Make Cheap Long Distance Calls from Your Computer with Skype

Technology is changing the way that people communicate and computers are not only useful for sending and receiving e-mails, but now can be used as a telephone to call your friends and family for almost free. Voice Over IP (VOIP) is changing the way people are calling each other.

Steps

  1. Download Skype
  2. Sign up for an account during the installation process, it's quite easy. Provide a username and password.
  3. If the person you wish to talk to has a computer and an internet connection, encourage them to download and install Skype so you can talk for free.
  4. Otherwise buy some SkypeOut credit, which will add funds to your account that you can use to make calls to actual telephones from your computer. If you're apprehensive about the quality of the service, just add a little amount of money.
  5. Run your instance of Skype, bring up the Dial screen and type in the number you wish to call, or type it in the text field that appears near the bottom of the window. You'll have to type it with a special format starting with a + symbol, eg: +1 415 555 1212.
  6. Press the green button and listen for the phone ringing.
  7. When the person picks it up, it starts the phone call!

Tips

Warnings

  • The terms of service do not allow you to resell or to charge others to use Skype as a commercial telephony service.
  • Do not use Skype for 911 or other emergency dialing as your location can not be traced.

Things You'll Need

  • Internet Connection
  • Microphone for your computer (some laptops have them built-in)
  • Speakers or headset earphones
  • The program (Skype)
  • Someone to Call

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Sources and Citations

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