PC phone home

By Christina Okoli

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ARE you making the most of that �1,000 hunk of plastic that's taking-up almost all the space on you desk Well, if you're one of the 4 per cent of computer owners who uses your PC to make cheap or free international telephone calls, then the answer is a definite 'yes'.

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Internet telephony or VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) is slowly catching-on in the mainstream, after years of being a money-spinning hobby for Internet-nerds. But now, thousands of Internet users are making the most out of their PCs and taking advantage of improvements in computer hardware, bandwidth, chip power and application speed that makes it possible to phone from your PC.

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Though relatively few Internet users are taking full advantage of their computer's ability to cut the cost of normal telephone calls, dozens of phone companies are feeling the financial chill of Internet telephony and thus jumping on the bandwagon to offer customers the service.

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Go2call, like many online telephony companies is enjoying a flood of new customers, as it offers Internet users the opportunity to make free PC to phone or PC to PC calls over the web.

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As a user, all you have to do is sign-up to any one of the telephony websites, and allow yourself to be bombarded with online banner ads while you talk away to friends and family as far afield as the USA and Canada, for absolutely free. Yet, the person you call doesn't need to own any special software or equipment - or even a PC.

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But how, I hear you ask, can these companies afford to provide such a service

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Well, the process is quite simple as Larry Spear, co-founder of Go2call Communications explains: 'The reason Internet telephony is taking off is that processor speeds have increased significantly and bandwidth has improved. Our company's network architecture translates into extremely low costs. Our advertisers are willing to pay for the cost of calls, so the caller doesn't have to pay.'

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Yet, before you rush out and sign-up to Internet telephony, there is, as always, a catch. Many users of the service complain about the time lag that exists when making calls over the Internet. This means that it may take several seconds for your voice to reach the person you are talking to, resulting in a stinted or overlapping conversation. In addition to this, poor sound quality, echoing lines and the need to wear cumbersome handsets have also been listed as the glaring drawbacks of Internet telephony.

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However, if you still want to join the 4% of Internet users who are already putting cost over quality, then this is what you'll need to get started:

• A personal computer (of course).
  
• �A computer-compatible headset, that will cut-down echo, as opposed to the microphone and speakers that come with most computers.
  
• �A high-quality sound card, which will speed voice transmission.
  
• �A high-speed Internet connection like ADSL or cable modem, which will enhance all your Internet use, including voice calls.
  
• �Then visit one of the telephony websites and sign-up. Some sites may require you to download a small application before you start calling - this should take minutes.
  
• The most popular telephony websites are www.net2phone.com, www.Go2call.com, www.iconnecthere.com. www.MSN.co.uk also offers users the opportunity to make voice calls over the Internet as part of its instant messaging software.
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