By THOMAS J. FITZGERALD
Internet telephone service is well on its way into the mainstream.
Companies like Vonage, using a technology called voice over Internet protocol, or VoIP, offer cheap long-distance rates and features not found with conventional phone service. Cable giants, too, are taking Internet phones to the masses.
Now a subset of VoIP services, called PC-to-phone service, is gaining momentum. With these services, users can make calls to and receive calls from regular phones on their PC's as long they have a broadband connection, VoIP software downloaded from the Web and a headset.
One advantage of such services is the ability to make calls through an Internet-connected laptop when cellular service is unreliable. Many people also prefer the convenience of talking while working on a PC; the services can operate while you are doing other tasks on the computer. Another advantage is price. PC-to-phone VoIP rates are less expensive than conventional phone calls and in many cases cheaper than phone-to-phone VoIP services, which route calls through broadband modems to regular phones.
Early versions of these services have been around since the late
1990's, but the rise of Skype, a mostly free VoIP service using file-sharing technology, has increased competition in the field.Yahoo, America Online and Microsoft have each announced plans to add new phone services to future versions of their instant messaging programs. And last week, Google introduced Google Talk, a free service that enables users to talk through their computers and could be a first step toward a PC-to-phone service.
PC-to-phone services available today from companies like Skype, SIPphone, i2Telecom and Dialpad Communications offer many features like free PC-to-PC calling, conference calls, voice mail, choice of phone numbers, call forwarding and reduced long-distance rates, especially for international calls. But as with phone-to-phone VoIP services, call quality is not always perfect.
Skype
Those international rates are below what Vonage charges for VoIP calls from the United States to those cities, at 17 cents, 6 cents and 6 cents, respectively.
With SkypeIn, introduced in March and still in the test stage, a phone number can be attached to a Skype account, enabling callers using regular phones to call you at your computer or leave messages in your Skype voice mail. You can choose a phone number from many area codes in the United States and also from several other countries. The service costs $12 for three months or $38 for a year.
Another new option, Skype Zones, allows access to Skype from Wi-Fi hotspots operated by Boingo
A competing PC-to-phone service, called Gizmo Project
A PC-to-phone service from i2Telecom, called VoiceStick
The company offers several calling plans, including an unlimited global option, for $24.99 a month, which includes your own phone number and unlimited calling to points in the United States, Canada and hundreds of cities in 38 other countries and territories. Another feature, called i2Bridge, enables you to make calls to any destination, including international locations, from your cellphone or home phone at VoiceStick rates.
Dialpad
Dialpad was acquired by Yahoo in June, and its PC-to-phone abilities are expected to be added to a new version of Yahoo Messenger in the coming months, a Yahoo spokeswoman said. The Yahoo Messenger program was recently updated to include free PC-to-PC calling and free voice mail, and is now called Yahoo Messenger With Voice.
Microsoft announced this week that it had acquired Teleo
Net2Phone, the first company to offer PC-to-phone service in 1996, has expanded its services. With its software, downloadable from the Web, users can call regular phones worldwide. Most calls within the United States are 2 cents a minute, for example, and the service lets you fax documents from your computer.
Several other PC-to-phone services are available, including iConnectHere
With the number of PC-to-phone services growing quickly, the features and choices available to consumers are certain to expand.
Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company
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