WebRev Blog

I have a dream.  That dream is to be able to go through an entire day (or few days) with just ONE wireless device.  I'm tired of being tethered to cable, a phone, a laptop, a PC, etc..  I've been having some trouble with my mobile phone connection at my residence, so I decided to return to using Skype after a long absence.  I think Skype may get me closer to reaching my dream. 

Skype, for those who don't know is voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP), which is essentially the ability to use the phone over the web.  All you need is a free download, and a headset with audio and a microphone. 

It is now possible to sync Skype with all of your phone numbers, so theoretically, you could use your laptop or smartphone or notebook as your only phone.  It's also an instant-messaging service and will accept contact imports from Facebook, most e-mail services, and several other contacts services.

Although Skype's rates have increased somewhat since the last time I used it, there are several different plans that keep it affordable depending on your needs.  Skype-to-Skpe calls are always free.  Occasional users will want to use the pay-as-you-go option shown above.  If you plan to use Skype frequently, and most of your calls are to one country (including if most of your calls are within the U.S. and Canada), you'll want to sign up for the monthly subscription service to that country, which can bring the cost per minute down to a fraction of a penny.

Try it out by visiting Skype.com.

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. 
 

I've used Google Voice for a long time, as a way to protect the privacy of my actual home phone #.  I love it. It can be used as a stand-alone voice-mail service, or it can be simply forwarded to one or more phones.  But it just got even better.

Now, you can make calls from your computer using Google Voice - for free within the U.S. and Canada (rates apply to international calls). It's easy.  You'll need a Google account, of course (does anyone seriously not have one of those? Come on!  If you use G-Mail, when you're logged in, in the lower left column, you'll see a "Call Phone" link with a little phone receiver.  Click on that, and follow the instructions.  Or, just go to voice.google.com, and sign up from there.

I tried it - the sound quality is great, and it's simple to use.  Go try it!

Also see: Mashable: Google Brings Voice Calling to Gmail and TechCrunch: Google Voice Integrated into Gmail. Make and Receive Calls from the Browser.

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking.