This caught my eye on the wire today. Montreal-based BabyTel is expanding into the US market. I first heard about them when I was compiling my list of Canadian VOIP providers. They say they’re different from the wake of other VOIP providers out there, offering not just competitive rates and plans but also “innovative” services and outstanding customer service, “something the so-called giants have trouble delivering”. (Wu-hoooo…wu-hoo-hoo).

They’re coming to the party with all the usual features of a VOIP service provider, but  they’re also offering fax-to-email and follow me services (when multiple devices ring at the same time). Sorry, that’s a little shy of the Wow! factor isn’t it?

If innovation is really on their mind, they should give PhoneGnome’s David Beckenmeyer a call, or at least heed his plea.

BabyTel does offer service in my area, though (Vancouver), which is great. Plus they’ve got a softphone option instead of adaptor. Maybe I’ll give ‘em a try. I’m interested to see what “responsive tech support” is really like.

A friend of mine recently asked about VOIP services in Canada. Like me, he started with Vonage but has decided to look elsewhere. We both live in Vancouver and want a local 604 number. I discovered that at this point, there aren’t a lot of options. Thus began a search for services that support Canadian area codes.

I found that Mark Evans, a Canadian technology blogger, has a nice list. I’ve added a few names to it here:

• Shaw Digital Phone: BC & Alberta (select areas)
• Rogers Home Phone: BC (select areas), Ontario, probably elsewhere but they make it hard to find out. You have to enter your postal code before they’ll tell you.
• Primus TalkBroadband: Canada-wide, select cities
• Vonage: Canada-wide and the only one I think that includes the adaptor for free
• Zingotel: BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec
• Bell DigitalVoice: Toronto, Montreal, Hamilton
• babyTEL: BC, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia
• Telehop Broadtalk: Ontario
• AOL Canada TotalTalk: BC, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia
• Cogeco: Ontario,Quebec
• SpectraVoice: Ontario, Quebec
• Videotron: Quebec
• unitz.ca: Canada-wide
• DigitalVoice: BC, Alberta

Added Sept. 25:

• Unlimitel: BC, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec