SKYPE (European invention and just taken over by eBay) is very good for Voice over the internet telephony using SKYPE OUT. SKYPE OUT enables you to make telephone calls to overseas people at local call rates. SKYPE users can call each other for FREE like messanger, Yhoo etc.
You can also buy SKYPE phones for use in the house over a PC wireless network that does not need the PC up and running. You can also buy USB phones that use SKYPE on the PC. IF you want to make telephone calls using the internet try SKYPE OUT. If you really get into this you can have a UK, US or other country telephone number for people to call you on your PC using SKYPE IN. Load the software and give me a call.
GIZMO is a US alternative but uses open standards wheras SKYPE is proprietary. I have tried both and they seem the same, call charges are different so use the US version for US calls and the European version of European calls, check tafifs for exact pricing differences. I am just abandoning my seconf land line phone and going for one landline and one internet phone for teh best of both worlds and a PAYG mobile.
One advantage of a SKYPE phone is that yoy can use it or the number on your own PC if you spend time at other locations with broadband connections, although it works reasonably well on dial up as well. |