Skype Insider

Modern technologies allow one to easily change the phone carrier and thus to substantially reduce the phone bills. The carrier can be even in another country, due to the opportunities offered by the Internet, their location has lost it’s meaning. There are many ways to make cheap calls. One can make calls from regular phone or use special software for mobile phones, or one can even make calls from computer. We will now describe the most popular ways of cheap calling so that you can choose the one that suits best to your needs.

1. VoIP (Voice over IP) is currently the most popular and the cheapest way for long distance and international phone calls. With the VoIP technology, phone calls are made not from a regular phone but from a computer. There are many VoIP clients for computer, the most popular one is Skype. There is no need to write here about Skype, most of us know about it and use it (If you haven’t heard about Skype, you better visit their site right away. That will save you a lot of money on your phone calls). But there are, in fact, many more VoIP programs? One may ask, why do I need another program, after all I do not have any problems using Skype and I am quite satisfied with it? But the thing is that Skype calls are not always so cheap. Calls to some countries, and especially to mobile numbers, can be quite expensive. But there are other VoIP providers, which may offer much lower rates. We recommend VoipRaider and CallEasy as high quality VoIP providers. Their rates for mobile numbers are substantially lower than those in Skype, moreover calls to landline phones in many countries are completely free.

But what if you do not have a PC or you are having a trip away from your place, what to do then? For that case there are other cheap ways - the most widely used are Callback and calling cards but there is also a possibility to make VoIP calls from mobile phone.

2. Callback system works as follows. All calls are made via a special access number. To make a call, one has to dial the access number and hang up after the first tone. In a few moments the system calls you back (thus the name Callback). Then you pick up the phone and dial your destination number. In this way you do not place a call, the call comes to you. That is why your carrier does not charge you for the call. The payment is made to the Callback provider according to their low rates. You number registered in the Callback system can be changed at any time. So, even if you go to another country, you can register any landline number in that country and use Callback there (one can register, for example, a hotel number - the system allows registering numbers with extensions, that is why it can call you back even in your hotel room). There are many Callback companies. Among the most popular ones are Telcan and Globaltel. Telcan’s rates are somewhat lower but Globaltel provides a better sound quality. You can compare the rates for your direction and make a choice yourself.

3. Calling cards are very popular in some countries (e.g., in the USA), so if you already know about calling cards, you do not need to read this part. If you didn’t yet hear about calling cards you should check if they are available in your country (or the country you are going to). Unlike phone cards, calling cards can be used with any phone, not only with payphones. Like in the case of Callback, one has to dial an access number (but in this case the access number is toll free). Then, without hanging up, one dials the destination number. The call to the toll free access number costs nothing, one only pays for the international part of the call and the rates are usually quite low. Before buying a calling card, it is better to check on the Internet for the available calling card providers and their rates, so that one can choose a provider with the lowest rates for the desired calling direction. Many providers offer virtual calling cards, that is just an access number and a pin purchased online. That can save you time because there is no need to look for the cards in the retail shops.

4. Making VoIP calls from mobile phones. The only problem with the VoIP software is that it requires a computer to make calls. However, VoIP calls can now be made from mobile phones too. The most popular VoIP provider Skype has a program for smartphones, however it works only on very few models. There are however some special VoIP clients for mobile phones, like IM+ Mobile Messenger, Talkonaut, fring. Those programs work on most mobile phones, they can connect to the Skype system allowing one to make Skype calls from mobile phone. The sound quality may differ for different models. It is best for the Symbian OS phones (most Nokia and Sony Ericsson models) however even on Windows Mobile phones it is sufficiently good. Even if the sound quality is not perfect, one has the advantage of being able to make cheap calls anytime, anywhere. That is why such programs are definitely worth trying.