The World is Flat – Thanks to VoIP Calling!

photo by ScubaBeer (via Flickr)

Cutting Back Doesn’t Have to Mean Compromise

The global economy is in a tailspin. Companies are downsizing, individuals are cutting back on expenses and money just isn’t as readily available as it once had been. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to compromise when it comes to communications. In fact, today there are options for communications that are as good—if not better—than what you may be using right now. And surprisingly, many of these are free.

The World is Flat

The collapse of the U.S. housing market, liberal regulatory structures and lack of capital flow have all contributed to the perfect economic storm—a crisis of global proportions. And one can point to subprime mortgages as being the primary culprit responsible for this global stagnation of world economic growth.

In this day and age, we’re realizing more than ever before that a local change can have international ramifications. Just as the U.S. housing market touched the world, however, there are some changes that have positive ripples.

For example, due in part to major advances worldwide in communications technology and the Web, you can now conduct both personal and business communications—with all the dependability and features of traditional service—at a fraction of what you would have paid just five years ago.

It doesn’t matter if you’re in Singapore or St. Louis; today you can make free phone calls, chat online and use other cloud-based technologies to conduct important business—or to simply keep in touch with loved ones.

From China to Silicon Valley

Li Hong moved from the People’s Republic of China to the U.S. to pursue a dream he shared with his family: To be the first in his family to attend and graduate from college. He had always wanted to be an engineer; Li’s family helped him raise the money he needed to come to California and pay for room, board and tuition at Santa Clara University where he had been accepted into their esteemed School of Engineering. But he left more than just his country behind; he had also left his family.

“I knew inside that the move, it was required. I had goals that only could happen in United States and waiting at home wasn’t part of my plan,” said Li. Once in the U.S., however, keeping in touch with family and maintaining those important connections proved not only difficult, but expensive as well. “Initially, I called home only when I could, to stay in touch with my parents and my little sister. But I felt that I was losing touch with them.”

Li began looking for other means of keeping in touch. He soon found that VoIP (or Voice over Internet Protocol) calling was the answer to his dilemma. “It was great! I found a firm that I could trust—they’re the leading VoIP service provider in Asia—and they let me make free, unlimited calls home!”

What Li discovered is what many others are discovering every day: That VoIP calling is just as easy, convenient and reliable as traditional phone service, and gives anyone who has access to a computer and the Internet the ability to call anyone, on any phone, in select global destinations for free.

The way VoIP works can be explained as such: The VoIP software serves as your ‘phone’. Instead of a traditional landline handset and receiver, you can use a headset attached to your PC, your computer’s microphone and speakers, a USB phone or even an existing analog telephone with an adaptor.

To make a call, simply start the program and on a familiar dial-pad (but now digital and on your computer), enter the number you wish to call. The call is placed to the landline or mobile device of your choice and you can talk for free with crystal-clear digital quality.

Today’s VoIP Service

Millions of people are adopting VoIP to reduce calling expenses. In the computing cloud today exists tools such as VoIP phone systems that give you flexibility you never imagined as well as save you quite a bit of money.

Quality VoIP providers offer services of high-value, and often free of charge. You should look for these features when evaluating VoIP service providers:

• Instant messaging with presence lets your contacts—whether they’re family, friends or business associates—know of your availability with a presence indicator. Typically, a provider will allow you to send and receive unlimited text messages for free.
• Multi-user voice conferencing allows you conference call with up to five participants at a time. Because no prior reservations required, this is perfect for an impromptu collaborative get together with the old gang. (Within these types of conference calls, you are typically allowed a mix of your online contacts and one contact who can be reached only on their fixed or mobile phone numbers.)
• Multi-user text collaboration for inviting up to five contacts into one chat session.

When selecting a VoIP provider, I recommend you do a bit of homework like Li did: look for a company with a long history in VoIP communications and features of interest, including free PC-to-landline and –mobile device to select international destinations.

Li Hong Chose MediaRing Talk for his VoIP service. One of the first companies to offer free PC-to-PC calls and instant messaging, they have built a complete VoIP service portfolio. Founded in 1993, they have an established reputation for quality products, service and support and are now the leading VoIP service provider in Asia.

Through strong technological capabilities, global network and extensive distribution network, MediaRing has brought high-quality voice communication services to carriers, enterprises, service providers, and now to the consumer.

Li speaks as often as he wants (though his parents wish it were more!) to family back in China, and because he uses MediaRing Talk, these calls are unlimited and free to both landline and mobile phones anywhere in China as well as the U.S., Canada, Singapore and Hong Kong. Additionally, they allow calling to landline phones in the U.K., Taiwan and Australia. (For all other global destinations, they have very competitive rates.)

Summary

Because the economy may not recover for some time, it’s important that you keep all your costs down. But you don’t have to compromise when it comes to communications. Search around, trust the best and you’ll be surprised at how much you can do with so little.

Sign up now and start making free calls today!

Tagged as: free calls, free internet calls, international calls, mediaringtalk, voip