HOW TO CUT DOWN ON YOUR INTERNATIONAL PHONE BILL WITH SKYPE

I don’t think there are a lot of people who have not heard of Skype. But they don’t use it either because they don’t really want to switch on their computer to make a phone call or because they don’t realise how much money it can save them.
So how does a person like you save money on calls without having to keep your PC on always, then hunt for a microphone and speakers and to make sure they are all fine-tuned so that your call can go through.

Alternative 1: Get yourself a Windows smart phone with Wifi built in. Browse to www.skype.com and download the version for your smartphone, login to Skype and get the Skype ids of those you want to call. I would not suggest using Skype on GPRS, but if you have Wifi at home and a Windows Mobile, this is the best and the fastest method to go online. Remember that when you are making a Skype call, you can either use the Bluetooth hands-free or use the set of speakers and microphone built into your phone.

Alternative 2: Get yourself a Skype phone. Netgear, Linksys and Belkin sell it across India now. The cheapest is a Belkin phone priced at about Rs 8000; Linksys and Netgear retail at about Rs 12,000—in the US, these cost just half as much. Buy the wireless variety; the wired one will require you to switch on your PC. Your phone will use the wireless access point you have at home for the Wifi network, and logon to the inbuilt Skype so that you can make Skype-to-Skype calls.

So what happens in case the person you are calling does not have Skype? Skype offers two great services, Skype Out and Skype In. The Skype Out service is the cheapest and the most reliable VoIP provider I have come across. It enables you to make a call to the US for as little as 2 Cents a minute, or Re 1 per minute, if the person you are calling does not have Skype. You can call a landline or a cell phone, but do not use this to call someone in India and do read the tariff sheet on skype.com for more details. With Skype Out, you can make free Skype-to-Skype calls and call regular numbers. There are also plans that will let make unlimited calls to a specific country for a fixed monthly plan. The Skype In service allows you to take up a number in the US, the UK, Hong Kong or 18 other countries. For the person -calling from that country, your phone is a local call. So you are in effect just a local call away from your siblings or children living in the US. And it’s all legal.
Enjoy the flat world with Skype. ...

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The above article appeared in the Indian Express dated October 5th 2008