For several years now I’ve been using Skype. Skype is a program which lets you call other Skype users using your computer. The great thing about Skype is that it’s free! Just download Skype onto your computer and have all your friends do the same. No matter where in the world they are located you will now be able to have free voice and text communications with them!
Unfortunately Skype calls to landlines or cellular phones are not possible unless you purchase Skype credits or one of their subscription package. Between you and me a subscription package that allows you to make unlimited calls to landlines and cellular phones for about $2.25 a month is the best deal around!
Most recently I’ve discovered ways to call landlines and cellular phones anywhere in the world absolutely free! No credits or subscriptions to purchase. Totally Free!
The first thing you need to do is download Skype if you haven’t already done so. Create a username and password and you’re ready to go.
To make free calls to landlines or mobile phones anywhere in the United States, click on the “call phones” tab. There you will need to enter 1-800-466-4411 making sure the + sign is in front of the 1. This will bring you to the Google free 411. The number that you are trying to call has to be a listed phone number. Remember this only works for numbers in the United States.
My favorite is the free international calls. Here’s how that’s done. Go to “call phones” tab on Skype and enter 1-800-373-3411 making sure you have the + sign in front of the 1. The two inconvenience with this method is that you must listen to some advertisements before being taken to the main menu and the call has a limit of 5 minutes per call. But it’s free. Once in the main menu, just say “free call” and wait till the advertisements end and you will be prompted to enter a phone number which is done by clicking the keypad option on Skype and that’s it!
Important Update: Unfortunately it seems that the International number 1-800-373-3411 can not be reached if you only have a free Skype account that has no credits available. But don’t despair there is a solution! Just go to Pay monthly with Skype and take a 1 month subscription for 2.95 Canadian and you’ll be on your way. Thanks to Daniel Taddeo for pointing that out to me.
These two tricks work very well if you need to make occasional calls, but if you make several calls during your normal day I suggest purchasing Skype credits or one of their low cost subscription packages which can be purchased for the whole year at a cost of approximately $27.00 a year or you can pay as you go with monthly subscriptions.
Which ever way you decide to go, Skype is the best and cheapest voice over internet service available anywhere on the internet hands down!
Daniel D. Roy
