Make Phone Calls For Free
The Web has changed the way we interact with each other in a whole host of different ways – from email to video calling, it’s now possible to get in touch with someone on the other side of the world in seconds, as well as share documents and media files easily.
You can also use your broadband connection to make free audio and video calls over the Internet, for no extra cost – whether you want to speak to someone at the end of the road or in a different continent, you can talk for as long as you like without paying anything except your monthly Internet bill.
If you prefer talking on a phone to speaking into your PC’s microphone, you can buy special devices that look and work like traditional handsets but which make use of your Internet connection rather than your phoneline.
All of this functionality is made possible by Voice-over-IP (VoIP) software which converts audio signals into packets of data that can be sent over the Web – Skype is currently the leader of the pack and the program that we’ve focused on in this guide. Over the pages that follow we’ll introduce you to the software and explain how you can connect to friends, colleagues and relatives via audio or video links.
Skype also offers many features you’ll be familiar with from instant messaging tools, such as the option to share files and links over the Web. We’ll also go into some depth to cover the technology that underpins Skype and VoIP software in general, and there’s a handy troubleshooting section should you run into problems.
At the end of the guide you’ll find a number of hardware reviews, covering devices such as handsets and headphones that you might want to buy to get the most from your calls.
This 18-page Guidaroo guide is available for instant download for just £2.99.
(Roughly* €4, or US$5, or Can$5, or Aus$4)
PDF format, filesize: 22,652KB. How does this work?
Inside...
- The expert’s guide to Skype: Everything you need to know about the key VoIP program – from tips on getting started to tricks and features for advanced users.
- Voice over Internet Protocol: Learn how VoIP technology works, and discover the hardware devices and software programs that can make full use of your PC’s Web connection.
- Solving problems with VoIP and Skype: If you run into problems or have unanswered questions, this is the place to turn, offering straightforward advice and troubleshooting tips
- Hardware reviews: There are a host of devices that you can use to enhance your VoIP experience, and here we profile some of our favourites.
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