How much does VOIP call cost?

Welcome to the world of VOIP. In this post, I am going to tell you a little about what it costs to have a VOIP connection. Let's start from the basics:

What is VOIP?


VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol, and in a nutshell is a set of rules that facilitate carrying voice from one location to another over internet, just like emails use SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol).

So, Is VOIP free?

It is. VOIP is a completely free way to call from one location to another. The catch is, that since it transfers voice ONLY over the internet, you have to pay if you want to involve a device that does not support internet connection. Apparently, You can call for free from any device to any other device, if both devices have internet, and have some kind of a VOIP software. But, if you involve PSTN (Stands for, Public Switched Telephone Networks, and means traditional telephone system), VOIP can be associated with some other protocols (SIP, H.323) to transfer calls to a PSTN, but like with the normal telephone system, you have to pay to use that service.

Having said that, it should be pretty clear by now, how VOIP reduces long distance costs. Here is how:

Step 1: Call Origination:
The purpose is to transfer your voice to the internet, so that VOIP can transfer your call to the country you want to call.
There are several different methods to do this:
                    a. Using Your personal computer: Since you are already connected to the internet, you do not pay anything for this step.
                    b. From internet capable phones: Again, since you are already connected to the internet, you do not pay anything for this step, if you use the internet connection (through an application) to make a call.
                    c. From your regular land line or fixed line: There are devices that you can attach to your internet connection and your regular phones to make your regular phones connected to the internet. There also are Soft Phones which can be connected directly to your internet connection, and are capable of much advanced features. Once you are connected to the internet, you do not pay anything for this step.
                    d. From any other device that does not support internet: Now this is a problem. Your cell-phone carrier or residential plan is not going to let you send your voice in/out to internet without charges. That is where you pay local charges to call an access number, and VOIP provider pays a small amount to receive your call (often negligible) An access number is where you call, and your voice is forwarded to internet based on SIP (Signal Initiation protocol) proxy server.

Step 2: Call Processing:
Well! I could do all the call processing for free for you. That is how easy and hassle free it is with new softwares and 2010 technologies. I will include this part in detail later and post a link here.

Step 3: Call Termination:

The purpose is to transfer your voice to the Internet, so that VOIP can transfer your call to the country you want to call.

There are several different methods to do this:

                    a. To a personal computer: Since you are already connected to the Internet, you do not pay anything for this step.

                    b. To Internet capable phones: Again, since you are already connected to the Internet, you do not pay anything for this step, if you use the Internet connection (through an application) to make a call.

                    c. To regular land line or fixed line: There are devices that you can attach to your Internet connection and your regular phones to make your regular phones connected to the Internet. There also are Soft Phones which can be connected directly to your Internet connection, and are capable of much advanced features. Once you are connected to the Internet, you do not pay anything for this step.

                    d. To other device that does not support Internet: Now this is a problem. Your cell-phone carrier or residential plan is not going to let you send your voice in/out to Internet without charges. That is where you pay local charges to call in the destination country. An access number is where you call, and your voice is forwarded to Internet based on SIP (Signal Initiation protocol) proxy server.

Let's look at it, this way:


Your Device   ------>    Internet ------> Destination Device

Let's break this down:
So steps above explain the following, respectively:
1. Your Device ------> Your Country Internet.
2. Your Country Internet---------> Destination Country Internet.
3. Destination Country Internet -----> Destination Device.

So, that is why you are charged a very small local charges to make calls over Internet, if you are using any Internet in-capable device to make a call.

Please Note that Internet alone is not sufficient, and the need of a software is obvious. However, there are generally no charges for the software with Linux open source or negligible charges.

I hope that the information above added to what you already had and that you will soon switch to VOIP if you are not already using VOIP. I would recommend www.iCallWorldFree.com to compare between plans to choose from a list of VOIP providers for one simple reason, you can compare between all kinds of plans, and decide for yourself if you want to use a softPhone, a calling card, a PC call, or any other kind of service. They have easy to use page, with Monthly Charges, Per Unit Call Rate (I have never seen this anywhere before) , features, promotions, findings, all in one page, so that there is no confusion and no need to visit hundreds of website which are very hard to compare.

Never again you will have to struggle for plans like: 

1. 30 Mins International Free everyday (PC + Application for phone), 
2. Unlimited USA/Canada Calling [compare rates] (Soft Phones or your regular phone. Residential, Internet required, not computer), 
3. Unlimited calls to world [compare rates]
4. Cheapest Calls to anywhere in the world! Compare per unit call rate to your destination!!
5. Get bonus minutes for signing up.
6. Get Promo code for extra bonus.
7. Since you compare yourself. You can guarantee for yourself, that you have the cheapest and best, international or long distance or even local calling plan!
8. Yes, local too! Why pay $40-$100 to your cell phone provider?

Check out www.iCallWorldFree.com
(If click, does not work, copy paste in your browser)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbSIfzVW2pA

If you are interested in learning some more about VOIP you can check out the following links:



Cheap international or local calls (VOIP, Calling cards, PC or internet calls, etc.) (Youtube Video)


Never buy a cheap International call until you read this.

Some very common and confusing terms in VOIP industry: