I need to look into Google Voice. Thanks to everyone for the replies...please keep them coming.
I need to look into Google Voice. Thanks to everyone for the replies...please keep them coming.
I use Googlevoice for most calls. It is very inexepensive so do so in lieu of a landline to call internationally. I believe its actually free locally too. I use Skype as well and agree with others the quality isn't as good. I have a cell phone via work so use that for calls in NZ. So use a combination of all three!
Recently I used Skype to talk to OH while she was away and it hardly took about 300 MB for 1 hr video chat, the voice & video quality was really good. Last time I tried Skype was about 3-4 years back and technology & quality seems to have changed a lot since then.
My experience has been:
1) Google Talk is what one actually uses to make phonecalls (not google voice)
2) Google Talk is not available for the ipod touch
This is just my experience; I could be doing something completely wrong, and/or it might work better with an ipad.
Google Talk is a chat application. We're talking about Google Voice. Google it...
I have an international plan on skype. You pay a flat annual fee and can call to most countries in the world. I also registered a U.S. number with skype so my family back in the U.S. can dial a local number and it'll ring through to my skype. Skype works well most of the time but if the internet is at a crawl (as it sometimes is at peak hours with my provider), then it can be a bit like talking on a walkie talkie.
I don't know if I'd go so far to use it as a replacement for a local phone but it's a good option for cheap international calling.
I do currently go without a line rental as I just give out my mobile as my contact number. I'd say in any case, a mobile phone is pretty essential.