Top-up increments of $4.99 and $9.99 are supported, though if your friends and family use Vonage VoIP accounts for their home or business line then you might not need to bother. Calls to those numbers are also free, though you don’t need to be a Vonage subscriber to use the new mobile app.

As you’d hope, there’s integration with your phone’s address book, and you’re contacted via your existing mobile number. For the moment, Vonage is also throwing in free calls to the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico from anywhere in the world.

The iPhone and Android smartphones are supported, along with the iPad and iPod touch. You can find Vonage Mobile in the App Store and the Android Market.

The free Japanese calling started on March 11 and will run through March 18 at 8:30 pm. The charges will be waved on any calls placed from the Vonage home phones of users to Japan. This is good news and will make checking in a no cost proposition.

“We care deeply about our customers and want to ensure they can reach their loved ones in the aftermath of this horrific natural disaster,” said Marc Lefar, chief executive officer of Vonage. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by the earthquake in Japan and we hope this helps keep friends and family connected at this time of great need.”

The greeting isn’t interactive, but after your little ones hear the message, they can leave Santa a message and tell him what they would like for Christmas. That is much better from a parent’s perspective than waiting in line for an hour at the mall to have your kid sit on some old man’s lap.

After the message is left, a recorded message will be sent to the account holders email so they will know that the little ones want for Christmas. If your kids are anything like mine, they have been telling you what they want for Christmas since September. The attachment can be downloaded and sent to other family members. The same number will let the kids track Santa on Christmas Eve.

If you still want a home phone line and have a reliable broadband connection, Vonage has unveiled a new calling plan that is a raging bargain, especially if you call internationally frequently. Vonage has unveiled a new plan that costs $24.99 per month and includes unlimited flat rate calling around the world along with readable voicemail.

The coverage includes more than 60 countries including America, Mexico, India, and China. Along with the new flat rate plan, Vonage is also unveiling Visual voice mail where the voice mails left can be turned into readable messages and sent via email or SMS at no additional charge.

First, Vonage is going to make sure that former SunRocket customers will be able to port their existing phone numbers to Vonage service, free of charge. Then if the new subscribers sign up for a year’s worth of the US Residential Premium Unlimited Plan, Vonage will throw in two months of service for free.

Former SunRocket customers are encouraged to call 800-833-4806. They can also check for more information on the Vonage website.

[via press release]

Since the 6th of this month Vonage has technically been barred from accepting new customers. Though were actually allowed to continue doing so because the court was gracious enough to grant them an emergency stay.

This doesn’t mean that this is the final chapter in the case. Likely, that is far from it. The trial will continue, but until a final ruling has been made Vonage will be allowed to conduct business as usual.

Vonage Wins Permanent Stay to Sign Up New Customers [via dailytech]

Beginning on what’s known as the busiest shopping day of the year, “Black Friday” (November 24), Circuit City is offering its customers a $200 shopping spree toward any purchase in their store when they sign up for a year of Vonage broadband telephone service. New Vonage customers will also receive select devices at no cost after mail-in rebate.
The exciting deal will kick off on November 24 and end on December 2. Consumers can take advantage of this offer at any Circuit City in the US and activate service with the purchase of a Vonage device immediately at any in-store kiosk.

Thanks for the tips Elisa.