Voice over IP (VoIP) and how to use it to make cheap international calls

With international travel now part of everyday life and a transient world population intent on exploring the globe through gap-year travels, emigration and extended holidays, making telephone calls overseas has become a feature of many phone bills. Those calls can be extraordinarily expensive, particularly if you're calling from or to a mobile phone number. There is an alternative that could save you a considerable amount of money on those calls. VoIP (Voice over IP) is the new, technological answer to cheap international phone calls. All you need is a PC or regular home phone, broadband and a desire to save some money.

The advent of email has completely changed the way people communicate. Rather than having to wait for days or even weeks for a letter to arrive, an email allows you to read almost instantly a message from the other side of the world. VoIP could be considered to be the next step on this road - a ‘verbal email', if you like. And in the same way that emails are almost free (you still have to pay for the Internet connection, but it means that emails cost a fraction of a penny to send), so VoIP offers you the opportunity to make virtually free phone calls over the Internet. If you sign up to a VoIP provider that offers low-cost monthly call plans, then the limitations placed by the free providers on the duration or number of calls you can make is removed, allowing you to talk for as long as you want and still save money.

The usual system of ‘PC to PC' VoIP calls enables you to make free international calls, but you are tied to a PC to be able to utilise this service. Both you and the person you are calling will need a computer or laptop, a broadband connection, a headset, microphone and speaker and an account with a VoIP provider. This system is fine for most people, but it does have its limitations. Apart from being tied to the computer, you and your recipient both need to be signed up to compatible providers. Because free VoIP is independent of your traditional landline service, VoIP calls have to be PC to PC calls - you can't just pick up the phone and dial any number. You can use the service to call other landline or mobiles, but you will be charged by the minute for those calls in the same way as a standard phone call.

Using VoIP to call abroad also takes a little bit of forward planning, particularly if there are major time differences. You will need to make sure that both you and your recipient are at your PCs at the same time, so it's back to good, old-fashioned emails. The technology for making VoIP calls is still in its infancy and while the provision is excellent, PCs and laptops still have fairly archaic microphones installed in them, so the quality of the call may be less than that you would get with an ordinary phone or mobile.

However, if you can navigate your way around these slight drawbacks, using VoIP is one of the cheapest ways of making international calls. There is also the option of signing up with a VoIP provider who can offer you a paid call plan. This gives you the flexibility of being able to make calls using a traditional home phone instead of having to use a PC. The VoIP provider will send you an adapter that allows you to plug the base of your normal handset into your router, giving you the technology to make phone-to-phone calls. However, instead of going through your normal landline connection, the call goes through your broadband link. The quality of the call is vastly improved and the recipient can take your call using a normal telephone instead of having to link into their PC.

Packages range in price and how much you pay depends on the call plan you select. If you have family in the USA or Canada but don't need to call Australia, then you can select a package that allows you to make unlimited calls to your chosen countries for a capped amount each month. If you have family and friends abroad or call particular countries on a regular basis for your business, this really is the cheapest way to make unlimited international calls to your chosen destination and prevent your monthly phone bill from spiralling out of control. VoIP is one of the best methods of modern communication and the age of the ‘verbal email' is definitely here.

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Costas Kariolis - Online Marketing Manager of Vonage UK. Vonage are leading VoIP (Voice over IP) providers for home & small business users. Offering cheap international calls and free international calls to landlines via an internet phone service for a set monthly fee. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Costas Kariolis Online Marketing Manager E-mail: theteam@vonage.com

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