With Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) you can call from computer to computer completely free, meaning you can say goodbye to expensive phone bills - but how does it work? We explain how you can use VoIP to talk for free.
What is VoIP?
VoIP, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, is a method of communication that allows you to speak to people either locally or internationally over your internet connection rather than your phone line. This means that you can call from computer to computer using just your broadband connection, so there are none of the costs that come with dialing a number by phone. You are able to do this because, unlike phone lines, VoIP is not tied to any particular geographic location – it uses the global internet network to connect one computer to another.
VoIP works by converting vocal signals into high frequency digital signals which can then be transmitted over the internet in real time. So a call from your computer in London to your cousin’s computer in New York can be made completely free of charge, in the same way that it would be free to send an email or instant message from computer to computer.
If you regularly talk to people in other countries, or simply in other area codes, VoIP can mean huge savings because the usual cost involved in phoning long distance is no longer a factor. Instead you can use your internet connection to talk to your friends for free.
How does it work?
VoIP can be used to make two different kinds of phone calls – either from computer to computer or from computer to phone. The former can be made completely free of charge, but the latter sometimes involves a cost. However calling a phone from a computer with VoIP will still usually cost less than calling a phone from a phone.
What do I need?
To start using VoIP you’ll need a computer with internet access, plus a microphone and speakers or a headset, so that you can talk into the microphone and hear the person you’re talking to either through a headset or through speakers, specialist VoIP phones are also available. You might also buy a webcam which will allow you to see the person you are talking to and for them to see you, much like a videophone. Bear in mind though that using video can sometimes lessen the quality of your audio connection.
You’ll also need to make sure you have a broadband connection that will allow VoIP calls. There are many broadband packages that facilitate VoIP use, and shopping around will help you to find one at the right price. You’ll have to download software that enables VoIP calls, the most popular provider of this being Skype.
Skype is free to download to your computer, and then you just need to create a username and connect to whoever you want, anywhere in the world. The person you’re talking to will also have to have Skype downloaded and installed to their computer to enable a connection.
Skype isn’t the only provider in the VoIP market however; names such as MSN and BT are now realising the potential of a computer to computer communication medium and have begun to offer broadband packages to reflect this capability.
How about calls from computer to phone?
These aren’t as simple as just calling computer to computer, but using VoIP can still present an economical alternative to calling a phone from a mobile or landline. To make calls from your computer to a phone will require the same headset/speaker and microphone set-up, and you’ll be able to dial a phone number from your computer – your provider will then bill your VoIP account accordingly.
Calls of this kind will be especially cost-effective if you often travel out of the country, and make calls back to the UK. Doing so by conventional means such as calling from your mobile phone can run up a significant bill, but doing so through your computer using VoIP can make these calls much cheaper, if not free – potentially saving you a considerable amount of money.
It’s also worth checking how much it will cost you to call long-distance, for example placing a call to Australia, before you make the call.
What else should I consider?
If you don’t have broadband internet access already, it’s a good idea to compare how much it will cost you to set up VoIP broadband on your computer for free calls with how much it is costing you to phone from your landline or mobile phone at the moment.
By getting broadband, VoIP isn’t the only new benefit you’ll have. You’ll also have access to a huge number of other opportunities and services, which are well worth looking into.
