Cut your long distance calling costs by using Windows Live Messenger
They say talk is cheap, but that's not true when it comes to the high price of long distance calling. If you've got friends and family outside your area code (or in other countries or regions), it can be prohibitively expensive to use standard long distance calling plans. Fortunately, we've got a solution.
Windows Live Messenger is the answer
Windows Live Messenger is a feature in the Windows Live suite of services. With Windows Live Messenger, you can use the Internet to place a call from computer to computer for free, anyplace in the world.
What's more, with Windows Live Messenger you can see the person you’re talking to. It’s a wonderful way to feel closer to your friends and family, even from thousands of miles away.
Two ways to call
There are two ways to make a call using Windows Live Messenger:
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Computer call. You can make free computer-to-computer voice calls to your Windows Live Messenger contacts. A computer call is just like talking on a regular phone but with a chat headset or a microphone and speakers, instead of a telephone receiver.
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Video call. You can make free computer-to-computer video calls to your Windows Live Messenger contacts. In a video call, you can see the person you are talking to and they can see you, as long as each person has a webcam and a chat headset or a microphone and speakers. More about that below.
What you need to get started
You’ll need a few devices and services to get started:
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A broadband Internet connection.
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A chat headset. A headset is an inexpensive device that includes headphones and a microphone so you can both hear and speak at the same time. Headsets usually have two jacks: one plugs into your computer's microphone jack and the other into the headphone jack. You can use a microphone and speakers if you don’t have a chat headset, but in some cases this can cause echoing.
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If you want to make video calls, you’ll need a webcam, which is an affordable, small video camera that usually plugs into a USB port on your computer. Most people put theirs on top of the monitor. Once you've plugged yours in and set it up, people can see you in real-time, full-motion video if you allow them to. Some webcams also have microphones built in, so you wouldn’t need a headset.
To see a list of these devices, or to purchase one, go to the Windows Live Call - Devices website.
The person you’re calling must have a computer with Windows Live Messenger running. They also need the equipment and Internet connection noted above. However, even if the person you’re calling doesn’t have a webcam, you can still call them. They will be able to see you on their computer monitor, but you won’t be able to see them.
Installing Windows Live Messenger
To install Windows Live Messenger, go to the Windows Live Messenger website.
Click Download, and then, in the dialog box that appears, click Run. Follow the instructions on your screen.
After installing Windows Live Messenger, install your webcam and chat headphones. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions that came with these devices.
Making a call
To make a call, first decide which type of call you want to make.
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Open Windows Live Messenger.
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Double-click the contact you want to communicate with, click Call, and then click Call computer.
Starting a computer call with Windows Live Messenger
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Open Windows Live Messenger.
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Double-click the contact you want to communicate with, and then click Video.
Starting a video call with Windows Live Messenger
Hanging up
To end an audio or video call, click End call.
That’s it! You’ll find that using your computer to make calls is not only fun and easy, it can save you lots of money in long distance phone charges.
