Free calls - Frequently Asked Questions

How can it be really free?

First, calls routed over the Internet are much cheaper for the internet phone companies than usual long distance. Second, they cover the costs with banner ads. Using the same advertisement based theme as other media, you can make free long distance calls simply by viewing or listening to ads before or during a free call. All you pay is Internet access. Most of the services presented on this site are 100% free: no signup fees, no monthly fees, no credit cards. Free, unlimited phone calling. Talk as long as you like. Some have some limitations in calling time, or ask for a credit card for identification. Some charge fees for calling.
How can I call somebody for free?

There are many formats available for your use depending on your needs
a) For the occasional user who calls different numbers there are simple no download programs that you use to place a call from your pc to another regular phone. (pc-to-phone calls)
b) There are some that don't require a computer just your telephone. (phone-to-phone calls)
c) There are also calls from one computer to another. (pc-to-pc)
d) A few services let you call somebody's computer from a phone. (phone-to-pc calls)
e) For business users or people in contact with the same location often, there are devices you can purchase for a minimal price. Using one of these you essentially do what a long distance provider does by connecting your phone to an exchange where the phone on the other end also connects thereby making virtual local call. These mostly cover the Americas and Europe but are available in some more unlikely exotic countries as well.
What does PC-to-Phone mean?

PC-to-Phone means that you can make calls from your PC to a conventional telephone. The calls utilize a technology called VoIP. This stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. Your call is routed over the Internet using VoIP to its destination. In case of FREE PC-to-Phone calling sponsors pay for your calls; all you pay is Internet access. Your PC will need to be equipped with either a headset, or speakers and a microphone. You don't have to switch your long-distance carrier or Internet Service Provider. Just sign up at site that offers free phone calls, login or download and install their software, enter the number you want to call and start talking! That's easy! New sponsors and new free PC-to-Phone destinations are added all the time.
What does phone-to-phone mean?

It is calling somebody's phone using another phone. You dial the access number (usually toll-free or local), enter your PIN number and the number you wish to call. Example: DialFreeCalls.
Another kind of phone-to-phone calling is a call initiated over the Internet (Extremevoice LD, Speak4Free, Talk Free). You go to the web site, enter the number you'd like to call and your phone number. Then you disconnect from the Internet (if your modem and telephone share 1 phone line), and your telephone will ring. You pick it up and talk.
What does PC-to-PC calling mean?

PC-to-PC calling is a voice chat, in fact. It requires both ends to be online, to have fast Internet connection and the same program running. We consider it to be the most inconvenient way of calling. At the same time, it allows simultaneous text chat and files exchange. More over, pc to pc calls can be made from any PC in the world to any PC in every country. No matter where you or your friend are!
What about Call Quality?

You may be wondering what the quality of PC to phone calls is like. The sound is not quite as good as a regular telephone call, but under normal conditions there should be no problem understanding people and carrying on a conversation. Probably the most noticeable difference is the delay when speaking. With all of these services there is a short delay after you speak and before the other person hears you. This delay is usually one or two seconds. At first this may seem a little awkward but most people get used to it fairly quickly. Since the call is going over the Internet, the call quality is subject to the condition of the Internet at the time you place the call, which means if there is a great deal of traffic, you may hear more broken words, or the delay might get longer. The call quality will vary with the speed of your Internet connection. At 28.8K, you will more than likely notice some dropped or broken words, and the length of the delay may be a little longer. Using a cable modem or a DSL connection at 256K, will give the best results. There will be a shorter delay and you will notice fewer broken or dropped words.
Is it available anywhere?

Each site has its own list of countries you can call. Some phone-to-phone calls can made only from US/Canadian phones.
You can make PC-to-phone calls from any country. PC to Phone services appear to be blocked when calling out from the following countries: United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, India. Let us know if you find this is true. If you know of any other countries where these services are blocked, or if you have been able to get them to work in the countries listed above, please write us.
However, PC-to-PC calling is available anywhere in the world, no matter where you or friends live!
Is it legal?

Yes it's absolutely legal. Everyone can use internet telephony.
What is VoiceMail?

Along with Email, free web sites now offer voice mail systems that provide you a toll-free 800 number and a personal extension that you can give to friends and business associates to leave voice messages. These services allow you to listen to your messages either over the Internet or over the toll-free 800 number. You can send respond with your voice mail message (recorded with your own voice immediately over the phone).
Some VoiceMail systems include "reading" your email messages to you by computer over the phone so you won't need a computer to read your email messages.
What is Internet Call Waiting?

Internet Call Waiting is a software that captures your incoming phone calls when you are online. When you are connected to the Internet, it picks up and records callers' voice messages just like an answering machine. As soon as a message is recorded, you are notified immediately and can listen to it on your computer, without getting off-line. You'll never miss calls while browsing the Internet again.
Great Internet Call Waiting programs are Pagoo Call Catcher and Callwave. I recommend you to try both of them.
What is callback?

