Note that calls made over the internet using programs like dialpad
and Yahoo Messenger flow through quite a number of computer nodes and
are thus open to scrutiny. If you want to use the internet to make
phone calls, and want them to be private, consider Speak Freely.
http://www.speakfreely.org
All parties (yes, more than 2 people can conference) must use
SpeakFreely as well. The program is free and uses high-quality
encryption. Windows and Unix versions are available. And most
importantly, in the tradition of good cryptographers, the source code
is open source.
> At 06:56 PM 2/2/01 -0600, you wrote:
> >Does anyone know of a pc to regular phone program to call long distance
> >without long distance charges similar to dialpad?
> >
> >Thanks
> >
> >Harry
> >Texas
>
> Harry,
>
> If you're looking for an easy solution, Yahoo! Messenger has free phone
> calls to anywhere in the U.S.
>
> It only requires that you go to their www page and sign up for Yahoo!
> Messenger by creating a User Name and Password for yourself... you can do
> instant chat (typing messages to other Yahoo Messenger folks)... or (and
> this speaks to your question above), you can click on the little telephone
> icon and make an actual phone call from your computer (using a microphone
> and your computer's speakers) to another phone anywhere in the United States.
>
> The entire installation process (yes, there is some software to download)
> is totally automatic and prompts you every step of the way. They've
> designed this whole thing for "newbies." ;)
>
> You can start here: http://www.yahoo.com
>
> Then click on the messenger icon, which links to this address and follow
> the directions:
>
> http://messenger.yahoo.com/
>
> I believe Yahoo! Messenger uses a Net2phone plug-in for the free long
> distance. I use a cable modem (Roadrunner) for fast Internet access and
> have found the long distance calls to be nearly "perfect" in quality.
> Things have come a long way...
>
> Hope this helps...
>
> Garrett
> Austin, Texas
>
