Make free long distance calls through your computer.
Voice over Internet protocol technology, commonly called VoIP (pronounced "Voyp"), uses your Internet connection to let you make voice calls like a telephone. If you already have high-speed Internet service, many VoIP services let you call long distance for free. Different carriers have different restrictions, such as whether or not international calls are free and whether you can call telephones or only other computers. Read the service details carefully before signing up with any VoIP program to ensure you get a service that suits your needs.
Instructions
1. Choose whether you want a service that only allows calls to other computers or one that allows computer-to-telephone calls. If you only have one or two people you call regularly using long distance, consider asking them to sign up for a free computer service along with you. Otherwise, choose a service that allows computer-to-voice calls.
2. Select a free VoIP service. For computer-to-computer calls, Windows Live, Apple's iChat, Skype and several other well-known products offer free calling around the world. For computer-to-voice calls, Google offers free US long distance services through your Gmail account using Google Voice, as well as low rates on international calls. If none of these suit your needs, the VoIP Now organization maintains a list of free VoIP providers (see "Resources").
3. Connect your computer to the Internet and visit the website for the service you want, such as Google Voice, Windows Live or Skype (see Resources).
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to download the appropriate software and install it on your computer.
5. Launch your VoIP program and add the people you want to call to your "Contacts" or "Buddies" list. Enter the phone number or messenger IDs for each person.
6. Plug a telephone headset with a microphone into the appropriate port on your computer. You can make VoIP calls without a headset, but sound quality will be greatly improved with a good quality headset.
7. Click the name of the person you want to call and press the phone icon on your screen. Some programs may have a slightly different process, so consult your program's help files if you do not see a phone icon.
8. Talk as you normally would on the phone. When your call is finished, disconnect by clicking the red phone icon or similar hang-up button on your service. You can sign out of the service or leave it on to receive calls.
Tags: long distance, your computer, phone icon, service that, computer-to-voice calls