Sunrocket vs. Packet8 - Cheap High Quality Internet Phone Service Plans by Debbie Jacobsen

Sunrocket used to be the cheapest high-quality internet phone service provider, and also the only VoIP provider that offered an "annual" prepaid VoIP plan. In a bold effort to stay ahead in the VoIP price wars, competing VoIP provider Packet8 recently introduced an annual unlimited local and long distance VoIP service option at the same price. Whether Vonage will follow remains to be seen, but for now Sun Rocket and Packet 8 lead the pack in offering the cheapest, high quality internet phone service.

Sunrocket

At $199 per year (paid up front), Sunrocket unlimited local and long distance phone service works out to less than $17 per month. Sunrocket built their business on this "flat rate" pricing plan, and cost-conscious consumers love it. Sun Rocket internet phone service is one of the fastest-growing VoIP service providers in the United States, and also one of the "big three" VoIP providers (along with Vonage and Packet8) due to their top quality service and ultra-low annual pricing.

The Sun Rocket unlimited local and long distance plan includes calling within the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. With the annual subscription, you get several free popular calling features including voicemail, 3-way calling, call waiting, caller ID with name, call forwarding, distinctive rings, call return, speed dial, and more. The unlimited annual plan also provides you with $3.00 in free international calling credits per month, which can mean up to 100 free minutes of international calling, depending on where you call.

Sunrocket's annual unlimited plan also comes with free E-911 service, two free directory assistance calls per month, and a free extra phone number (area code of your choice) that you can use for anything you like. Sun Rocket VoIP service is true "what you see is what you get" pricing. The $199 annual fee includes everything except any additional international calling charges you might incur. Unless you make a lot of international calls (in which case you should get the Sunrocket Sunspots Plan), you will not see another phone bill until the following year when it's time for renewal.

Packet8

Packet8 has been known as a top quality VoIP provider for residential and small business telephone service for quite some time. They have always had great rates on unlimited local and long distance residential internet phone service ($19.99 a month), but have now gotten even better. Packet 8 recently implemented an annual pricing plan for unlimited local and long distance service. At $199 per year, their Freedom Unlimited Annual plan matches Sunrocket's excellent price, but they don't offer unlimited calling to Puerto Rico like Sunrocket does.

With the Packet 8 unlimited annual plan, you get more free calling features than Sunrocket offers. All the basics like voicemail, call waiting, caller id, call return, and call forwarding are covered; plus you get extras like voicemail to email, anonymous call blocking, and do not disturb, just to name a few. E-911 service costs an extra $1.99 per month, and additional phone numbers cost extra too. The $199 annual fee covers all calling within the US and Canada, and you won't see any extra charges unless you make international calls. Packet8 also offers a video phone plan and a couple of business VoIP plans. Both Packet8 and Sunrocket offer excellent customer service and technical support, and both internet phone service installations are easy and quick (anyone can do it). You can use your existing phone with either service as long as it's a touch-tone model, and both providers allow you to keep your existing phone number if you wish. As with all internet phone service, you must have broadband internet in order to use it.
About the Author

Debbie Jacobsen is an IT professional and author of long-distance-savings.com. Learn more about Packet8, and Sunrocket.