There are three ways to speak to people abroad for free, from computers, phones and mobiles. This is all because Voip (voice over internet protocol) or internet telephony has turned the phone world upside down. And in all three cases, wherever your call starts and finishes, it travels most of its path via the web. Talk PC to PC. Are you and the person you're calling near the internet? This is the easiest system, you'll both need a headset with a microphone that you can plug into the PC, they can be picked up for less than a tenner, or get a phone handset you plug in to do the same job. Then simply download free software such as Skype* or Sipphone, connect to each other and start talking for no charge, apart from your standard internet fees that is. For a detailed explanation read: The Voip: Free web calls guide. Yet there is a golden rule here which catches many out, don't believe the Skype hype...
It's only free if you're talking PC-to-PC. If you use the service to call a normal phone… you pay! And often there are cheaper ways to do it.
Many Voip providers will try and flog you PC-to-phone calls, where you call someone's normal phone via your computer, though a few small providers like Voip Cheap and Voip Stunt do provide free calls to some countries PC-to-phone, provided you top up your account.
- Talk Phone To Phone. You both must be registered.
Specialist internet telephony provider JaJah* allows two people with web access to make free calls via landlines. It only works for a limited range of countries, mainly North America, Australasia and Europe, but is a very useful tool for those who prefer the normal phone. For a detailed explanation read: The hybrid web phone calls section of the Voip guide.
- Talk Mobile to Mobile. Only free if you have un-used inclusive minutes.
If both you and the person you're calling have inclusive minutes, a nifty piece of kit from Rebtel* will allow you to make free calls. It's slightly more complicated than just picking up the phone; while the call is routed through the internet for the main part, it works via a callback system so you're effectively dialling a cheaper local rate at both ends.
There are 37 countries you can call, mainly in Europe, Israel, North America, Australasia and the Far East. If you don't have inclusive minutes you'll each be charged the cost of a local call.
