someone please explain voip

[lockmac]

Hi. My mum is in Peru (im from Australia) and currently, it costs 7 bucks a minute to call her. Someone suggested VoIP to contact her. Can someone explain how this works? What do I need to get it going, and is it much cheaper etc?

Thanks guys.

 

[QuixoticOne]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voip
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MSN_Instant_Messenger
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aol_Instant_Messenger
http://aim.com
http://messenger.msn.com/
http://voip-info.org/

If you both have a good internet connection as in very fast dial-up (33,000 bits/second or faster), or a faster kind of connection, then use an Instant Messenger which has voice chat capability. Skype, AOL IM, MSN IM, Yahoo IM, etc.

If you do not both have internet connections suitably fast for both of you to use VOIP software on your PCs to talk to each other, one of you should get a VOIP account that lets you dial out to the telephone network that the other person is on.

TO use VOIP you use a headset with a microphone and speakers on your computer and a certain computer program that captures the voice, turns it into data, and sends the voice data stream to the other person using the internet.

 

[lockmac]

Well she doesnt have the internet over their at all. She has her mobile phone and thats it. We have an internet connection here at 1.5mbps.

Would i need one of these?

http://www.ht.com.au/N/Network...rs+Backup+1/detail.hts

Do I need an account with someone or how does it work?

Thanks

 

[MadAmos]

You could use Skype and pay for Skype I don't know the rates in AU but here in the US it is very inexpensive in the 1-2 cent a minuet range. I have been using it for long distance calls for 2-3 years and for me it has been great. and all you will need is a headset and mic for your computer I use a Logitech similar to this and there are lots of others. You can use your speakers and a mic but expect a bit more echo.

 

[MadAmos]

skype out
Rates

some info on pricing and what it will and won't do

 

[lockmac]

Ok thanks for the info guys. So skype sounds really cool and cheap. In regards to using an actual phone with their service, can you only use their phones...such as linky or are their things you can buy to connect your own phone to use the skype service?

Thanks for the info guys!

 

[JackMDS]

The phone in your link is for people that originate the call, and do not have, or do not want to use a computer.

You plug the thingy that you linked to into your broadband Internet connection.

Otherwise, if yo use a computer, No phone on your side.

You install the software on a computer with Internet connection, you use a Mic. and Headphones connected to the computer's audio to hear and talk.

You can call any regular land or mobile telephone in the world and your credit card would be charged according to the table in the above Rates link.

If you call from you computer another person with that has a Computer with Internet connection and skype, the call is free.

 

[lockmac]

I get it now. Just gonna go buy a gateway and will give it a go. Thanks for the help guys

 

[lockmac]

Hi guys. I bought a Uniden gateway and have setup a skype account. Now with the gateway, if i create a contact and assign it a speed dial, when i pickup my phone, dial ##, the speed dial number and then star, it will dial that phone number.

However, if i pickup the phone, dial ##, the number and then star, it makes that sound (it has 3 tones increasing in pitch).

Does anyone know why? Ive tryed dialing local numbers with the area code and without. Do I need to put the country code on as well? If so how do i do that?

Help would be great!

Also....how would I go about calling a mobile in Peru?

Its an Australian mobile number and its set with global roaming. Do I have to put the peru country code first or do i just call the number strait out?

Thanks heaps!

EDIT: Got it working- have to dial the country and area code first. quite annoying buts that ok.