Callback system connects your web site visitors to your existing telephone lines. It can help you, for example, to increase sales and improve customer relations at your web site. As a rule, you receive HTML code to insert your web site. When a visitor who is surfing your site clicks on the "Call Me" icon, initiates a call is initiated from a customer's PC directly to a phone number that you specify.

We discovered another way of using callback. You set the phone number of your friend and click the button yourself, when you want to call him.
Can I send tone digits after the call has been placed to check voice mail etc.?

Some services do offer sending tone digits during the call. You need to ask their support whether it's possible.
What is prepaid calling?

There are two different kinds of Internet long distance services to choose from: PC-to-Phone, and Phone-to-Phone.

PC-to-Phone: With PC-to-phone service, you sign up with a PC-to-phone service provider, and make calls from your PC. Rates are generally much lower than if the same calls were placed over the regular long distance telephone network, and the biggest savings will be seen when making international calls. For exmple, with Delta Three, calling time is purchased in blocks for as low as $25, and with Net2Phone you can start an account with as little as $8.95. Your account is deducted as you use up the calling time you paid for. When you run low on calling time, you can either purchase another block or have your account automatically "recharged". With Net.Caller, you play a flat fee for unlimited calling. With Delta Three and Net2Phone there are no restrictions on where you can call to or from. If you have a PC-to-phone account with Delta Three, you can use that same account for Delta Three phone-to-phone calls, although the rates are different.

Phone-to-Phone: With phone-to-phone service, you purchase a block of time in advance from a service provider, at which time you will be provided with a PIN (Personal Identification Number), along with a telephone number to call. You call the number, enter the phone number you want to call along with your PIN number at which point a voice will tell you the balance remaining on your account. Your call will then be completed over the Internet. Delta Three offers phone to phone service over the Internet. You can call any phone in the world, as long as your call originates from any of the following countries: USA, Canada, UK, Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland. If you have a Delta Three PC-to-phone account, you can use that same account to make phone-to-phone calls, although the rates are different.
What Internet Service Provider works best with Internet Telephony?

Without a doubt, America OnLine is the best. They have a great offer - 700 hours of Internet FREE!
Are there any internet phone versions for Mac and Unix?

Yahoo! Messenger have versions for Windows, Macintosh (OS 8.5), Unix (FreeBSD,Linux), Java (Other Mac, Unix), Palm, Windows CE, Mobile Phone, RIM Handheld. MSN Messenger supports both Windows and Mac.
Most of phone sites promise to start supporting Macintosh, but now they require MS Windows.
Where can I download software (IE, Netmeeting..)

Some sites require new versions of Microsoft's Internet Explorer or Netmeeting, both of which are available for free download via the following links:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.htm - Microsoft Internet Explorer

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/netmeeting/download/default.asp - Microsoft Netmeeting

To make sign-up forms filled with only one click, download Gator - free automatic forms and passwords ffiller.

We also recommend to try Callwave Internet Answering Machine and Pagoo Call Cather (see next question). Click here to learn more about Pagoo.
Can I use Pagoo if I don't live in the USA and Canada?

Yes! If you don't live in the USA and Canada, you'll not be able to use "Receive calls online" feature, but Pagoo has a number of important features making it attractive to anyone in the world with an Internet connection:
If your friends live in the USA and Canada, and you live in any other country, they can leave you voice messages through US/Canada toll-free number, and you'll receive them with Pagoo Desktop Agent or browser. That's free for anyone!
Just enter any 10-digit number and select "other" as your "Local Phone Company". You don't have to set "Call forward on busy". Learn more about Pagoo or click to download Pagoo now!
Where can I find more about Internet telephony?

http://www.computertelephony.com/ - Computer Telephony magazine
http://www.telecoms-mag.com/tcs.html/ - TELECOMMUNICATIONS® Magazine
http://www.ctimag.com/ - CTITelemarketing® & Call Center Solutions
http://www.internettelephonymag.com/ - Internet Telephony
http://www.computertelephony.org/ - Ken's Computer Telephony Integration, Interactive Voice Response and Call Center page
http://www.telephonyworld.com/
May I post your site's information on my web page?

The policy isn't defined yet. Ask my permission
Can I put a link to your site?

Yes, that will be great! Just link to http://www.phonefree.da.ru
Can I add a site to your listing?

Yes, click "add your link" here or e-mail me. We reserve the right to modify or delete added links at any time without notice.
How can I contact you?

E-mail me to [email protected] or use our e-mail form. You can also post your message in my new guestbook.
What's happenning with Internet telephony today?

As you may already know, there has been a serious downturn in the Internet advertising industry over the past few months. Unfortunately, because of changes in the marketplace more and more free services providers, offering free telephony services eliminate or limit the services that they were offering for free in the past (Hottelephone, VocalCommerce, FreeWebTel, BroadPoint), others substitute paid services for the previously free services (PhoneFree, Wowring, 4ecalls, Go2call). Banner advertising doesn't cover the cost of calls in some companies any more. However, we hope that Internet market situation will become stabilize and new countries and companies will be available for free calling.

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