One of the coolest IM features of the last few years has been the introduction of PC-to-phone services packaged with a variety of IM clients. While earlier services didn’t always sound pristine, today’s offerings are strong, offering crystal-clear connections and the opportunity to save money on a home or business phone service month-to-month and year-over-year.
With as little as a high-speed Internet connection, a microphone and speaker set (microphone headset or USB VoIP phone is highly recommended), you can switch from your current provider to one of these great IM clients offering PC-to-phone service.
Please note, while many of these services can offer a clear sound and high quality call service, VoIP services do not traditionally offer support for 911 or other emergency services. Please check with each service to inquire if these services are available.
The Best PC-to-Phone Services
- Skype: Hands down, the best IM client and PC-to-phone VoIP service around. Skype can offer unlimited local, US and Canada calls for $2.95 a month, plus a great deal on your own in-bound telephone number which allows users to call your PC. Many users (myself included) report savings of $360 or more per year from switching to Skype as a home phone service. Check out Skype prices and more information.
- Yahoo! Voice: Yahoo! Voice offers one of the highest quality PC-to-phone call values according to our tests at About.com. With prices as low as one cent per minute in the U.S. and Canada and the ability to purchase a local telephone number that will ring to your computer, Yahoo! Voice is a great option for those looking to reduce costs.
Great Quality, But…
- Free Ringer: This great, free PC-to-phone service allows users to make free international calls directly from this web-based VoIP client. The catch? You are exposed to paid advertisements to cover the cost of the call, plus, there is the additional step of having to call another number to talk. If you can deal with the extra steps and the ads, then Free Ringer is a match made in heaven.
- Google Talk: While Google Talk alone does not offer free PC-to-phone calls yet, you can still place international calls for free with a service similar to Free Ringer called Gtalk-to-VoIP. Simply add your friend’s telephone number (plus a special code) and you will be on your way to free PC-to-phone calls. The drawback: No inbound telephone support and paid advertisements help make these calls free. Start using Gtalk-to-VoIP.
