Any recommended free PC to phone progs now that Skype won't be free anymore?

[Revtim]

Skype was letting people make free PC to phone calls this year, but that's coming to an end. Has any other company stepped up to the plate and offered free PC calls to landlines?

[Czarcasm]

Since you are looking for actual information rather than opinions, I'm moving this from IMHO to General Questions.

[Revtim]

Well, opinions of how well they work and recommendations are also welcome.

[C K Dexter Haven]

Are you sure you got this right? I signed up with Skype in February of this year, and although I haven't used it much, I thought that PC-to-PC calls were free but there was always a charge for PC-to-phone ...it's about a cheap as can be believed, works out to around US$ 0.02 per minute to call anywhere in the world.

[Revtim]

Yeah, they made PC to phone calls free some time this year (to the US and Canada only, IIRC), but that's coming to an end Jan 1.

I should probably simply shell out the 15 bucks it's going to cost next year, but of course if there's a quality free service out there I'd like to hear about it.

I was in the telecom industry for about 15 years until recently, and the consensus was national calls would be free "any time now". I'd be a little surprised if somebody doesn't take up the slack and offer free calls, maybe even with an app showing ads.

[NineToTheSky]

Where did you hear that Skype PC to Skype PC calls will not be free from Jan 1?

I've looked on the Skype and Googled it, and I can't find any reference to it.

[Revtim]

Originally Posted by NineToTheSky

Where did you hear that Skype PC to Skype PC calls will not be free from Jan 1?

I didn't hear that. I'm sure Skype PC to Skype PC calls will remain free.

[NineToTheSky]

Sorry - I misread you.

[Revtim]

No problem NineToTheSky.

FYI, I haven't had much luck finding a new provider. http://gizmoproject.com/ looked promising, but then I saw that everybody you call must sign up as well, even if you are calling their standard phone.

It's kinda looking like I'm going to end up dropping the 15 bucks to use Skype. Not sure why I'm so hesitant, I spent almost that on lunch today without blinking. I guess it irks me because those calls were free.

[rowrrbazzle]

This site rounds up some of the services.

http://probargainhunter.com/2006/12/...elephony-poll/