It has become increasingly popular the use of Smartphone apps, known as dialer apps to make phone calls. In part that is due to the increasing popularity of Facebook’s Messanger app that now includes VOIP (Voice-Over IP) calling and the ever-popular Skype or WhatsApp. The utilization in itself is in fact just a further confirmation the Smartphone has become the predominant device. It has been about ten years since Skype was launched as a Windows PC desktop program that becomes become popular and adopted different platforms, being the Smartphone of the latest and certainly a natural fit.
The advantage of using a Mobile VOIP app such as Yak or Localphone for making long-distance calls is that you’ll save a lot when comparing to the normal rates you’ll get from your wireless provider. Also, the fact you can use Wi-Fi in almost all smartphones nowadays in the market then you get greatly enhanced calling capabilities while maintaining your costs down.
In a recent road trip to Florida my wife and I decided to use only free Wi-Fi ‘data’ we found on our way. Thus setting our smartphones to no wireless service while roaming; each phone has their own way of doing this so you’ll need to research a bit. My wife is a BB junkie, yes there still some left, so most of what she did was via BBM (Blackberry Messenger) or email but due to work, I had to take a lot of calls and attend conferences via my mobile, since I use Phone Power (and they include as part of the standard package apps for iPhone and/or Android) I had decided to use the Phone Power app, note this app is provided free of charge and is the same number as you have with your phone. To my surprise quality was exceptionally good; I had it set for only making calls on Wi-Fi; you can choose the setting between Wi-Fi, 3G or try Wi-Fi than 3G. Because the Phone Power app is integrated with my office number I had access to my voicemails so I could pick them up and return the calls as required. On the odd, occasion I experience public Wi-Fi frustration when the signal is too congested and my call would drop. But to be fair, that also happens with my mobile carrier so I do not think there is a difference there.
We had an opportunity to also use Localphone app to make some international calls – again rates are significantly cheaper and quality was very good, clear and crisp communication. I also end up testing their SMS global TXT messaging, not because I needed it but rather wanted to test. I’m perhaps an older generation if I can make a phone call (without breaking the bank account) I rather make it 🙂
Now we have to be fair and not always we were able to get a free connection, either because we were in a part of the road there was just simply no place to stop or there were issues with attaching our Smartphone to these free public networks; on the flip side is amazing what a Latte can do to calm down any frustration. At the end of the day is well worth the effort. Though not every destination will allow you to use this if going to the US and probably Europe then this is a much cheaper alternative.
In all, we spent a woofing $1.72 for about 247 minutes of talking to Canada, US and international numbers plus a few text messages during a week-long work-cation (work + vacation) That is the cost of a coffee! In the past we had paid in excess of $500 for a similar trip in the concept of roaming charges – so to me/us indeed free Wi-Fi plus dialer apps are the way to go. Roaming charges no more. At least not where we can prevent them.
To learn more about Phone Power visit our review here
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