Cost is the main factor that makes communication rare between students learning far away from their homes and their parents and friends 'back home'. VoIP technology provides several ways for people to make long distance and international calls for cheap, if not free. To save on phone calls, students should consider one or more of the following ideas:
- Call from a computer;
- Use virtual numbers;
- Buy a VoIP device;
- Use VoIP on your mobile phone;
Let's see each of these.
Calling From a Computer
A softphone is a program that allows you to make and receive calls through a computer. The most common example is Skype, but there are many applications of the like out there like Gizmo, VoIPStunt, Truphone etc., one better than the other. Click here for a list of software-based services you can use to make calls from your computer.
To be able to make completely free calls this way, your correspondent should be using the same application and service over their computer as well. Downloading and installing these applications is completely free in most cases. You can arrange for the other party to be online at a predetermined and agreed time. Then, using a headset, you can talk unlimited for free, without having to worry about minutes and seconds.
Nice, isn't it? However, there are certain prerequisites. You first need to have a computer, and an Internet connection. If you are in college or university, this is no problem, as you will surely have computers with good Internet connection in computer labs. Then the other party (very often your mum and dad) need to have a computer too; and be able to use it. Many friends from Third World countries who come to study in Europe or the US aren't able to communicate back home this way because their families cannot afford a PC, and even if available, do not know how to use one.
The solution to that is to call them on their local phones from your PC, but this service is not free. The cost is however very low, much lower than the average landline international or long-distance calls. A prominent example of such a service is SkypeOut , but many of the softphones I listed have PC-to-phone calling features at very low rates. You can also have your correspondents call you from their phones to your PC, provided you are there when they call. For this too, you have to pay, but cheap.
Using Virtual Numbers
A virtual number is an anonymous number that you attach to a real number, such that when someone calls you on the virtual number, your real phone rings. Apart from protecting people's privacy and identity, virtual numbers can allow people to save money over long distance and intenational calls. Some virtual number provider companies allow you to select virtual numbers in a large number of cities around the world. That is, you may live in Japan and have a local (virtual) number in New York, or vice versa.
How can this save you money? If you are studying far away from home, say in New York, you can buy a virtual number (they are not very expensive) at home town, or wherever you want to make long distance calls to, and attach it to your local phone number in New York. If your parents back home call you on this virtual number, they will reach you in New York, but will be billed only at the rate of a local call, since your virtual number is local there. You can do it the other way round as well, if the area you want a virtual number in is not covered. You will then buy a virtual number for New York and link it to your parents' phone number, and call that virtual number.
Click here for a list of virtual number service providers. Jetnumbers is one of them, giving numbers you can attach to your Skype account.
Using Device-Based VoIP
If you will have a fixed location (room) and a phone line at your place of study, device-based VoIP is one way in which you can make unlimited long distance and overseas calls for completely free. The phrase that accompanies this type of service is 'no monthly bills!'. Unfortunately, this kind of service is only available to people living in the US for the time being, as it is a relatively new concept.
The only investment you will have to make is the device, whose purchase gives you free service forever after. ooma is one of those, and would be extremely interesting had it not been for its price: $400 at the time I am writing this. Quite high for a student, isn't it?
MagicJack solves the price problem, with a device ten times cheaper, $40. It is a small pen-drive like device, which you plug to your computer (through USB) on one side and your phone line on the other. You can then make calls for free. And yes, unfortunately, it does not work without a computer connected to the Internet.
Using VoIP on Your Mobile Phone
I am sure you will find this one more thrilling, as a student. By using VoIP on your mobile phone, you can make cheap and often free long distance and overseas calls. The most exciting thing here is that you can carry your connectivity with you in your pocket. You can do so if you use services like Yeigo , Fring and some others . You have to install their applications on your mobile and register first.
To make free calls, the person you call should be using the same service over their mobile phone or computer as well, and should be online at an agreed time. So you will want to convince your buddies and other correspondents to do as you did. Otherwise, calls are charged at cheap rates.
There are however two main prerequisites for this: a mobile phone that is compatible with the service and a wireless connection to the Internet, which can either be a data connection plan (3G, EDGE, GPRS etc.) or a Wi-Fi connection. The connection can cost a bit, except for Wi-Fi, which you can get for free in hotspots at the university, around a wireless router, in cafeterias etc. It goes without saying that your mobile phone will have to support the wireless connection technology you use, which makes it possibly costly. So, if you already have or can afford all this, you will love mobile VoIP.
