By Lee Harrison
When living overseas, one of the most costly items can be your long-distance telephone bill as you talk to friends and family back home. This month we'll look at one low-cost solution, Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, using a PC dialer. Next month, we'll cover broadband phones.
Simply put, VoIP technology allows a computer user to talk over the Internet, using a microphone and a headset, by dialing a virtual phone that appears on the PC monitor. There are two modes of operation: PC-to-PC, that is, speaking to someone who is also on a computer; and PC-to-Phone, where you're using your computer to dial up a phone.
PC dialers offer the following advantages:
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Providers to get you started
? Skype: www.skype.com |
-No startup cost, with free software downloads
-No required monthly fees, activation, or cancellation fees
-No cost for talking PC-to-PC
-Low rates without a monthly plan, and even lower rates with a plan
-No special equipment required
-It can be used with dial-up Internet service when broadband is not available
-It often works with a camera, so you can see the person you're talking to
-When calling abroad, call quality is often better than the telephone
Rates for calling the U.S. or Europe are inexpensive, but can vary widely when calling to smaller markets, so choose a service that has good rates for the countries you wish to call. In most countries outside the U.S., calling a cell phone is more expensive than a landline, so be sure to check the cell phone rates. Just about every provider will have rate plans that fit your needs, but remember that a good rate plan in one country may be an expensive rate plan while traveling in another.
Apart from rates, here are a few other questions to consider before choosing a provider:
-Is the personal directory convenient to use?
-Can you see if the person you're calling (PC-to-PC) is online?
-Does it keep your dialing history?
-Do they offer incoming calls from a landline to your computer?
-Can you use a camera?
It may seem like an impossible task to choose a provider when considering all the features and rate plans. The good news is that you don't have to choose just one-pick several. I have three dialers installed-Skype, IConnectHere, and Net2Phone-each of which has advantages in certain situations. For example, when Skype starts dropping calls in Uruguay, IConnectHere comes to the rescue. And since I don't have rate plans with monthly fees, having three is no more expensive than having one.
To get started, visit the provider's website and download the free software. If you intend to call normal phones, you'll also be required to give them a credit card to cover the cost of the calls. If you have a microphone and headset for your computer, you're in business. Using PC-to-Phone software, all of my international calling usually totals about $4 per month. And don't forget, it's a great way to call within North America, too. IL