“n the last article on VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) we looked at how easy it is to set up a normal ‘land-line’ telephone number using a SIP provider together with a fantastic, lightweight app — Telephone [free] — from the Mac App Store,” Johnny Winter writes for Mactuts+.
“In this article, we’ll examine the Telephone app,” Winter writes. “We’ll cover how to customize it, how to improve the quality of your calls, how to assert a different geographic presence and how to reduce your telephony costs.”
Winter explains, “Not only is Telephone an excellent, lightweight free app able to replace a physical telephone, by using a SIP provider for a ‘landline’ VoIP telephone number, your home-office, start-up or small business can operate from almost anywhere that has a decent Internet connection.”
Much more in the full article here.
I find that between them, Skype and FaceTime meet all my needs.
Skype alone has been my long distance carrier for over five years now (for just under $9.00 a month). Audio and video computer-to-computer or computer-to-phones (cell and landline in U. S.–land-lines world-wide).
I gave up on Skype a couple of years ago. A business friend has been trying lately. Has given up. Can’t make a call of any length without it dropping a couple (or more) times. Tried Facetime recently to Europe. Terrible. What are we missing? Do you have to be in a major urban core to get a fast enough connection to the backbone? Or are you lucky?
Use it all over (U. S. and Europe); only variable in quality sometimes occurs with video, else, to quote old Sprint ad, “you could hear a pin drop” on calls.
The difference should not be location (the Skype peer-to-peer protocol is global), but dependent on your connection of origin over an ISP. I use it successfully in France every summer with a USB 3G key over one of the French cell networks (SFR), as well as occasional WiFi. At home I’m on a T-1 connection at a boarding school, but anywhere else I have connected on WiFi has worked as well.
I’ve been using Skype for years to talk to friends in India, which definitely doesn’t have the fastest internet connections. Never had a problem with dropped calls, lag time, etc. Works perfectly and is 100% free for Skype-to-Skype calls.
I have no luck with Skype (lousy quality, dropped calls, frozen video) but FaceTime is usually awesome. the video is HD tv quality. I’m in SF bay area and use it regularly to chat with people in the UK – in both cities and rural areas.
Finally a news beyond MagicJack! 🔮
Frankly I’d be happy if AT&T would let me (for a m
…modest fee) have multiple phone numbers and forward voicemails to my email.
I’ve been using Ooma since August 2008. Paid around $150 for their box (now $100 or so), and since then I’ve paid $10 per YEAR to Ooma for service, plus the required taxes, etc…$4.33/month on my last bill.
Never had a problem with the service and have probably saved $2000 or more vs traditional phone service.
Perhaps a little more expensive up-front for the box, but you’ll recoup that in a few months.
I have telephone installed on three mac laptops, and I can place calls fine… but can’t receive them. No issues with Bria as a softphone. Not sure if Telephone is ready for prime time.
Skype rules! I use it on my Mac, iPhone and iPad both over WiFi and 3G. Excellent quality, cross platform performance and reliability. I never use Facetime.
Does Skype still abuse your bandwidth by using it to carry network traffic for its other customers?
Skype is now Microsoft crap. No Thanks.
Been using this for some time on iPhone 5, iPad and Macintosh.
TruPhone for Mac
http://www.truphone.com/desktop
TruPhone for iPhone
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/truphone/id319994618?
mt=8
TruPhone SIM Card
http://www.truphone.com/en-GB/Products/Tru-for-you/
Not a bad deal, although you will have to use Java on your Mac to use the OS X client.
So, how do I use my iPhone to call out and answer my existing land line when I am home? The iPhone is immensely more user friendly to use than any cordless phone I’ve ever used!
been using nettalk for years now and it works great. you can block numbers too
I would rather just get a voIP phone. It’s easier, cheap and much more stable.