Phone Power
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Jim Murphy, Ari Ramenzani |
| Headquarters | Winnetka, California , United States |
Area served | United States (48 states), Canada |
| Products | VoIP telephone services, SIP Trunking, international calling plans, iPhone app, Softphone software |
Phone Power operates as a privately held American VoIP provider based in Winnetka, California, delivering telephone services over broadband internet connections.
History
Established in 2005 by Jim Murphy and Ari Ramenzani, Phone Power extends its telecommunications offerings throughout 48 states in the U.S. and into Canada. Its clientele ranges from individual residential users with single lines to corporate call centers utilizing SIP Trunking technology. With customer support located within the United States, the company claims the status of the largest privately owned VoIP provider competing with established U.S. carriers, while steadily growing its Canadian subscriber base.
In the news
In September 2009, Phone Power entered the Canadian market by acquiring all residential customers from Broadvox Direct’s VoIP service. Later that year, it expanded its national footprint by forming retail partnerships with Best Buy and Fry's Electronics.
The company received industry acknowledgment when Acme Packet recognized Phone Power as a principal user of their Net-Net session border controllers, enhancing its network capabilities. In 2010, Metaswitch featured Phone Power as a pioneer in adopting comprehensive all-IP voice solutions, highlighting its leadership in broadband telephony.
October 2010 marked another strategic acquisition with VOIP.com customers transitioning to Phone Power, although VOIP.com continues to operate independently. In 2011, the company made a substantial purchase of VoIP adapters from Innomedia to support ongoing service expansion.
In May 2012, Phone Power experienced a brief service interruption due to a denial-of-service attack but quickly restored operations while collaborating with the FBI.
By March 2014, Obihai Technology endorsed Phone Power as a preferred alternative provider for customers impacted by Google's termination of XMPP support, strengthening its position amid evolving VoIP technologies.
Products
In 2009, Phone Power introduced an offer providing “free 60 minutes of international calling” on plans exceeding 3,000 minutes. The following year saw the launch of the Global Plus Add On plan, which added 1,200 international minutes. January 2011 brought the release of a complimentary iPhone application allowing users to make international calls via mobile devices. The company also marketed a “Zippy” USB adapter designed for travelers, subsequently replaced by a free standalone Softphone compatible with both Windows and Apple operating systems.
VoIP requirements
For residential use, customers connect either through a Phone Power VoIP router or their own equipment linked to a broadband modem. To maintain dependable call quality, minimum internet speeds of 128 kbps upload and 768 kbps download are recommended.
Telephone number access and portability
Users can select a primary U.S. phone number from any available area code, regardless of their physical location, with the option to purchase additional virtual numbers for an extra charge. The service facilitates U.S. number porting via local number portability, though this feature's availability depends on the specific area code. Customers in both the United States and Canada may sign up using credit cards, debit cards, or prepaid cards.
Emergency calling
Unlike conventional POTS lines that are linked to a fixed address for 9-1-1 emergency services, Phone Power’s VoIP solution offers flexibility through Enhanced 9-1-1 (E911), enabling users to promptly update their emergency address online. Additionally, the Failsafe Number Feature reroutes calls to an alternative phone number during service interruptions, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity.