Lowering phone expense, Which VOIP do people on the forum use?

[Clayton]

>> I use Ekiga with a 3rd party VoIP provider called FreeCall.  Call
>> rates are half of Skypes, and I find the call quality is much better.
>
> Are you able to use regular phone with Ekiga and FreeCall set up? Do
> you need the PC to be running?

FreeCall uses standard open SIP protocols (not closed proprietary like
Skype) so any SIP enabled device or phone will work with their service
(look at the website... they provide their own soft phone plus
instructions for how to set up SIP Hardware phones).  Ekiga is a
softphone that can be used as well (you can use other SIP softphones
like LinPhone too).... There are other VoIP providers who also use
standard SIP stuff.... I've never tried them though.

Two reasons I use FreeCall plus Ekiga over Skype...
 - I don't have to rely on a closed protocol with only one possible
client (ie Skype)
 - The call rates with FreeCall (and other providers) is MUCH less for
the destinations I call.. as much as 3 or 4 times less in some cases.
That is a lot of money saved on calls.

I still have Skype installed, but never use it for paid calls ....
only Skype to Skype calls.

C.