This Little Birdie Said Cheap, Cheap, Cheap

Keeping in touch with family members who live far away can be quite costly.  Edith from California found out just how expensive it could be.  Her husband had a yearlong assignment to work in a country more than 6,000 miles away from home.  She called her mobile phone company to learn about international long distance calling plan options and signed on to a plan suitable for her situation.  A month later, she received her first mobile phone bill and was shocked to see the amount due.  To her horror, the bill was more than her monthly mortgage payment!

Gauged with the power of the internet, Edith is no longer worried about expensive long distance calling plans.  How did she do it?  Through Skype. Com, one of several internet based applications that allow its users to make calls over the internet for free or for a minimal fee.  

Here’s how she got started and how you can start too.

• First you’ll need a computer with internet service. 
• Unless your computer is equipped with built in microphone and speakers, you will need a microphone headset.  Headsets start anywhere from $10 to $15.  No need to spend more for fancy headsets if cutting cost is what you’re aiming for.    
• Then you log onto Skype.Com to create an account and download the application. 

That’s all you need to start saving money on your long distance phone calls. 

Calling Rates

Calls are free when calling from computer to computer.  The person you are calling must also have a Skype account. 

You can also call from a computer to a landline or to a mobile phone.  There is a charge for this type of call, but the cost is a fraction of what phone and mobile phone companies charge.  In Edith’s case, when she calls her husband’s mobile phone from Skype, she pays 37 cents a minute.  When she called from her mobile phone, the cost was 99 cents a minute in addition to a monthly fee for the calling plan.  That’s a savings of at least 62 cents a minute, which is more than a 50% savings! 

Features Available on Skype

Skype also has an instant messenger feature.  You can chat online, send emoticons, and even play games like checkers while you chat or talk.

 You can even see the person you are calling, that is if you both have a web camera attached to your computer.  Webcams start at about $30. 

Ready to start saving on your long distance phone bill?  Do an internet search to find out which internet calling application best suits your needs.  In no time you too will hear the birds say cheap, cheap, cheap.