Google Voice (formerly GrandCentral) is the best way to make free Internet phone calls.
Being more of a "phone number management" service than a typical Internet phone service, Google Voice does a lot more than let you make free phone calls.
Visit Google Voice
The easiest and most common way to use Google Voice, however, is to allow the service to connect your phone to the destination number for free.
If you don't have a Google account, sign up for one using this link.
Read and accept any terms or policies, and then click on the link called Get a Voice number from the left side of the page. Next, choose the I want a new number button from the prompt.
You'll be asked to enter your existing phone number so the service knows the correct number to ring for incoming Google Voice calls.
To use Google Voice to make free PC to phone calls, install the free Google Voice and Video Chat Plugin, also called the Hangout Plugin. Once installed, you can make free calls from the Chat or Hangouts area in Gmail to real phones using just your PC microphone and speakers.
PC to PC calls, usually called voice chat or video chat, can be made using Google+ Hangouts.
You can also use Google Voice from a mobile application, as shown in the screenshot above. Official Google apps are available for Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone/iPad/iPod touch users.
Also important to know is that calls with Google Voice are free only if you call numbers based in the United States or Canada. Calls to numbers outside the US and Canada will incur a small per-minute fee.
PC to PC calls using Google+ Hangouts are not restricted.
The About.com Guide to Voice Over IP (VoIP), Nadeem Unuth, has a Google Voice Review as does Marziah Karch, the About.com Guide to Google: Review of Google Voice
Being more of a "phone number management" service than a typical Internet phone service, Google Voice does a lot more than let you make free phone calls.
Types of Free Calls With Google Voice
Google Voice can be used to make free PC to phone calls and free PC to PC calls.The easiest and most common way to use Google Voice, however, is to allow the service to connect your phone to the destination number for free.
I suppose you could call this a free "phone to phone" call.
Sign Up for Google Voice
You can sign up for Google Voice for free from your Google account, which uses the same information you use to access other Google services like Gmail and YouTube.If you don't have a Google account, sign up for one using this link.
Read and accept any terms or policies, and then click on the link called Get a Voice number from the left side of the page. Next, choose the I want a new number button from the prompt.
You'll be asked to enter your existing phone number so the service knows the correct number to ring for incoming Google Voice calls.
How To Use Google Voice
To use Google Voice to make free phone calls, log in to Google Voice and click the Call button. Enter a US or Canadian number in the Number to call section, choose a Phone to call with (this is your home or mobile number you told Google about when you signed up), and then click Connect. Google will dial the number you entered and connect the call to you for free.To use Google Voice to make free PC to phone calls, install the free Google Voice and Video Chat Plugin, also called the Hangout Plugin. Once installed, you can make free calls from the Chat or Hangouts area in Gmail to real phones using just your PC microphone and speakers.
PC to PC calls, usually called voice chat or video chat, can be made using Google+ Hangouts.
You can also use Google Voice from a mobile application, as shown in the screenshot above. Official Google apps are available for Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone/iPad/iPod touch users.
Google Voice Limitations
Free calls made with Google Voice are limited to three hours in length, at which point you'll be disconnected. However, you're free to call the same number over again as many times as you like so this is more of an occasional annoyance than a restriction.Also important to know is that calls with Google Voice are free only if you call numbers based in the United States or Canada. Calls to numbers outside the US and Canada will incur a small per-minute fee.
PC to PC calls using Google+ Hangouts are not restricted.
Google Voice Review
I love Google Voice. I've used it personally since it was GrandCentral, before Google bought the company. The free phone calls are clear and it's a very easy service to use.The About.com Guide to Voice Over IP (VoIP), Nadeem Unuth, has a Google Voice Review as does Marziah Karch, the About.com Guide to Google: Review of Google Voice
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