Post by caolang on May 29, 2013 0:05:26 GMT -5
Most of us are guilty of having become too dependent on cellular phone technology. When travelling internationally or trying to call someone outside of the country, this can be an issue. Many mobile service providers do not include international calls in their plans. Further, when used in a country outside of the provider’s service area, some phones will not be able to access a network to place calls at all. This leaves frustrated users paying astronomical rates or going through great measures to place the call.
Skype, available as a free software download for your computer or smart phone, provides a refreshing modern alternative for making international phone calls.
1. Download Skype and sign up for an account.
Visit Skype’s homepage at skype.com to securely download the software for free. Before using the program, you will be required to create an account.
2. Sign into your Skype account.
Before placing a call, you will be prompted to sign into your newly-created account. On a computer, the program will be launched from the installed desktop or menu bar icon.
3. Dial number.
From your home menu, click on “Call phones” located at the bottom of your tool bar.
Click on the flag in the entry field to bring up a drop down menu of dialing codes. Select the country you are trying to call and the country’s calling code will be automatically added to the field. Finally, enter the remaining digits of the number and click the green “call” button.
Tip: Most countries have toll-free numbers that will be free to call from Skype. If this is not an option, you will need to add credit to your Skype account to pay for the call. Rates differ by country, but on average are significantly cheaper than using a landline or cellular phone.