Summary: This week brings in the new year and we're glad to welcome Sasha Zahn from Yankee in New World as our guest podcaster. Sasha tells us all about internet telephone services (VOIP) for travellers. During her sojourn in Hungary she's tried all the major players and here outlines the pros and cons of each one.Skype.com Upsides:Lots of different services.Subscription payment plans are available outside the US.A Skype In number allows people to call your computer from any normal phone. Skype Out allows you to call from your computer to any normal phone.You can forward calls to the landline, in case you miss it, but not recommended if you aren't staying in your own home/hotel room. Downsides: Call quality can be very spotty - you've heard how bad it can be sometimes.You need to have a microphone and speakers or buy a headset or Skype phone.You are yoked to the computer.There's no web-based interface. You must download the programme for each computer you use.Free Call Upsides: Sound quality is better than Skype.Much cheaper to have longer conversations, say if you were calling home.Phone2Phone service - Using the program you DL, can type in the landline number of you where you are staying, and the phone # u wish to call, and your landline will ring. Downsides: If you let your 90 free days expire, then standard rates apply, not the 5 cent rate.If the other person isn't there, 5 cents is charged anyway, but it is not a big loss, as getting through to voicemail on a Skype Out phone call is about the same. My friend said that sometimes she feels like they charged her for more calls, but I have never had that issue. I think they were trying to call UK mobiles, which can use a lot of credit.Jajah.com With Jajah, there is no program to download. Simply go to Jajah.com site, and sign up for an account. Upsides: Two methods of calling: by web interface or on the phone. Available without downloading a program, in case you are on a shared or public computerYou can check rates for the country you are dialing from/ to here: http://www.jajah.com/prices/ Downsides: Prices tend to be higher than Skype/ Freecall You must check prices individually; calling to or from different places has different rates.Rebtel.com My favorite VOIP service. Like Freecall, can use your regular phone; like JaJah, it's all web based -- there's no program to download. Rebtel works like JaJah phone - by assigning local numbers to international ones. Upsides: You use credit like with the other programs - and it will charge you by the minuteYou can call your friend with the local number then have them call you back on the number that displays. You can talk for FREE! Don't Hang up, though: just let them hang up and call u back. This trick only works for certain countries.Great sound quality.One of the cheapest ways to call cell phones.Automatically how much it will cost per minute. Downsides: Um...No voicemail or extra services. Conclusion For anyone with a business, I would recommend Skype. For those who want land lines only and slightly cheaper prices, Free Call. For travelers, JaJah. For expats, and travelers alike, Rebtel.
