When I returned to China from the US, I brought back a Motorola VOIP router and intended to use it with Vodaphone, a competing service of eBay’s Skype. I spending a significant amount of time searching for the power required supply (first all over my own apartment and later at computer markets here), I downloaded Skype.
Skype doesn’t require the purchase of additional hardware. Instead of requiring a hardware interface to convert cat5 network cable into a standard phone jack (for the use of a household phone), Skype works with computer headsets with attached microphones. Yes, like phone operator gear. Maybe this isn’t as much of an advantage at all in the long run, but it expands the options and reduce the investment required. I bought one for less than $10.
I’m signed up under the username ascension-studio