Traditional telephone calls can be expensive, particularly if you often have to make international calls. Many people are using VoIP phone service --- which costs less --- as an alternative to traditional telephone lines. An even better solution is to sign up for a free Voice over Internet Protocol service, such as Skype, Google Chat or Windows Live Messenger. The only disadvantage of these services is that you can only complete calls if the person you are calling has the same application installed on his computer, and is online at the same time.
Instructions
Using Skype
1. Download and install Skype on your computer. Get all the other people you might want to call to download and install Skype on their computers.
2. Go to "Start" > "All Programs" > "Skype" and run the application.
3. Click "Don't have a Skype name?" Then sign up by entering a username and password along with other required details. Once you've signed up, log in by entering username and password.
4. Go to "Contacts" from the top menu, and click "Add a Contact."
5. Enter the Skype name of the person you wish to call. Skype will then search for the particular Skype name, and show you the option to "Add" him. Select this option, and add the person to your contact list. When the person logs in to his Skype account, he will have to accept your request, then he will appear as "Online" on your list.
6. Double-click the contact when he's online, and click the "Call" button. Adjust your speakers and microphone volume so both the parties can hear each other. The call will be connected when the other party accepts the call. You can talk for free as long as you want to.
Using Google Chat
7. Make an account on Google if you don't have one already. Go to Gmail website, and click "Sign Up." Then fill out the registration form and access your new email inbox. Tell parties you wish to call to set up accounts, too.
8. Click the "Chat" tab on the left menu on your Google inbox page.
9. Enter the Google email address of the person you want to call for free in the blank field under "Chat." Click "Invite to Chat" in the small menu that appears. Now wait for the other party to log in to his Google account where he will be prompted to accept your request. After adding, he will appear as online on your chat list.
10. Double-click the contact. A small chat box will appear on the bottom right of the page.
11. Click the "Call" icon to connect the call with the other party. After he accepts the call, you will be connected to the free call.
Live Messenger
12. Download and install Windows Live Messenger on your computer. Also, get other parties to download and install it on their computers.
13. Go to "Start" > "All Programs" > "Windows Live Messenger." Click "Sign up" if you don't have an account already. Then fill out the registration form, and sign in using your username and password.
14. Click the "Add" button, and enter the Windows Live ID of the other person to add. Confirm that you wish to add the person. Once he accepts your request, he will appear as online on your chat list.
15. Double-click the contact to open an individual chat box.
16. Click the "Call" button from the chat box menu. The call will connect to the other party when he accepts the call.
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