There is so much about the internet that most Ugandan do not know about? Did you know that u can actually make free phone calls online?....actually without spending any penny! And guess what...the calls can reduce your phone bills when calling the loved ones abroad? These services use a voip technology to transfer voice over the internet in short terms referred to VOIP.
Skype 
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet. Calls to other users of the service and to free-of-charge numbers, are free, in some countries like United States, UK, chile, Canada etc, calls to other landlines and mobile phones can be made for a fee. I’ve used the service a few times calling my sisters in UK and am glad to say no more international mobile calls charges for me I really save a lot now days and for you to hook up onto the service is through a simple process.
- Log onto www.skype.com
- Sign up for the service’s link containing your logon and download details will be sent to your inbox
- Download the software from the link provided in your inbox
- After the download. Run install
- Now Your ready to make free calls
Skype allows you to have local numbers in some countries like Brazil, Poland, United Kingdom with calls to the number charged at the same rate as calls to fixed lines in the country.
Additional features include instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing.
Google talk
Google Talk (GTalk) is a free calling service on Windows and web-based application developed by Google Inc it can be used for instant messaging and voice over internet protocol (VOIP), the first beta version of the program was released on August 24, 2005.
The Google Talk client is only available for Microsoft Windows (2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista and Windows). The beauty of this service is the ability to use it on mobile clients like the Blackberry, iPhone and some nokia phones with internet connection. This gives you the ability to make free calls from your mobile.
In some countries like the states you can actually get a number for the service. The best thing about all this. Is that you don’t need to be at one physical location to make a call all you need to have is internet.
The service is accessed through the Google website or just log onto www.google.com/gtalk
Additional services include offline messaging, Gmail and voice mailing with the release of the Google Talk gadget it allows you to have all these services in the palm of your hand.
Yahoo Messenger
Yahoo! Messenger is one of the most used chating or messaging client on the internet though it allows free calls and sms online most people know it for the latter. The one thing that makes it different is it mostly advertisement-supported instant messaging client and associated protocol provided by Yahoo
Messenger is provided free of charge and can be downloaded and used with a generic "Yahoo! ID" which also allows access to other Yahoo! services, such as Yahoo mail, news, weather, shopping etc
For you to use the services you need to have a microphone and a headphone with this u can make PC-PC,for free but PC-Phone and Phone-to-PC service there’ll be a small charge ,
The client bands all the yahoo services in one package that incase you receive emails it’ll automatically notify the user
Additional services include file transfers, webcam hosting, text messaging service. All it takes to enjoy this free service is to log onto site below and download the free software and install it on your machine.
Website: www.yahoomessenger.com
VoipBuster
VoipBuster is a free program that uses the latest technology to bring free and high-quality voice communications to people all over the world. When you use the free VoipBuster software, you can call regular phones in various popular destinations for free or call at an incredible low rate to any other phone on the planet.
You can also call all your online friends (pc-to-pc calls) as long as you like, for free. Just the download should take only a few moments depending on your connection speed.
Website: www.voipbuster.com
Ekiga
Ekiga.net provides free call using internet telephony commonly known as VoIP; this service provider stands out from the rest because of his ability to allow the user a choice of different software to make the calls.
I like the VoIP and mails it is like using electronic mails though you’re making a call: before you can start making calls a few things are needed I’ve tried to list them down below
• You need an address. That's mainly what Ekiga.net is for: giving free SIP (soft internet phones)-Addresses.
• You need a software to use this address. Any SIP aware software will do and you can download them off the internet they’re several, but we recommend the free Ekiga soft phone, which has Instant-Messaging, Audio and Video so that you don’t get any issues installing and setting it
If you want to call other users and to be callable, you are best off with a 'human readable address' (SIP-Address), which in essence, looks just like an email address. The SIP-Address can be used by other users to call you. Similarly, you can use the SIP address of your friends and family to call them. For example, sip:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. is the protocol (SIP) and address (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) used to call the author of Ekiga.
For more details on how to use the service please log onto
Website: www.ekiga.net
By Joe
Intrusecurity
