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Four ways to make cheap long distance phone calls

By Leonid Sinichkin

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 30Oct2009 Word count: 862 Viewed: 437 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

There are various ways to make cheap phone calls. Choosing the most appropriate way depends on the particular situation, it changes depending on whether you are at home or on a trip. Let us discuss all the possibilities, so that you can choose the most appropriate one for your situation.

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 various computer programs making use of VoIP, the most famous 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 do you know that there are other 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. If you happen to call such numbers, you can look for alternative programs. 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 - one can use Callback or calling cards or one can even make Skype calls from mobile phone.

2. Callback system works as follows. When you register with the system, you are given 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 seconds the system will call you back (that is why it is called 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 you do not have to pay to your carrier. 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. As the access number is toll free, one is not charged for the call directly, the payment will be taken from the credit on the card. 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 disadvantage of VoIP software is that one needs a computer to make calls. However, there is also VoIP software for mobile phones. The most popular VoIP provider Skype has a program for smartphones, however it works only on very few models. There are however some clients made specially to bridge this gap, for example fring, Talkonaut, IM+ Mobile Messenger. Those programs work on many different mobile phone models, they can connect to the Skype servers, so that one can make Skype calls from mobile phone. The sound quality may differ for different models. On some phones it is just perfect, on some other phones it may be lower however still sufficient to make conversations without difficulties. 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.

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