As you can imagine living 5,000 miles away from my parents can translate into some HUGE phone bills. This is especially true since their first grandchild (my 2-year-old daughter) is more than willing to chat endlessly to grandma and grandpa about her daily accomplishments.
Consequently, I have researched various phone plans, 3-in-1 plans, cell phone offers, pre-paid phone card options… the list goes on and on. Some deals were better than others (I found one that offered calls to Hawaii for 2 cents a minute), but none compared to what any homeowner would consider hitting the jackpot: FREE phone service.
Can you imagine calling friends and family all over the world—for free? I couldn’t either. But, thanks to a surf session on the World Wide Web I discovered two new services that offer just that… well, kind of.
Jajah and Future Phone are phone services, which connect two standard phones (landline and mobile) using the Internet. However, unlike other Internet phone companies, there are no monthly service plans… and you don’t need any special equipment. Translation: you don’t have to install software and you don’t plug in a little headset and microphone.
To make a call with Jajah, you first visit the company’s website and register to make a call. Next, enter your number and the number of the person you are trying to reach. A few minutes later your phone should ring and once you answer Jajah will connect you to your party. The only catch: calls between registered Jajah users are free in most of North America, Europe and Asia. However, if you are not a registered user you will incur a small service fee.
Future Phone’s directions are even easier. There are no computers involved—you simply dial a number in Iowa. Once you are connected a recording will guide you through the process. In a few minutes—-success. The catch with this one is that the phone call to the person you are trying to reach is free, but the phone call to Iowa is not.
If you subscribe to other Internet phone services– like Vonage or Skype—-you may also be eligible to make free overseas calls. It’s a good idea to review your service plan before utilizing Jajah or Future Phone. Either way, it just shows that options(ones that spare one’s bank account) are available to those of us who depend on the phone to keep in touch with loved ones.
Related Articles:
A Unique Way To Bring Peace To Your Home
Creating An Affordable Home Office-Part 2
A Warning For People Who Pay Bills Online