Voip Deals Blog

FriendCaller is a Pc-to-Pc and Pc-to-Phone calling service, also called a Soft Phone’, by C2Call Gmbh. Its pretty much like Skype with the one big difference, that is the you don’t need to download any software.

The service runs on an internet browser offers pc-to-pc calls like Skype. Pc-to-pc calls are free like skype. The way you initiate a call is by sending your friend a Call^me Link. It’s similar to SkypeMe link. The Call^me Link can be send to emails, Ipod Touch, Iphone, you can put it up on your blog, web page, you can use it wherever you have access to the Internet. You can send a call invite-link to anybody you want to talk with. The recipient of your Call^me can call you immediately by clicking on the Call^me link and doesn’t need to register. You can add any FriendCaller user to your contact list and talk to them whenever they are online.

The Pc-to-Phone feature is for a fee based on minutes. You can call from your pc to over 35 countries.

You run a small business, have a website or a blog, you communicate with your customers using email. Skype can help you with your online customer service efforts without having to break your bank.

How?

Part I – Get a SkypeMe Button

A SkypeMe Button is a clickable ‘Click-To-Call’ button, you can add to any of your website pages, blog and email signatures. SkypeMe buttons come in various flavors. It can be a Call Me button or a button that can show your Skype status, like I am available, do not disturb or I am offline. You also have the option to customize the color, text of your button. Once you have a SkypeMe button, put it on your web site, email signature and your have opened up an avenue for your customers to contact you easily.

Part II – Forward Your Calls using SkypeOut

Sign Up for a SkypeOut account. SkypeOut costs $2.95/Month for 12 month subscription plan. Once you have a SkypeOut account, set up a call forwarding (instruction below¹) to your cell phone or your land line or any phone of your choice. This way when sombody clicks on your SkypeMe button, the call will will be forwarded to your phone.

Part I + Part II – Cheap Online Customer Service

Using the SkypeMe button (free) and call forwarding on SkypeOut ($2.95/month), you have created a cheap online customer service option.

¹To forward a call click on the “Tools” menu and select “Options.” From there set the forwarding number in the “Call Forwarding & Voicemail” section.

Recently voip provider Vonage has quietly added a new tier of voip plan called Vonage Pro. Its a higher priced plan at $34.99/month and packs a few more services to its residential unlimited plan.

The added features are

• Vonage Companion – Its basically a softphone using which you can make and receive calls from your pc.
• Vonage Visual Voicemails – A voicemail transcription service that converts your voice mail to text so you can read the voicemail in your email or on your cell phone. You get 25 free with this plan.
• 25 Directory Assistance calls

For the above three features you pay extra $10 per month. The soft phone feature may be something that road warriors will like. With the softphone, you travel with your phone anywhere you can access internet, from the airport, from your hotel or office. For regular home phone users these features may not add much value, but then Vonage may not be targeting this group with this plan.

Please note with the Vonage Pro plan you get all the features of the Vonage Residential Unlimited plan, like unlimited local and long distance calls in US, Canada & PR, FREE calls to landline phones in Italy, France, Spain, UK and Ireland and 25 calling Free features. Also you get 1 FREE MONTH.