Skype, The New Standard In Free Internet Telephony

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Unless you have been living in Siberia, you must have heard of Skype. Skype is an outstanding application of the VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology. All you need is the Skype software, and a set of head phones.

Step 1: Download Skype from here
Step 2: Register an account with an easy to remember name from within Skype.
Step 3: Ask your friends from all over to download skype and register
Step 4: Place a call via your computer.

Thats it!

Skype offers a service called "Skype out" which allows you to call the real phone numbers from your computer. But beware, its not a free service! Infact the charges for calling using SkypeOut are quite high (they are in Euros and not dollars). Skype does not offer free voice mail service or call forwarding etc. But the sound quality is so good that you will be surprised.

These days, all my calls to my brother in law in India and Australia are made on Skype. They both have broad band so it was easy. The rest of my family unfortunately is still on dialup which makes it difficult to connect on Skype.

Pound for pound, Skype is the best solution for my long distance and international call needs.

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