As technology shortens the distance between people, cultures and countries, sorting out the best ways to access the rapidly proliferating but helpful tools can be overwhelming. From homesick high school kids in study abroad programs to business executives needing an edge in finding economical offshore solutions, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies offer a variety of communication options.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website states, “The number of international long distance calls from the United States has skyrocketed from only about 200 million a year to more than 6.2 billion per year over the past 20 years.” With such growth and profit potential, it is no wonder that businesses have swarmed to fill the need for international calls.
What Are the Options for Making International Calls?
Traditionally, international long distance callers used regular, analog telephone lines owned by local or regional phone companies but accessed either with operator-assistance or, cheaper, via direct-dial. The required country codes, area codes and phone numbers were often confusing but dialing them saved money.
The Consumer Facts section of the FCC website concludes, “Calling plans, dial-arounds, pre-paid cards, and callback services often offer rates that are much lower than a company’s basic rates. In fact, even with the monthly fees associated with most discount calling plans, the cost of using these plans may be only a fraction of the basic rates.”
Since that statement was published on the Internet, VoIP has come of age. Hundreds of companies, some focusing only on the lucrative business market, have flooded the market, some with free-for-a-short-time come-ons and advertising hyperbole.
Free VoIP Calls or Choose From the Top 100 Providers
A Google search for “international VoIP providers” results in more than 2.4 million hits. To help potential customers get a handle on rates, services, call quality and convenience, MyVoipProvider.com provides a free list of what they call the world ranking of the top 100 international VoIP providers. Some of the companies offer a free trial or a limited number of minutes of free use each month. Many require the use of a special adapter, which is not included in the price. They all offer rates or deals for better services, upgraded quality or cheap rates for monthly service.
When it comes to value, Skype.com is hard to beat. At any given time, it is providing nearly twenty million users unlimited free calls – voice or video – from any computer in the world to any other computer. Although call quality is not always the best, the price is terrific. For some expats, a weekly Skype call home is essential for mental health. To get started a user needs only a fast (broadband) Internet connection, speakers/headset and a microphone.
In the VoIP World, There's Nothing Else Like Skype
Free is the best advantage of Skype but not having a contract is pretty good. Adapters not required is nice. It's easy to use. When nothing but the sight of family or friends will do, free video calls are wonderful, even when the quality is not. Poor call quality and dropped calls may incite business users to move to a fee-based service, but for many expats, Skype is just fine.
Not all veteran expats would agree that the habit of making weekly calls back home is helpful. It is difficult to live in two places at the same time. The key to enjoying the expat life is to find what works for you. If free calls – weekly, monthly or for special occasions – make life better, enjoy!
Mistie Shaw - Writing for nearly half a century, Shaw's interests and education meander from music to the military, and from faith to fun.
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