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How to Make Free Internet Phone Calls From Your Computer

If you have a computer, a headset, and an internet connection, you can make free PC to PC phone calls to anyone in the world! The only catch is that the person you are calling must also have an active account with the same VoIP service provider, and must be online to get the call. With any VoIP service, "in-network" calling (all callers subscribing to the same carrier) is always free, but most providers require that you pay a small monthly fee which allows you to make "out-of-network" calls as well. Since this article is about making totally FREE internet phone calls, only the VoIP providers that offer 100% free calling will be mentioned.

There are several internet phone service providers that offer PC based phone calling, but only a few do not require a monthly service fee when you register. Because the PC to PC calling service is free, you may have to put up with ads on your dial pad or be limited to a certain call length, but for a free long distance call this is probably acceptable to most people. If you want to make calls to a landline phone, you can do so by paying a low cost per minute (much less than traditional long distance).

So here's how to make free PC to PC phone calls:
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Since PC to PC calling uses a technology similar to instant messaging, most VoIP provider's software allows you to text message the person you are talking to. Conference calling is also possible - just click on another active user and they can join in the call!

As of this writing, here are some VoIP providers I found that offer free PC to PC internet phone calls with no monthly fees. Because services can change from time to time, make sure you agree with the terms and conditions before creating an account. Skype is the largest and most well known provider with over 190 million downloads to date.

* www.skype.com

* www.google.com/talk

* www.earthlink.net/software/nmfree/onlinecalling

* www.voipbuster.com

* www.inphonex.com

* www.pc-telephone.com/free-phone.htm

As with any software, your computer must meet certain requirements in order for the installation to succeed. As a general rule, your computer should have at minimum a 400 MHz processor, 10 MB of free disk space and 128 MB of RAM. You also need a sound card, and either a headset with microphone or speakers and a microphone. Of course, you need an internet connection as well. Software is available for PC, Mac and Linux platforms. Skype has software for Pocket PC as well.

PC based VoIP will work fine over a dial up connection of at least 33.6 Kbps, but be sure to close all email applications and don't do any web surfing while talking because these processes will degrade performance. For the absolute best internet phone calling experience, broadband is the way to go.

Free software-based PC to PC internet phone service is a great way to "test the waters" if you are interested in trying VoIP before jumping into a paid service. It's also perfect if you're on a tight budget and want to make some free long distance calls. Anyone in the world can use VoIP as long as they have an internet connection; just make sure all your friends and relatives use the same carrier if you want to keep the calls free.

This type of VoIP service is not compatible with 911, so it should not be used as your one and only phone. If you want save a lot of money on your phone bill and use VoIP as your primary phone, consider subscribing to a hardware-based VoIP carrier like Packet8, Vonage, Lingo or Voip.net.

Copyright 2005, Debbie Jacobsen. All rights reserved.

This article may be used without special permission as long as it remains intact, including live links.

For more information on VoIP, visit my blog: Internet Phone Service - The Future is Here!.

posted by 56046 @ 8:50 PM 0 comments

Zen And The Art Of Making A Long Putt

I'm sure you must have seen at least one Samurai movie in your lifetime. You know the scene, with the warrior standing erect and stiff, while tightly holding a sheathed sword in his left hand and the villagers scattering for their lives. The camera zooms in on his face, his eyes move slowly from left to right and beads of sweat trickle down his forehead. time seems to stop, and after what appears to be a lifetime, he slowly unsheathes the traditional weapon and assumes a fighting stance. Focused and unstoppable he then proceeds to wipe out the villains and save the poor villagers from the bad guys.

How many times have you felt like a samurai as you approach the green. A tournament deciding putt awaits and your partner looks on in helplessness as you prepare your mind for the task ahead. Slowly, you remove the putter from the bag and walk towards the ball. Ouch! That chip shot didn't go exactly as planned and you've left yourself with a ten meter long putt on a green with more hills than Rome. Genuflecting on one knee and holding the putter plumb at 90 degrees, your eyes follow the curves and contour to find the exact line to the cup. You take a deep breath to calm your nerves and bravely stand up. Trying to keeping mind all the factors that will enable you to succeed in making this difficult but possible shot you assume your stance.

Are my feet correctly positioned?

Are my shoulders straight?

Did I get the right line?

Am I focusing on the ball?

Will I keep my head down?

How much power do I need to give it?

Is my grip alright?

You can hear your heart beating in your chest and time slows down.

You could hear a pin drop. (If it weren't for the grass)

again, another deep breath, but this time holding it in, as you bring back the club head and take the shot.

You cannot see where the ball is going as it roller-coasters the uneven terrain but you anxiously wait for the exhilarating sound as ball meets cup in perfect unison.

Nigel Nix has been playing Golf on and off since he was 5 years old. He is now 42 and runs a humorous Golf blog. Golf Mad Blog

posted by 56046 @ 8:36 AM 0 comments