free phone calls - dialpad vs MSN

[FOBioPatel]

msn messenger has a new telephone portion to it - make phone calls?
i can't use it because i'm networked on one of several computers through cable modem.

but anyone else out there using it?

how about dialpad.com?

which is better?

both are free - therefore HOT HOT HOT for broadband users.

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[murphy55d]

I've used dialpad.com before. It's a solid service...however I wouldn't want to use it everytime I made a call.

 

[Gultig]

I don't know about MSN, but dialpad only gives you 5 minutes and then cut's you off. You have to join their pay service to be able to talk longer.

 

[DealMan]

That sucks about the 5 min cutoff. Dialpad used to let you talk longer with no limit. Never tried MSN, but Dialpad's quality is pretty good. Stopped using it when I got free long distance on my cell.

 

[MarkM]

I just checked dialpad.com & see nothing about free phone calls, they charge a 9.99 monthly fee. Perhaps someone could be so kind as to clarify?

 

[hoihtah]

dialpad used to be free...
but those good o' days are gone.

now they charge.
and it's not worth the service.

 

[Gultig]

Strange. I got an acount with them back when they were free. Maybe if you sign up for the prepaid plan to get an account, but don't buy any minutes?

 

[NewBozo]

I used to use dialpad as a second phone line when it was free. Over a
cable connection it worked well. There was a small delay kind of like talking
to someone overseas. I just logged in on my old account. Doesn't allow
free usage to existing accounts. Not worth $9.99 a month if you ask me.

 

[Apoc8]

As far as I can tell, the MSN messenger service is NOT free. When you open the Messenger window and go to Actions -> Make a Phone Call, it asks you to sign up for one of three services, all of which require you to pre-pay for minutes. The rates are pretty good, compared to land-line LD rates, but still not free. If I didn't access it correctly, let me know as I'm very interested in finding a new free phone call service .

 

[riznick]

If you map the right ports (TCP and UDP) to the computer that you want to make the phone calls
with, you shouldnt have any problem. You have to figure out how to do port mapping on your
router.



<< msn messenger has a new telephone portion to it - make phone calls?
i can't use it because i'm networked on one of several computers through cable modem. >>

 

[Tal]

I tried just the other day with MSN. Changed my Efficient 5260 back to Bridge mode so I wasn't firewalled and it did ask me to choose a provider. If it ain't free, it ain't for me... Just my 2 cents. -TAL

 

[digme]

msn is NOT FREE!! Will disconnect u right away after 5min just like dialpad! oh by the way, can somebody see if Yahoo has free calls? I thought they did......

 

[Optical]

Use Yahoo's messenger. It's free and no time limit. Both sides have to have messenger running. As in general, to get decent quality calls using the internet, you need some decent bandwidth.