Specifications
7
service that allows you to connect to
other Skype users. The software for this
can be downloaded from their Web site.
It took just a few minutes to install it on
my computer. Once you have installed
it, you need to set up a call list of other
users. So you have to contact people
that you call frequently and have them
install the Skype software. From that
point on, it becomes much like instant
messaging. If the person you are calling
is on-line, you can connect and talk to
them. Otherwise, they have no way to
know that you are calling. The reverse
is also true if they want to call you. The
minimum hardware you need for this
are speakers connected to your sound
card and a microphone. You can also
use a headset with a built-in microphone.
It is also advisable that you have a
broadband connection, either cable or
DSL. In my testing of it, once I had a
connection, the call was quite clear with
no background static or other problems.
So what do you do if you have Skype
and want to call someone who doesn’t
have Skype? You can get SkypeOut
that allows you to call any phone
number anywhere in the world for about
2¢/minute. After you install the
SkypeOut software you buy credit on
their Internet site, which you can then
use for your calls. Some reviewers have
had sound problems with SkypeOut. I
have not tested it.
There are other free services
available as well. Free World Dialup is
at <
http://www.freeworldialup.com>.
This is a quote from their Web site:
“FWD allows you to make free phone
calls using any broadband connection
with devices that follow Internet
standards. This can be a ‘regular’
telephone connected to a packetizer, an
IP Phone, or any number of free soft-
phones (software for your PC or PDA).”
In order to use the system you need to
download and install the software. Then
you obtain a phone number from FWD.
The hardware you need is an SIP
compatible ATA adapter that you
connect to a network router that
connects to your modem. You can then
connect any telephone to the jack in the
ATA adapter. Now you’re ready to dial
any FWD user anywhere in the world.
However, you cannot dial a regular
PSTN phone from this system without
purchasing time from another VoIP
provider. The advantage of FWD over
Skype is that your computer doesn’t
have to be on to receive calls. Your
phone will ring just as it did when
connected to the PSTN phone system.
There is another advantage to FWD.
This system uses the Session Initiation
Protocol (SIP) standard. This allows
FWD users to call others who are not
member of FWD but are connected by
a different SIP compatible service. Other
free services currently using the SIP
standard are IPTEL.org and
SIPPhone.com. Skype does not adhere
to the SIP standard.
Now we get to the services that
charge a monthly fee. These providers
furnish an SIP compatible ATA adapter
and in some instances the router for
your telephone connection. This list
includes companies like AT&T
(CallVantage), Verizon (VoiceWing),
Packet8, VoicePulse, and Vonage. Of
these, AT&T and Verizon are the most
expensive. Several of these providers
are preparing wireless units that will
allow you to connect through any WiFi
hotspot. Vonage has announced that
they expect to have a wireless unit
available by mid-summer 2005. That
means you could make and receive calls