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Get Free Phone Calls Today!

Rumour has it that Google, the firm behind the Internet's most widely used search engine, may soon offer free Web-based telephone calls to its users.

Last week, technology watchers spotted a job ad from Google which made it clear that the firm plans to move into the telephony arena. The Internet-call technology involved has been around for some time, but the number of people using the Internet to make free calls would go through the roof if Google jumps on this bandwagon. Several analysts predict that Google may integrate this voice service with its hugely popular search engine. This could mean searching for searching Google for, say, your local pizza delivery firm and then clicking on a link to call the restaurant, with the resulting PC-to-PC call being completely free.

All you need for no-cost live chat over the Internet is a computer, a headset (or a microphone and speakers) and a broadband connection – plus a simple piece of software. This program converts the analogue signal (what you say into your mike) into "packets" of digital data. These data are transmitted via the Web to the person you're calling and then converted back into an audible message via the recipient's speakers. What's more, some programs scramble this data before it is sent and unscramble it at the other end, which means that no-one can eavesdrop on your conversations.

At the moment, the most popular free VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) software comes from London-based Skype, although BT also offers this service. However, BT's promotion of its VoIP package has been low key because it has most to lose from VoIP taking off, as almost three-quarters of UK residential voice calls are made through BT.

If your friends and family sign up to Skype, you can use your broadband connection to call them for free – anywhere in the world. However, if you call a non-Skype user, there is a charge for using established phone networks, which is around 1.1p a minute plus VAT to most countries. By the way, Skype's software allows up to five people to be connected at the same time in a conference call – a bit like a virtual party!

Of course, the sound quality of VoIP calls depends on your broadband speed, and connections are only as reliable as the Internet links between users. Also, depending on the speed of your connection, you will experience varying "latency" – tiny delays between messages. However, call quality is improving all the time (Skype's call quality is usually better than your home phone), so VoIP is poised to become a serious rival to traditional telephony.

VoIP is in its infancy in the UK, but is booming overseas. One in ten Japanese households uses it, and many global companies are using VoIP to make low-cost long-distance calls. No doubt, in the future, UK broadband users will be comfortable using their Internet connection for data, phone and video links, using similar P2P (peer-to-peer) software.

Finally, instead of waiting for Google to wade into the VoIP market, why not try Skype? It's free, easy to use, is ad-free – and has already been downloaded almost 54 million times. By the way, Skype rhymes with wipe – and VoIP is set to wipe the floor with the telecoms dinosaurs!

More: Get cheaper home phone calls with Fool partner uSwitch | Twelve Ways To Cut Your Phone Bills.