"...if stupid cost money we'd all be broke"
Posted on 08/13/2013 12:03:08 PM PDT by topher
There are various things out there. But I could not find something to set this up.
VoIP (Voice over IP) has been around for a long time.
I would not mind just using headphones and a microphone to make the phone call.
There is a website IPKall.com that will give you a Washington state telephone number.
But I am not sure how you set up the VoIP part. I tried to see if there were any other threads on this.
I guess using SKYPE is one way to do this, but not to call someone else who has a real telephone...
I'll second this, I have been using that for a year, infrequently. Works well and its free. Of course, there are all the usual caveats about Google, so I wouldn't use it for sensitive type stuff.
Google Voice has a completely free service for US and Canada and they will let you choose a phone number. Their international rates are very good.
But....Google, Skype and others have that problem whereby they allow others to monitor and record your phone calls. I don’t like that and look forward to a development where the eavesdroppers are shut down.
"...if stupid cost money we'd all be broke"
You use a phone? For what?
Somebody please answer this. A year or so ago, I was able to make a skype/computer to skype/computer call without involving any land line number. I would sit here at my computer and click on a call button and was able to make a free call to my daughter in Paris, France. Now, when I go on Skype, the only thing I find is a video to video option. I only want voice to voice. Has skype removed this or am I not doing something right?I just want to talk without video. Oh, and BTW, this was all done at no charge.
I use Google talk. I’ve used it for years, it well, other than paying $10 (I think) to get a Google number, it’s free.
I recently got a second account and got rid of my land line. This time I wanted to use my old number and I had to first transfer the number to a cell phone and from the cell phone to Google. That was a pain, but I wanted to keep my old land line number and that’s the only way I could do it. So I bought a track phone for $20 which was an extra expense.
There used to be a free service called Net 2 Phone.
But countries that taxed the beejesus out of telephone service freaked out and I believe forced them to shut down.
I use Google talk. I’ve used it for years, it well, other than paying $10 (I think) to get a Google number, it’s free.
I recently got a second account and got rid of my land line. This time I wanted to use my old number and I had to first transfer the number to a cell phone and from the cell phone to Google. That was a pain, but I wanted to keep my old land line number and that’s the only way I could do it. So I bought a track phone for $20 which was an extra expense.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_VoIP_software
Ekiga is what came with RedHat/CentOS Linux.
http://wiki.ekiga.org/index.php/Manual
Well, I have Ubuntu, PC Linux, Knoppix and Puppy Linux with me right now. LoL.
Another Live CD coming?
Obihai is good.
I 2nd the magic jack plus. Have had it for about 2 yrs now. Have saved aboyt $1400 after dropping ATT landline. Works great both ways. You do have to dial the area code on all numbers though.
Okay. I’ve been in telecom 30 years.
Get Magic Jack. It’s a great service and has a predictable fixed cost(19.95)
911 is not a problem and it is a problem.
When you sign up for service they will ask for your physical address. This for two reasons; they need to know where to send any written correspondence(they don’t mail you a bill. Everything is done online) but the really important reason is so they can assign a PSAP for number. This will enable emergency services to come to your aid.
Now, you can have a billing address seperate from your physical address.
Very important!!!!!!! If you take your magic jack or similar device to some ither location and call 911 they will not know you are in Manhattan and they will show up to your home in Boine-Boine, Idaho.
If you use Voip from the location listed in your PSAP agreement they will show up and help you.
The point is, if you are somewhere else and need 911 use a local phone. It also has a PSAP and the emergency services will show up if you are unable to convey relevant information due to being incapacitated.
Magic Jack and similar services can be installed via some sort of dongle or simple software.
You can use their version of a phone that will display on your screen.
If you have further questions, ping me.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
