cost.

Posts: 34 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 14, 2005 Posts: 34

When using Vonage Mobile on an ipod Touch, what appears on the caller ID of the person receiving a call? Is there a way to enter the information that will appear on the caller ID?

Posts: 627 · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:35 am Post subject:

Since the iPod touch is not an actual phone, there is a generic phone number that gets created when the app is active. The person you are calling may see a strange number that will most likely have a name of Unknown, Unavailable or something else. This populated name field depends upon the provider of the person you call and how they populate names for numbers they cannot lookup. That is what makes the iPod touch different then the iPhone or Blackberry which will use the associated mobile number and can in return get Inbound calls back to your regular mobile provider.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 06, 2009 Posts: 1

VonTechMgr wrote:

Yes you can make Domestic calls from the iTouch at no cost.

I also am interested in using Vonage Mobile on an iPod touch for domestic calls only; I have no need for international calls. Although stated previously this is possible, I am not able to find anything on the website or user guide about domestic calls. Is there any documentation available to confirm this?

The statement on making domestic calls from the iTouch at no cost could be misleading; perhaps no additional cost would be correct. The terms of service states an account is subject to a minimum usage fee of $0.35 per month in each month that service usage is less than 15 chargeable minutes. Are there any other charges that could apply if Vonage Mobile service is used only for domestic calls?

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 06, 2009 Posts: 3

Great improvements!

When will it be available on Android devices?