Pollywogs!

I mentioned this in passing here, figured I ought to follow up properly…

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For the following, you will need:

Phones (various costs, corded, wireless, whatever)
1 unlocked Linksys PAP2-NA for each separate (like -5799 vs -8179) phone line you’d like connected to a phone (about $40 each on eBay).
1 Gizmo account for each separate phone line you’d like connected to a phone (a CallIn number is $35 per year per phone line, unlimited incoming calls).
Gizmo software (free, install on each computer you’d like to use as a phone).
CallOut Minutes ($0.019 per minute nationwide, complete list here: http://gizmo5.com/pc/network/callout-credit/).

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First, you need the PAP2 and a Gizmo account.  If each person wants their own phone line, I suggest separate Gizmo accounts, one for each of person.  They are free to set up, download the software, and use like an Instant Messenger.  Then you add 1) a Gizmo CallIn number and 2) Gizmo CallOut minutes to that account.  You then configure the PAP2 to work with each Gizmo account, and presto-insto you have cheap phone that you can take anywhere with you.  If you travel, just throw the PAP2 with a little corded phone in your briefcase and you have the same number anywhere you go that has an Ethernet connection.  Same if you move, always the same number, always the same rate.

You also get free voicemail, where your messages you don’t get are emailed to you. Then, you can listen and save them forever at your lesiure (I suggest GMail due to its large storage size and anywhere availability).

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The cost:

$35 per phone line per year
$0.019 per minute.

So lets do a sample month.  Say you’re currently paying $70 for one phone line per month, with unlimited nationwide long distance, local services, voicemail, taxes, service charges, blah blah blah.  $35/12 = $2.91 per month for unlimited incoming calls.

That leaves $67.09 left over for talk time per line, or 3,531 minutes of free talking each month at $0.019 per minute.  58 hours a month.  2.45 days of being constantly on the phone per month.

And, since CallOut minutes roll over (and are controlled by you) you know exactly how much your phone bill will be.  If you don’t want it over $20 a month, just make sure you only add $20 a month to the account.  If you use less, those minutes roll over to the next month, and you pocket the difference between $67.09 and what you actually used!

Now all we need is a big company like Vonage to make this a simple plug-n-play affair for grandma, and goodbye landlines…