Number 201 - February 2000

Free Long Distance Calls!
by Shirley Salas, Saginaw Valley PCUG Blue Chip News
If you make a lot of long distance calls to people in the United States, you should definitely checkout Dailpad. This nifty service lets you make free phone calls over the Internet using your computer's speakers and microphone (or headset)     Here's how it works. You go on line, visit Dailpad's website, and a virtual phone appears on your screen. Using your mouse or keyboard, you dial the desired U.S. phone number. The recipient's phone rings, and you have a conversation. Unlike some Internet phone thingies, the recipient does not need to have a computer--just a regular phone.	In my tests, I noted that Dialpad works best when you have a high quality sound card and a 56K or faster connection. And fiddling with the sound level indicators on the screen (the green bars) sometimes helped when the volume on either end was low, or the sound was choppy. but you can't argue with free. The FAQ on the Dialpad site gives tips on getting the best sound quality, eliminating echoes, etc. Read it!     Currently Dialpad is for Windows only. According to the FAQ, they are working on support for Mac and Linux, and it will be ready in the near future. Also, they do plan to support international calls, but are focusing on making the service more reliable and stable before going global. If you live in the U.S. or have relatives who do, Dialpad can be a big money saver. http://www.dialpad.com
Number 201 - February 2000