A VoIP office phone.
The technical term for making phone calls from a computer is Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The concept is popular because it significantly reduces the cost of phone service by routing calls using the Internet rather than phone towers and land lines. Mobile VoIP is expected to become less of a rarity as time goes on.
What You Need
If your computer is less than five years old, it should be equipped with a sound card that is capable of making a phone call. In addition, you need speakers and a microphone or a VoIP headset.
Special phones on the market permit making calls using your computer. These VoIP phones look like a cross between a older model cell phone and a cordless land line phone. VoIP phones generally connect to your computer via USB and are used the same as any other telephone.
Skype.com, Voice.Yahoo.com and Google.com/Voice offer free software and services online. Find a package that you like and download it. Take any tutorials packaged with the software or offered by the website. Calibrate your speakers and microphone using your new software to reduce problems and feedback during use.
Making a Call
You can make two kinds of calls from your computer: a PC-to-phone call or a PC-to-PC call. To make a PC-to-phone call, use the interface of your software to input the number you want to call. Proceed with your phone call as you normally would using a land line.
To make a PC-to-PC call, the person you are calling must have software that is the same as or compatible with yours. Making a PC-to-PC call takes a little more coordination than a regular phone call since you have to make arrangements as to when both you and the person you wish call will be online. Make a PC-to-PC call by logging into your VoIP software. Select a user from your contact list and place a call. Proceed with your call as you would normally.
Things to Consider
Consider all the factors before you decide to get rid of your land-line phone altogether. While VoIP telephony is a cost-effective option for long distance and international calling, it is less reliable than regular phone service. Reliability may not hold much weight for personal use, but if you are planning to use VoIP for your business, it is definitely something to think about.
Emergency protocols such as 911 do not currently work with VoIP phones well as the calls are difficult to trace. This is a huge consideration, especially for the elderly or those with small children.
Tags: PC-to-PC call, your computer, phone call, VoIP phones, call Proceed