Free International Calls

When the iPad was launched a few weeks ago, the hype was enormous, and the iPad did come true the hype for the most part, and whatever was not available inbuilt in the iPhone will soon come out as add ons or widgets. One aspect that everyone was missing in the iPad was the ability to make voice phones. Now, a company has come out with a technology through which one can make cheap and free VoIP phone calls through the iPad.

A company called Truphone has launched a widget type application that allows one to make VoIP calls through the iPad. Because the iPad has a mammoth screen, it becomes quite a dominant phone with this device. With the Truphone widget one can make free as well as economical voip phone calls.

With the Truphone application, one can make wireless VoIP calls using the WiFi and 3G technology. They are also allowed an integration of all their Instant messenger contacts, like AIM, MSN and Google Talk. Also, the user has a presence information with the application. The Truphone application also allows for free calls to Google Talk users and other Truphone users while the user is on WiFI.

Of course, this is not the last mobile phone application for the iPad. There will be several more as and when the iPad becomes more mainstream and the paper decide whether making calls with the iPad is a good idea or not.

The iPad has already become a raving success, with more than 300,000 iPad sold an insane number of applications downloaded on the first day itself. However, it remains to be seen whether the iPad will make any difference to the VoIP market, which has already been facing a crunch because of the various PDAs and smartphones that have inbuilt technology to offer cheap and in some cases free voip calls.

While the initial reports of the Truphone Application as well as the iPad are positive, many are not sure whether the iPad is made for VoIP or even basic voice calling. Many are still apprehensive about the design of the iPad, and are wondering whether it is feasible and practical to make phone calls out of the iPad.  Apart from making VoIP calls, the application also allows for people to chat with their contacts via all the common chat and IM software like Google Talk, AIM, etc.

The Internet has changed several aspects of our life, and just one of them is communication, or to be more precise, telecommunication.  At around the year 2004, VoIP came in a big way, and basically allowed people to transmit voice via the Internet Protocol, thereby allowing people to converse and voice chat over the Internet.

Today, there are several ways in which one can place VoIP phone calls, either free voip calls or paid. Free VoIP phone calls require both the parties to have an internet enabled computer, and have common chat software, which allows voice chatting capabilities.

To make paid VoIP phone calls, one requires two phones that are VoIP enabled, this may either be done by buying VoIP phones or buying adapters for the common phone.  In some cases, users are provided with software that they can use instead of a phone device. This software is known as soft phone. People can dial the number they wish to contact via this software.

There are several VoIP service providers, and most of them offer varied services at different prices. If you are looking to make cheap voip phone calls, you should make sure that you carry out a proper research about the prices for calls, as calls from each country to country differ.  Simply put, the call charges for America to Argentina may be different than the call charges for India to Philippines. Here are some aspects that make a VoIP call service one of the cheapest services:

Unlimited Calls: Some VoIP services offer an unlimited amount of calls per month at a flat rate. If you are one of those who has a heavy usage of VoIP, these plans may work out very well for you.

Bonus Minutes: Some VoIP service providers also offer special bonuses and discounts on signup or on completing some kind of landmark with their service, like completing 1000 minutes of VoIP minutes, or being with the same service provider for a number of months, etc.

Trial Accounts: Some VoIP service providers also provide a trial account, using which you can place VoIP calls for a set limit of days, or your account is given a set number of free minutes to call and test the service. This not only saves you money, but also allows you to have a risk free trial of their services.

Discounts for Specific Countries: Some VoIP services also offer discounts if you call specific countries at specific times and days.  If you are someone who would be placing voip calls only to certain countries, this kind of offer would work great for you.

These are just some of the features and services that make Cheap VoIP phone calls. There are several other seasonal and new services and features that are launched in the VoIP sector, which is supposedly the most competitive of markets in today’s world. Make sure that you keep an eye out for any offers or features that are launched – they are sure to save you a lot of money.

[photo: Michal Marcol]