Make Free VOIP Phone Calls Over the Internet Using Skype VOIP

Using voice over internet protocol, or VOIP for short, broadband users can subscribe to free or low-cost calling through the internet. One provider offering VOIP phone service is Skype.

Skype VOIP Overview

Skype is a popular VOIP phone service provider that facilitates free, unlimited computer-to-computer calling. After you and your friends go to Skype's website and download their software onto your respective computers, you can call each other for free. You can also make video calls, conference calls, and instant message your friends.

How Does Skype VOIP Work?

You use Skype's phone features in one of several ways: headset, USB Skype phone, cordless phone, or Skype-enabled WiFi phone. You can also use your computer's built-in microphone and speakers.

The headset and USB Skype phone you simply plug into your computer. With the cordless phone option, you can either purchase a Skype-enabled cordless phone or a special telephone adapter box that allows you to use your existing cordless phone (broadband router required).

Skype VOIP WiFi Phone

The most exciting Skype VOIP option is the Skype-enabled WiFi VOIP phone. The WiFi VOIP phone is much like a cell phone, except you make calls via WiFi hotspots rather than cell signals. This means you can call other Skype users for free anywhere you find a WiFi hotspot, sans laptop.

In an even newer development, Skype features a mobile app download for free Skype-to-Skype calling using your mobile phone.

Free is great, but what if you want to call friends who only have a landline or cell phone? Skype has numerous plans for that scenario as well.

Skype VOIP Phone Features and Service Plans

Skype's free VOIP phone service is strictly for Skype-to-Skype calls. For those who would like to expand their VOIP phone functionality to more of a traditional telephone, Skype offers two other plans: pay as you go and monthly. Skype calls these plans SkypeOut.

With pay as you go, you add SkypeCredits to your account and use your credits at least once every 180 days (6 months). With a monthly subscription, you pay $2.95 per month with no contract. A subscription also gives you features such as voicemail, call forwarding, and caller ID.

If you would like to receive calls via a traditional telephone number, SkypeIn is your answer. For an annual fee of $60, your friends and family can call you from their traditional landlines and cell phones.

Skype VOIP Limitations

Skype VOIP is not a replacement for regular phone service. As with all VOIP phone services, you won't have phone service if your electricity goes out. You won't be able to dial 911 in the case of an emergency either, since Skype does not support emergency dialing. Lastly, you can't port your existing phone number to Skype.

Skype VOIP: The Bottom Line

Skype's features and pricing are midway between Vonage and MagicJack. While Skype offers free videoconferencing and those cool WiFi VOIP phones, pricing on their VOIP phone service is higher than MagicJack but lower than Vonage.

In comparison, both Ooma and MagicJack provide more basic features at a lower cost including 911 emergency dialing and in the case of Ooma, phone number porting. However, VOIP callers can’t beat Skype’s 100 percent free calling when both caller and receiver are set up with Skype VOIP software.