How to Make Free International Phone Calls

Technology has certainly come a long way. Traditionally, international phone calls may cost a bomb. That is because international phone calls are charged by the minute, so anyone looking to speak to someone from another country, has to pay international calling charges. There are simply no other alternatives. Fortunately, all that has changed. You can now make international phone calls without having to pay a single cent - all thanks to the internet. Here is how it works.

Internet allows data transfer for free. For example, when the internet was new, you may be using a 56k modem to browse static web pages. The data is essentially just some static texts. As bandwidth increases, downloads are uploads are noticeably faster. After a while, online users started to download and upload much larger files like music files or video files. These are digital data files, except that they are in a different format.

Everyone starts transferring all types of digital data on the internet. Soon, voice over IP (VOIP) technology is born. This exciting technology allows a voice to be converted to digital data and transferred to anywhere else on the planet over the internet. To make an international phone call using this technology, one will need some special software, and a special phone such as an IP phone. The IP phone is connected to the computer, and the online user may then use the special software to call another person. Of course, whoever is on the other end must have the necessary software and hardware as well. They must also both be simultaneously connected to the internet.

Since almost every household has internet access these days, making international phone calls using VOIP technology is just a small step away. In fact, there are numerous Internet phone service provider that allows members within the same network to call one another for free. That is how anyone can make international phone calls, without having to pay a single cent. You can chat for hours without having to worry about hefty phone bills.

But bear in mind that in order to enjoy this privilege, you will have to get whoever is on the other end, to join the same network as you. This is a great way for internet phone services providers to promote their calling services. In the event that whoever you are calling is not a member of the network you are on, you may be charged a modest fee. However, compared to traditional international phone call rates, these VOIP calling rates are much more affordable.

Finally, before you run out to join an internet phone service provider as a member, make sure that you compare calling rates for the best deal. Chances are, you may be required to make calls to people who are not on the same network as you are. So you may need to pay some fees. So make sure that you are on a network that provides the most affordable rates. That way, when it comes to inviting friends and family members to join the network, you can assure them that they too, can enjoy the same great prices.