VOIP (Voice Over IP [internet])

==> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voip

Unlike Skype & other services that are PC-to-PC based, VOIP does NOT need your PC, just your broadband-internet-connection
(DSL, Oceanic cable, PLN microwave [Like the Mitchell's], or high-speed area-WiFi)

PRoComputing uses Pacific LightNet/Hawaii Online ==>

808NetFone's only real competitor is Oceanic's ==>

http://www.twchawaii.com/OceanicWebApps/DigitalPhone/DigitalPhone.html

808NetFone & Oceanic are the only VOIP-providers to offer 808-area-code numbers.
Vonage & other VOIP-companies have NOT paid for the privilege of using 808 -- therefore if you use any of these non-808-VOIP-services, you can call anywhere in the U.S. & ....  But you will not have a local telephone #, so your neighbors & anyone in Hawaii will have to call you long-distance.

If they use a VOIP --with free U.S., no-charge.  However, if your caller uses Hawaiian Telcom, Hawaii's phone utility--owned & operated by the Carlyle group ==>

http://www.hereinreality.com/carlyle.html

they will be billed for a long-distance call to you (wherever your non-808-VOIP company has assigned you a number--another state, of course).

808NetFone PRO's: least expensive (two lines plus message service) for the same price Oceanic offers for a one-line, NO-message-service)

Oceanic PRO: Time/Warner uses a special cable+VOIP modem (WebSTAR_ DPX2203_ cable modem with embedded media terminal adapter[MTA] w/dual POTS) & single-line service(CON) that gives priority to Oceanic voice packet's (IP's) PRO for Oceanic VOIP users

— CON for everybody else sharing Oceanic's cable services!!

808NetFone CON: uses standard Linksys (MTA) VOIP modems (like many other NON-Oceanic VOIP service providers) that are more sensitive to the quality of the broadband connection (see TestYourVoIP RESULTS, below).

Oceanic CON: more expensive, only supports one-line for now — extra $ for voice message service.

TestYourVoIP RESULTS:

Kona, Honoka'a, Hilo: low 4's

Waimea, Waikaloa: low 3's

Here's an okay result (3.7):

And here is a history of PRoComputing's results:

On occasion, PRoComputing has lost 808NetFone service when the MOS goes below 3.0.