[BSalita]

I have two needs. I want a VOIP provider that allows international call forwarding (ICF) and allows voicemail (VM) retrieval over the web (WVM).

Suggestions?

Most services offer one or the other. CallVantage doesn't allow ICF but has WVM. VoicePulse allows ICF but only emails VM. I think BroadVoice has both but I'm put off by complaints.

[PhoneBoy]

Broadvox Direct allows international Call Forwarding as I recall, but not VM retrieval over the web.

My question is: with web-based email so easy to get, why couldn't you handle voicemail messages emailed to a web-based email account?

[BSalita]

Yes, web based voice mail may be a good alternative. I would need the choice of picking up the voicemail via phone too. I travel constantly. Sometimes I have no phone access, sometimes I have no web access. Sometimes they are available but expensive.

I would also need to manage my account via the web. I might want to change call forwarding and view/pay the bill. If the service allowed me to do this but only provided email voicemail, well that might work.

[usa2k]

BroadVoiceDirect will be accesible by phone even though you select to forward a copy to email.

I had to check the FAQs to see if you can get voicemail by phone while traveling.

How can I retrieve my voicemail from a remote location?
Dial your Broadvox Direct number, let the call roll over to voicemail. When hearing greeting, press *, dial your extension number + #, then your passcode.

For your first Broadvox Direct line, you would dial 400#. For other lines, refer to the View Extension Services section of the Services tab in the user portal. The Sub-Account ID is the extension number for that line.

[enhompe]

For $2 per month plus usage you can get a domestic number from www.kall8.com that forwards to the international number of your choice (which can be changed at their site). Then you can freely choose your VoIP provider without regard to their ICF offering - just forward your calls to the domestic Kall8 number. Their rates are competitive (half what BroadVoice charges to some int'l cell phones) and pretty reliable. A competitor, www.telcan.net is available too but quality is sub-par in my experience.

[BSalita]

usa2k, BroadVoiceDirect offers voicemail via web or email but they don't appear to offer international call forwarding. Their website is lacking details, they don't list a phone number, their online customer service is unavailble and their email applet fails. Nice introduction. They should quit now and stop stinking up the VOIP market.

enhompe, kall8 doesn't appear to offer web based voicemail. It does have some things going for it though. Its a possiblity.

So far, VoicePulse seems to be the best choice. I can probably live with voicemail retrieval via email. Its a complete solution.

FWIW, I just left Accessline. They offer web based voicemail and international call forwarding but no VOIP.

I'll bet a year from now there will be a half dozen or more VOIP providers that offer ICF and web based voicemail. I am always suprised by markets that don't understand my simple needs. Gee, I wonder how I'm irritating my customers!?

[PhoneBoy]

I'm quite certain it's a "too much risk" issue. International Call Forwarding can rack up charges pretty quick.

[usa2k]

http://www.freeworlddialup.com has voicemail and I think it can be emailed? Been a while since I made it work. Kall8 used to provide Washington number to FWD for free.

Mike Desmond at http://www.clearpath1.com has been out of Michigan numbers they will map to FWD (I have two) They can map to any proper sip URL.