Free Long Distance
Posted: July 09, 2008
Folks who rely on cell phones or who do not have an unlimited, long-distance calling plan bundled with their telephone service can make free calls via the Internet through SKYPE (www.Skype.com).<
Folks who rely on cell phones or who do not have an unlimited, long-distance calling plan bundled with their telephone service can make free calls via the Internet through SKYPE (www.Skype.com).
SKYPE is a Web-based service that allows its members to call each other free. There’s no charge to join. All that’s required to use the service is a computer, computer microphone, speakers and headphones (or a combo microphone headset). Sign up, download the software and call anyone on the network.
If you don’t know anyone with a SKYPE account, you can still call any land-line telephone or cell phone for just 2.1 cents per minute. That’s far less expensive than most long-distance, per-minute service plans and certainly less expensive than cell phone overage minutes. So, use your desktop or laptop from anywhere in the world, to call anywhere in the world.
A variety of other services also are available through SKYPE such as text messaging, communication with instant messaging services and SKYPE Pro, which costs $3 per month for unlimited long-distance calling from your SKYPE account to any phone in the U.S. or Canada.
SkypeIn numbers are also available so family, friends or business co-workers who don’t use Skype can still call you through your Skype account. Anyone can dial your personal Skype online number from a phone or cell phone and the caller only pays the long-distance rates they would normally pay to call you.
To try Skype, simply download the Skype software. Downloading (with DSL service) and setting up the system takes about five minutes.