Free Long Distance Calls
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I missed this revolutionary announcement back in May, and just heard about it a few days ago in the ‘Cranky Geeks’ podcast.
The big deal is that anyone with a computer, broadband connection, speakers, and cheap microphone can dial free long distance calls anywhere in America or Canada. Yes, you can make totally free and totally unlimited long distance phone calls with your computer. (What, you still don’t have a computer microphone? Good thing they’re as cheap as $7 at Wal-Mart, and are also sold at Circuit City, Best Buy, Staples, Office Max, Target, etc.)
You can do this by using Skype, a free Voice over IP (VoIP) software, which eBay bought several months ago for a few billion dollars. You create a username in the Skype software, and could always call other people by username for free, but calling landlines cost money.
However, until at least the end of 2006, Skype is allowing free calls to any landline in the United States or Canada! Forget your low rates on your home phone plan or on your calling card, and forget using your cell phone minutes. Dial long distance using Skype and pay nothing for the calls.
First, download the small Skype program at http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/, if you haven’t already. (Oh look, Skype is also giving free calls to England on July 15/16, Mexico on July 22/23, and Japan on July 29/30.)
Second, install the Skype software using the executable you just downloaded. Follow the instructions to create a username.
Third, select the ‘Dial’ tab, and then simply dial the phone number area code first like normal. (See photo, which links to a larger version if you click it.) Yes, I know there’s a message saying you must buy Skype credits to make calls to landlines; trust me that you do not.
Don’t want to broadcast the phone conversation over speakers for everyone to hear? Most speakers accept headphone jacks, even for the little ear bud headphones.
This is important information not just for households who dial lots of long distance, but especially for Idaho Falls businesses. I hope this information helps save hundreds and thousands of dollars for our local business community. Please use the ‘email to a friend’ function below to let your friends and business associates know about this, and let’s save everyone in Idaho Falls some money.
Finally, leave comments in response to this article if you find it useful and especially if you save some money.
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Comments
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0 
0 to landline calls, only since May.
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0 0 Has anyone else been using this?
I use it for all of my long distance calls now, I haven’t used a charged LD call in months!
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0 0 So the free calls to any phone in the U.S. deal is ending on Dec 31st.
They are giving almost as good a deal, $14.95 for unlimited long distance calls anywhere in the U.S. with no per-minute charges. Take that, Qwest $20 per month unlimited calling!
I think you have to sign up for it by Dec 31st or Jan 31st. After that it costs $30 for the year. Still better than any long distance carrier, and no taxes!
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0 0 hi…..
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0 0 DonJuan is right Joe. People have been able to make free calls over the internet for years, not just recently. Maybe just recently with Skype, but there have been numerous programs out their for well over a decade in which all you’ve needed was a microphone. Granted it wasn’t the most reliable, but it was doable. Just recently Vonage and a number of other companies have been profiting on what’s been free for almost as long as the internet has been around. I know because I tried it out back when the only speed available online was 36.6 baud dial up.
The thing is, most people get free long distance through their cell service anyways. I dont know about you, but I personally don’t know that many people these days that even have a landline anymore. Fortunately the majority of my long distance calls are to family and friends that all have the same cell service as me so the calls are free. And those that don’t have the same service, I’ve got more than enough roll over minutes to cover them.
I guess its good to know for those people that have to actually have to pay for long distance calls…
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Geez Joe get with the times!!!
Skpe has been offering free calls in US and Canada for sometime now.
Don’t miss this SKPE has been HACKED!!!
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/0-0&fp=44b8eb6dea16acc8&ei=eAO4RIngCs-SafPGxa4E&url=http%3A//www.whatpc.co.uk/vnunet/news/2160383/skype-protocol-hacked&cid=1107957749