Vonage has begun testing a new feature called ContactBook that will greatly improve their Internet phone service for both new and existing subscribers.
ContactBook is an improved online address book that not only makes it easy to add contacts from other sources, such as Microsoft Outlook, but also very simple to manage and communicate with these contacts. According Vonage ContactBook include:
- Contact Management : Manage all your contacts in one centralized location. You can store all your important contact information online including phone numbers, addresses and emails.
- Import your contacts :. Easily import your existing contacts from Microsoft Outlook
- Group Call : You want to talk to friends or co-workers all at once? Calling Vonage Group allows you to speak with up to five contacts simultaneously.
- Call Explosion: You have a message you need to send to a group of people? With Vonage Call breath, you can record a message and send it to a maximum of 20 contacts with the click of a button.
- Click-to-Call: Call a phone number with a click of the mouse. No memorization required telephone numbers
- Speed Dial : Create easy speed dial numbers to remember for your contacts. Another way to make your life easier with Vonage.
- Voice Dial: Just dial * 44 from your Vonage phone and say the name your contact and Vonage voice Dial will place the call for you.
Vonage also notes that all calls made through these improved features will be available at the same low rates as Vonage subscribers are accustomed.
Any subscriber current Vonage can opt-in to be part of this new feature test by going to Vonage ContactBook the and by logging into their account. ContactBook is alpha which means it is not quite ready for prime time and Vonage is probably still working through some final quirks and bugs. As such, we recommend that Vonage subscribers who are ok with some potential hiccups opt-in to the new feature.
Even if you do you exclude us now, the full set of features should be widely available to all Vonage subscribers sometime in 2008.
We're big fans of consumer VoIP services as is, it is great to see even more exciting features added by providers like Vonage. If you want to know more about other VoIP services please read our comparisons and criticisms NextAdvisor.com.