Gmail: Free Call to US and Canada

If you have Gmail, pay attention to my post; and if you don’t have one, I urge you—for your benefits—to create now. Gmail is like your Yahoo mail. On this two online mailboxes you can chat with your friends while checking your inbox. But Gmail sets itself apart—too far. You can now make free call to US and Canada, be it mobile or landline; imagine hours of talking without the hefty price—not a single cent! It’s still in beta, so why not give your friends, family a call from your PC.

Too Good to be True

If you’re worried about the quality of your voice, you shouldn’t because I didn’t sound like a low bat robot making its last few minutes SOS call nor the person on the other line having an echo, from the abyss.

It’s real: I made a free call to Canada and I was able to talk to my relatives—one after the other—as though they are just a few blocks away. If I hear the recorded message, I just end the call and dial/click the next telephone number. Easy and fast! Later, my mom joined or more like took over the conversation, and at some point interruptions (laughter most of the time) were so tempting that I just gave in.

It’s fun for me. It’s super fun for my mom because she loves to hear stories of our relatives—but when we told her that its free—cloud 9, aptly describe my mom’s feeling at that moment.

How to Make the Free Call

1. Make a Gmail account. Go to http:// mail.google.com then click “create an account.”
2. Log in and on the left side under Chat click “call phone.”
3. Follow the instructions. You’ll be asked to download a file (which is GoogleVoiceAndVideoSetup.exe).
4. Click this file after downloading, and then another download/installation will follow.
5. A message will appear if installation is complete.

Note: I only used a webcam with a built-in microphone and a speaker. This way, my ears weren’t hurt after a few minutes of conversation.

Filipinos can benefit the most in such heaven-sent, rare service. Many overseas contract workers have left the country enduring the hardship of living abroad and not being with their family especially in important occasions. So a call from home is priceless. It breaks the gap of distance, miles away. Excuse the change of mood from fun to sentimental. Let’s go back to the happy mood.

You can also make international call to other countries for a very low price cheaper than the phone card in the Philippines. I haven’t tried this one, but I may and I’ll definitely update this post.

Don’t waste your time and money. Dial the number and make that call (to your kapamilya, kapuso, or kapatid); your alibi of frugality doesn’t stand a chance. Just make sure you don’t have a sore throat so that your relative can recognize one’s voice and telling that it’s a free call, will make it more sounds, well, unbelievable.