Can I make free phone calls on the Internet? Skype, Internet phones, and voice over IP
A wealth of new options are available to help save money on your phone bill. Unfortunately most require a high speed
internet connection making DSL a poor choice for internet phones. DSL, because it requires a phone line to piggy-back
on can't be purchased without phone service. There are several advantages and disadvantages to the internet phone
services as a group. Briefly they are
- Positive: Cost - Internet Phones can run $20 a month for unlimited local and US calls. This compares with the
more typical $50 (most of it taxes) plus long distance fees on regular phone lines.
- Positive: Mobility - Your Internet Phone can go anywhere there's an internet connection. That means you can
take, and make calls when you're visiting relatives, and away on business.
- Positive: Long Distance - Long distance within the U.S., and for many plans Mexico and Canada are free.
Rates for international calls are astoundingly low.
- Negative: Setup - An Internet Phone requires you to plug in a new network device, a modest size box that your
regular phones plug into.
- Negative: Centralization - With your phone AND your internet all going through the same connection you have
the "all your eggs in one basket" problem. This can be a benefit, of course, if the phone lines are down, you will
be unaffected.
- Negative: Quality - While better than cellular phones, Internet Phones are weaker in both quality AND reliability.
We've had good experience with our Internet Phone provider
Skype
Skype is a computer based (though there are adapters allowing it to operate independant of your PC) internet phone
service. If run through your computer then you will need to bring your PC with you in order to travel with it. There
are some differences between Skype and dedicated Internet Phone services:
- Positive: Cost - Yes, Skype is even less expensive, typical fees run less than $100 per year. This includes
your own phone number, just like with Internet Phones listed above. You can operate Skype in a very limited, and free,
Skype to skype only mode as well.
- Positive: Video - With a good connection, and a web camera you can get limited videos of people you are talking
with.
- Negative: Quality - Skype's quality is definately worse than Cellular phones and pales in comparison with other
dedicated Internet Phone services. Call drops, and poor quality are very common.
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