Vonage Unveils Traveling VoIP Service

With the ink barely dry on a $215 million private debt financing deal, Vonage Holdings announced a comprehensive calling plan called Vonage Pro that enables subscribers to use their home phone connections virtually anywhere they can find a high-speed Internet connection.

Announced Monday, the $35-a-month service can also automatically transcribe voice mails to e-mail or SMS text. Customers can read, store, search, and respond to voice mail messages on their PCs or smartphones with the service.

Incoming Vonage Pro calls ring at both the customer's home number and at a companion number chosen by the customer. The Vonage Companion feature is provided by mobile VoIP software company CounterPath.Customers can initiate outgoing calls on both phones simultaneously.

"Vonage Pro is the VoIP offering that (consumers) have been asking for to help them stay connected while on the go," said Jamie Haenggi, Vonage chief marketing officer, in a statement.

The service also features selective call block, conference calling, personalized ringtones, and call recording. Haenggi added that the service will appeal to customers who don't want to miss important calls while on vacation or business trips.

The service includes unlimited Vonage residential digital voice, 25 Vonage Visual Voicemail messages, and 25 monthly 411 directory assistance calls.

Last week Vonage announced a $215 million financing deal led by Silver Point Finance as the firm sought to forge ahead and leave behind a series of intellectual property lawsuits initiated by telecommunications firms including AT&T, Verizon Communications, and Sprint. At the same time, Vonage founder Jeffrey Citron is preparing to turn over the company's management reins to a new chief executive. Citron is expected to remain with the company.