Companies listed below, as well as most internet services on-line, provide services that enable low-cost telephone calls over the Internet. This service, commonly referred to as Internet telephony (IP telephony) enables customers to make regular phone calls or send faxes to anywhere in the world.
Here’s how this type of call works: The call originates from a telephone and is routed to an Internet Telephony gateway which connects the telephone network to the Internet. The call then travels across the Internet to its destination, where it is routed to another Internet Telephony gateway that connects the Internet back to the telephone network. Then call is directed to the telephone at the destination.
IP telephony rates are generally much lower than calls placed over regular long distance telephone network. Since your call goes over the Internet, call quality can vary greatly and is subject to traffic and connection quality.
No special equipment is needed to use IP telephony. You just need to have a regular touch-tone phone and to purchase a pre-paid calling card from an IP telephony provider. The cost of each call is deducted from your card. These calling cards are valid for unlimited period of time and are differently priced.