Excellent dual mode VOIP + PSTN phone
Pros:
Easy to use, excellent call quality
Cons:
Locked in to Panasonic's VOIP provider, but it works well!
The Bottom Line:
We like it. Works great.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
Ok, so we're not ready to totally cut the cord yet and go fully VoIP. We still want the local POTS phone service in case of (knock on wood, hopefully not) an emergency where we need 911. VoIP does not give you real 911 in your city, you get connected to some call center in who knows where. No thanks.
We were paying AT&T $15/month for unlimited long distance, which was a good deal a few years ago, but now with the cell phones we don't use long distance at home much. Only a few hours, it shouldn't be more than $5/month.
The Globarange is one of the only devices available in the US that lets you use your regular home phone, has an answering machine, and lets you make long distance calls over the Internet with VoIP.
I did not sign up for a JoIP plan other than the pay as you go. It is very reasonable, it's like 1.5 cents/minute in the US for long distance (and free to call other JoIP users; I am trying to get my family to sign up). I have a family member moving overseas this summer and it is only a few cents a minute more for overseas calls to him. If he gets a JoIP phone there, it will be free :)
The phone is easy to set up. You plug it into your router and into your PSTN (regular phone jack). I have mine hooked up to an Apple Airport Extreme base station I am using in "WDS" mode because I don't have a phone and internet jack in the same room. Works fine, no problems.
Voice call quality is excellent over both the VoIP and PSTN modes. The VoIP mode (internet call) connects very quickly. I have a high speed internet connection from Comcast (15mbs down, 1.5-2 mbs up) and have not noticed any quality problems.
The phone itself is easy to use (we came from another Panasonic cordless, the interface is similar). The answering machine works. It is easy to choose either IP or PSTN based calling (orange button or green button).
I would highly recommend this phone system for people who want to benefit from the MUCH cheaper long distance and overseas rates possible with VoIP but do not want to give up their regular phone service for various reasons (911, etc).
I tried the Skype dual mode phones but they are awful. The sound quality is awful, the phones are very slow to respond, and they do not have an answering machine. Skype is a great deal at only $3 for unlimited long distance (ie what they used to call SkypeOut) but the standalone phones are NOT ready for prime time.
I have heard there are issues with Panasonic/JoIP customer service but I have never called them.
The only downside of this device is you are locked into the Panasonic/JoIP branded VOIP service. You cannot use it with any other SIP provider that may have better rates to where you are trying to call. Actually, however, if you are highly technically inclined, do a google search for "globarange and asterisk" and you can manage this issue. Not worth it to me, personally.
Right now in the US there are no alternatives to this device. Overseas, Phillips sells a very well regarded phone line called Gigaset IP that has a dual mode IP + PSTN phone including answering machine that you can use with any VoIP provider you want. But it's very expensive and not available in the US right now.
The Panasonic can be had for $60-70 and the extension handsets are only $30.
I am very happy with this purchase and cannot recommend it highly enough! Get one!
