I have another SIP-based offering that follows your logic and, I’d argue, makes more sense than Gizmo: Vonage.

I pay Vonage less than $400 per year; unlimited North America; cheap rates elsewhere; they have a $9.95 per month client for your computer (which I don’t use because of Skype); and if I head to our place in Arizona, I can unplug and pack the tiny box and hook it up there and all calls come to it.

I’d go with gizmo anyway, as you get vastly superior service, and it’s true VOIP. it’s interconnected with other VOIP networks, where skype is skype.

Gizmo can talk to gtalk users, FWD users, and even do “backdoor dialing” which unfortunately plays an annoying message when you call someone like a telemarketing ad, but is handy if say, you’re out of minutes and you need to call someone, or have a very long convo with them

That works by going though the VOIP subsystems many telcos are using. it’s cool.

Skype only has better rates because of ebay’s backing. otherwise, they couldnt offer an unlimited service at such a low price. I also dislike the 180 days policy where any unused minutes you paid for are thrown out by skype.

The other perk of gizmo = you dont have to use their client, it’s handy for some things, but if you want to use their service with a smaller, streamlined VOIP app or phone (a real VOIP phone) it’ll work.

PhoneGnome offers a $14.95 per month plan with unlimited calling to US/Canada, that works on your regular phone or PC. $180 per year is a lot less than $624 and more convenient (you just pick up the same phone you use now and dial, no switching your current service or adding a VoIP bat-phone) http://www.phonegnome.com/minutes.html

http://forum.gizmoproject.com/viewtopic.php?t=6602&highlight=&sid=14d1317470ba63bbdb23916135c1b8f6

Too bad. I much rather use the open SIP protocol for many reasons, the primary being that I am no longer tied to any particular service. The other is that I can use an ATA and have all of my home analog phones work like normal phones work. To obtain the same with Skype, I must use a USB adapter connected to a computer running Skype software. I do NOT like that approach at all. Hardware-only for my primary home communications.

I am often tempted by the skype offer, but for now, I will just stay with Vonage.

One other noteworthy point – Grandcentral is a great free service (www.grandcentral.com) that integrates with Gizmo project and works with all of your phones. I’ve been testing it for a few months and it’s a great service. You should check it out in case you’re not already aware of it.

http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/VOIP+Service+Providers+Residential

You’re still talking probably the $200/year range for unlimited calling, but even that is driving down quickly. It’s the PSTN integration that unfortunately has an unavoidable cost; Skype is able to eat that cost in an effort to increase their customer base. But you pay a cost there…your lock-in to Skype is almost total, whereas with SIP you can move about if prices, plans, or terms of service change. I’m personally willing to pay more for that, but I realize some people aren’t.

I don’t think unlimited US calling on Gizmo would do anything for me in terms of switching but better integration into mobile access and use would be something that could put them way ahead of Skype if they could pull it off. My understanding was that because of SIP they would have a better chance of doing this versus Skype but haven’t seen that aspect emerge anywhere yet.