Like Draytek's Vigor 2500V, the ZoomTel X5v is an affordable router for both consumers and small businesses looking to add single-line VoIP capabilities to their Internet connectivity. It also comes bundled with credit for calls made using Zoom's own SIP service - Global Village - making for very straightforward deployment.

For home use the Zoom router can be connected to a single PC using USB, otherwise it's hooked up to a network via an integrated 4-port 10/100Mbps Ethernet switch. Cables for both types of connection are supplied along with a lead for ADSL attachment. A converter to connect an ordinary telephone handset to the second RJ-11 port is also provided with automatic failover to the dial-up side of the ADSL line in the event of a power failure.

A browser is used to configure the router, but there's not much that's needed to get started, other than a username and password to connect to the ADSL service. With no support for Dynamic DNS a static IP address is recommended and you may also need to configure the built-in firewall to allow access to local Web or mail servers. However, most of the other settings can be left as they are, including those for the SIP service which, by default, is configured for Global Village.

To activate the service you simply click a button in the management GUI which takes you to the Global Village Web site. Here you create your own user account to go with the pre-assigned SIP phone number. Calls to other SIP subscribers are then free (even those on other SIP services) with 10 minutes of credit for PSTN calls also included as part of the package.

There's no monthly subscription. Rather you simply buy call credit to make UK landline calls which are charged at 1.5p/min*. Calls to mobiles cost 14.7p/min and those to the US are billed at 2.5p/minute, and it's worth noting that the Global Village charges quoted are all VAT-inclusive. As such the rates compare well with other services such as DrayTel, with full details to be found on the Global Village Web site.

Call quality matches what you get with other routers too and is similar to an ordinary phone. However, the lack of support for Dynamic DNS and UPnP could be a drawback for users without a static IP address. Similarly, although it can be used with services other than Global Village, there's little information to help with alternative setups.

Still, if you just want to get online and make VoIP calls the ZoomTel X5v has got everything you need at a reasonable price.