Why are there no free phone packages from your computer?

cepheus

I know there is VOIP, but don't you have to load this with credit which you lose, so this isn't really free?

According to this, in the States and Canada it is possible to use several operators for truly free computer to telephone calls including Google. It also claims that a sytem called freebuzzer is free in many countries but the site seems to be non operational or blocked.

http://freebies.about.com/od/computerfreebies/tp/free-internet-phone-calls.htm

macman

What's wrong with Skype...

cepheus

Is skype free, or does is eat credit every month?

Looking at this, it isn't free in any sense of the word, connection fees - ongoing fees, better of with 18185 at least there is only a connection fee for landlines.

My understanding is that with the first three on that list, there is no money or imposing adverts involved at all, and one operates in 40 countries, obviously not this one though.

Is this being blocked by those with a UK IP address

There is something here

Calling a regular phone from a computer - You can use the headphones with a microphone to call regular phones (Cell phones or landlines phones). This is doable by using a program that can connect you to those regular phone lines. Skype has such a solution (it is not free of charge), you can use “icall“, “evaphone“, “Google voice” (which is not open from any country), “tuitalk” or “freebuzzer“.


http://www.computermasteronline.com/tag/freebuzzer/

http://freebuzzer.com/en/index.php?

macman

Skype to Skype is free, it only requires credit on Skype Out calls.
Why would you expect to get an entirely 'free' service without ads or pre-payment-how would they stay in business?

cepheus

I don't know, but according to the above they exist, perhaps there is an advert on the site, but you are not forced to watch a video or anything. We pay for our internet connections as well.

Computer to computer is very limited, more than half the people I know don't even have a computer! To be useful you really need to contact a proper phone because everyone has one.

Free calls are useful to those annoying people who use their answerphones or switch their mobiles off, you are constantly billed for non communication!

Farway

cepheus wrote: »

Free calls are useful to those annoying people who use their answerphones or switch their mobiles off, you are constantly billed for non communication!

I never knew you had phoned me

brewerdave

cepheus wrote: »

Free calls are useful to those annoying people who use their answerphones or switch their mobiles off, you are constantly billed for non communication!

I'm one of those "annoying" persons who doesn't want to be bothered by endless calls from "Tom" or "Angela" in Mumbai!!!!:)

cepheus

brewerdave wrote: »

I'm one of those "annoying" persons who doesn't want to be bothered by endless calls from "Tom" or "Angela" in Mumbai!!!!:)

Don't I know, PPI claims, investments, cleaning services, windows sending out faults.....

For genuine calls though, it doesn't help when you are using a 18185 prefix for phone dialling, since the UK dialling code 44...is placed on front, so on the user display on the other side it looks like a foreign call!