Vonage Testing New Style-Conscious Gateway

Many Vonage customers choose to hide their sometimes-bulky VOIP gateways under their desk. The company is hoping to change that.

A new gateway device produced by Ambit is now being beta tested by the company, described by the company as "cool and sleek, yet simplistic and approachable." Vonage is also hoping to gain some visibility for their service by making it more pleasant to look at.

The thinking appears to be this: if it looks nice, customers will place it on their desks. That way, the customer's friends and family would see it, and Vonage would gain promotion for their VOIP service and possibly a new customer as a result.

Ambit's device includes an LCD screen on the device where the user can view caller ID information as well as see if they have voicemail. It supports two VOIP lines, voice-over-data prioritization, and T.38 Fax support, among other features.

Beta testers receive an additional phone number independent of their current service to use the product. They are subscribed to the Premium Unlimited Plan for that number, although they receive a $29.99 credit on their bill to offset the cost.

Their original Vonage service continues as normal, according to an e-mail sent to testers. Those that may have not been invited to the test can also apply through the Vonage website.