Free (or cheap) phone calls from home

We have all heard the ads on TV and radio for various companies offering very cheap phone service (compared to the traditional phone company).  While these may be good services, it is possible to do even better, with totally free phone calls, thanks to the internet.  The technology used in these low cost and free services is VoIP (Voice Over IP).  Basically digitizing your voice call and sending it in packets over the internet, instead of over the regular phone lines.

Various well established services are offered through some of the biggest names in technology, offering free calls, even international calls.  Sometimes these are only computer to computer calls, but there are even ways to make free phone calls to non-computer users.

Of course, players tend to come and go in this type of space.  And while currently free, companies may start charging for service in the future.  So, read the fine print before you sign up.

Here are some of the major players:

• • voice.google.com – While technically in Beta, Google has an interesting service that works.  You sign up on the site for the Beta, and when you are accepted (there is a wait, which can vary), you will choose a phone number in an area code you chose at signup.  This is a free number, which others can call to ring your home phone, your cell phone, or any other number you specify.  The free incoming phone number can even ring multiple phones, in order to find you.  Furthermore, you can later go on the website, enter a regular phone number within the US that you wish to call, and Google will call that number for free.  Other features include things like transcription services and voicemail.  They even have offered a few free business cards with your new Google Voice phone number printed on it.  Calling international numbers can be done for reasonable fees.  As I said, quite an interesting service.
  • www.skype.com – Currently owned by ebay, but plans are in place to spin this business off.  Offers free computer to computer calls worldwide, including video conference calls and 3-way calling.  All you need are speakers and a microphone on each computer.  Also offers both domestic and international calling to regular phones for reasonable fees (most countries are 2.1 cents per minute plus a 2.1 cent connection fee).  We’ve used this to make cheap 3-way calls between nieces down the street talking on their computer and nieces in other states talking on their phone.  We’ve also used this service in foreign countries to make calls back to the US to stay in touch with our families (we carry a laptop on our vacations, both for keeping in touch, as well as backups for our digital photos)
  • voice.yahoo.com – A combination of free computer to computer calling with Yahoo Messenger, and a paid service for domestic and international calls through a 3rd party company called Jajah.

Here are a few other such VOIP phone services I’ve seen but never used, so you should investigate more before attempting to use them:

• www.icall.com – free 3 minute phone calls within the US and Canada using their web interface.  They seem to promise free unlimited phone calls if you download their application.
• www.evaphone.com
• www.callingamerica.com