Salshdot takes note of the terrible Terms of Service from many of the major voice-over-IP providers, including Vonage. I nearly bought a Vonage subscription three times last year, but each time, their ToS changed my mind. Who wants to do business with a company that makes you agree to something really unreasonable before they'll take your money?
he prime example is Vonage, which states among other things that 'If Vonage, in its sole discretion believes that you have violated the above restrictions, Vonage may forward the objectionable material, as well as your communications with Vonage and your personally identifiable information to the appropriate authorities for investigation and prosecution and you hereby consent to such forwarding.'"
"Don't forget the obligatory 'we can change these terms of service whenever we like and they become effective immediately when posted to our website.' Read for yourself here(1), here(2), and here(3). I won't put up with this kind of thing in my software and I certainly won't put up with it from my phone company!"
I'm surprised that more VoIP companies don't tout their ToS as competitive advantages over Vonage — "Sure they've got a great rate plan, but if they think you're doing something naughty, they'll rat you out to the Feds."
