Scarpozzi-
P8 isn't bad. It is just that the voice codec they use is not as good as the voice codec used by Sunrocket (also Vonage, ATT CallVantage.) Like macro2 mentions, that is good if you have very limited bandwidth from your high-speed internet provider. It probably can even work over regular phone lines. But, you sacrifice voice quality. If you have decent bandwidth, like most high-speed internet users do, you want the best possible voice quality, which the g711u codec gives you.
I've done this for a Sunrocket vs. Vonage comparison a few pages back, but I'll do the same for Sunrocket vs. Packet 8. A true Apples to Apples comparison would have to include the signature line that comes free with Sunrocket. If you really can't use it just deduct that from the total, it just keeps the comparisons to as close to accuarate as possible.
Price comparison:
SR currently offers 15 months for $199, which comes out to $13.26 per month. You get a $3 int'l call credit per month, so true base cost could be as low as $10.26 per month. No shipping cost, no fees or taxes, so for a new startup true cost for the month is either
$13.26 or $10.26 (if you call internationally).
Packet 8s rate is $19.95 per month plus additional fees of $1.50 recovery fee plus 0.55 Federal Excise Tax plus $1.99 E911 fee for a total of $23.99, almost $10.00 more per month (or $13 if you make international calls and use the $3 credit with SR.)
But, true apples to apples comparison also has to include the signature number. SR includes a "Signature line" with the basic service free of charge. You get a second phone number to use as you please. It could be the number for a family member, you could use it as a fax number or you could assign it as an ANYWHERE number (set up this number in an area code you have friends, family or clients and allow them to call you dialing a local number.) Packet 8 charges $4.95 plus $1.50 recovery fee per month for that signature line. SRs signature line comes with its own voicemail box, Packet 8s signature line is just another incoming line without voicemail box. Activation fee for the signature line with Packet 8 is $9.95.
SR includes 2 free 411 calls per month, thereafter it is $0.75 per call. Packet 8 charges $0.75 per 411 call starting from the first one. A savings of $1.50 per month if you use the 2 free 411 calls with SR.
SR has no activation fees, no shipping cost, no setup fees and no cancellation fees. In contrast Packet 8 has a $59.99 cancellation fee, $9.99 shipping cost and "best deal" 54.99 for the adapter.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002JUHJ8/103-7185731-4021458
So, the math:
For a new startup, SR comes out to $13.26 per month or $10.26 per month (for int'l callers.)
For a new startup Packet 8 (with the signature line SR also has) comes out to $23.99 plus $6.45 for the signature line, plus $5.41 in startup fees/shipping cost for a total of $35.85.
Make 2 calls to 411 and you crack $37 with Packet 8 (cost is $0.75 per call) while SR stays at $13.26 (or 10.26 as it were) because of the 2 included 411 calls.
Features pro and con:
Packet 8 is generally considered feature poor in comparison with other VOIPs. There are really no features that Packet 8 has that Sunrocket lacks.
However, SR has a few features that Packet8 does not:
1. Best voice codec used - g711u
2. Better voicemail notification - When new voicemail comes in SR can be set up to notify via e-mail and cell phone, and also via IM (Yahoo, AOL, MSN, ICQ,) pager and SMS.
3. Second signature number with its own mailbox included.
4. Signature Message screener (discussed earlier in this thread)
5. Voicemail forward to email as .wav files
6. 7-digit dialing
7. Outgoing Caller ID WITH NAME. Packet8 does not display your name with your Caller ID info, SR does.
8. Contact Lists - Define speed dials from your contacts and simply dial "*01" from your phone
9. Click to Call from Contact List - Helpful if you want to make a call from your contact list even when you are not at home and have calls forwarded to a different locations (say cell or work phone.)
10. T.38 faxing for improved fax reliability
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In your particular case (when compared to a brandnew signup) you already have the adapter and you obviously don't have to pay any setup fee anymore for subsequent years. Therefore a true monetary comparison for your case would be
SR - $13.26 ---- Packet 8 - $23.99
with signature number:
SR - $13.26 ----- Packet 8 - $30.44
So, depending on whether you want to count the signature number as an important feature or not, your savings with SR are either $10.73 per month or $128.76 per year or, if the signature number is to be considered the savings are $17.18 per month or $206.16.