The Concept of Free Phone Calls

Many people are unaware of the fact that they can make free calls via the internet which is unfortunate because these individuals are missing out on a huge opportunity to significantly lower the amount of their monthly phone bill.  It is possible, in some cases, for an individual to completely replace their landline phone with a VOIP (voice over internet protocol) service, helping them save a sizeable amount of money.

There are several different types of free VOIP systems.  The equipment that each system requires may differ.  Many will allow callers to make calls to a real telephone from their computer.  It’s not even necessary for the caller to have a telephone. It will be necessary, however, to own a headset with a microphone attached to it to make PC to phone, calls.  Now, there are some phones that allow callers to make calls using their telephones.  Individuals who already own a phone may prefer this option.

Another possibility, when using VOIP, is to make phone calls from one computer to another.  This is referred to as PC to PC calling and is similar to the types of phone calls a person would make from their telephone.  Each caller is able to hear each others voice.  This isn’t text or instant chat communication but an actual call.  If a person has the right equipment, they can even see the person they are talking to.  There are a number of applications which support this type of communication.  They include Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and Skype, amongst others.  In order to use any of the above, it is necessary that both parties have whatever software is being utilized.

Individuals who are considering using free VOIP to make PC to phone calls, need to understand that there are some limitations in doing so.  It is not possible to make 911 calls via VOIP or PC to phone, calls.  If an individual were to have an emergency, they would need to use their landline or mobile phone to call 911.  For this reason, it is not a good idea to simply throw out all ones other phones in favor of PC to PC or PC to telephone communication.  That would be a huge risk.  There is an exception, however.  Some VOIP systems or services can be used to make 911 calls.  If a person would like to have that feature, they will need to find a VOIP service that offers it.

Another limitation is the inability to make free long distance calls via VOIP to countries outside of the US and Canada.  People who would like to use this service for free international calls would need to seek out a VOIP service which allows it because not all of them do.  This obviously won’t be a concern for people who will only be using this type of service for domestic calls.  But it will be for those who want to be able to call international free-of-charge.