Internet phone service is bad and getting worse, according to a new survey released last week. That's interesting, since I have been using Vonage at home for quite a while now and my experience has been that it's improved significantly over time. These days its much better than the local "classic" wired telephone service. But apparently my VOIP experience might not be the norm, at least if you believe the people doing the testing:

Nearly one in five Internet phone calls are “unacceptable” in quality - with annoying woes ranging from echoes to clicking sounds. The problem is lines clogged with video, audio and other data that interfere with service, said the study by Brix Networks, which makes products that test the quality of so-called Voice Over Internet Protocol...

...Brix arrived at its conclusion after almost one million Internet phone tests were conducted by users at the company’s web site, testyourvoip.com. The tests, started in late 2004, immediately revealed quality problems and Brix continued with the tests through early this year, before compiling and releasing its results...

All I can say is I really like Vonage. Between the call quality I get (very good) and the extra features, not to mention the lower price relative to POTS service, there's no way I'd go back.

(story via the Boston Herald)