Alternative Phone Service: How Can I Get Free VoIP?

Finding the right VoIP provider depends on your communication needs: Do you want to use VoIP for calls within the United States or for international calls? Some providers work best when communicating via computer, while other services allow for free calls to land lines or mobile phones. Recognizing your VoIP needs will allow you to choose the right provider.

One of the most widely-used free VoIP providers, Skype, offers free, unlimited calling between members that are signed in to their accounts at the same time. Creating an account is free, and all that is required is an Internet connection. Calls to land lines and mobile phones are not free, however, and the price by minute depends on what country is being called.

VoIPcheap allows you to make free calls to land lines and mobile phones in certain countries (land line and mobile phone calls are free in the United States) from your computer. You must download the software from their website; keep in mind, however that this service imposes a limit of minutes that can be used each week, after which you must pay a set rate per minute.

VoIP mobile phones are the newest development in VoIP technology -- this service allow calls to be routed from a computer directly to a mobile phone. Users must first install an application on their mobile phone, after which the service is free. Calls can only be received from users of the same service. One of the most well-known such providers is Fring.