internet phones

[PEGGY]

I would really like to have info on the internet phones. i have a son working in Africa and he only has a moblie phone. i find the standed calls from my home phone to his mobile so dear i can't ring him more then every three months. ( I'm an oldie on a pension).
i have sat broadband with a download of 1gig. could i use the internet to call him? 

[wdrc_ncc]

Hi Peggy,

The short answer is "Yes". There are many ways of achieving this, however if both of you have broadband internet access you can use Skype for free. Check it out at http://www.skype.com/. I haven't experienced it over satellite, there could be some lag.

[Fatty]

Hi Peggy, welcome to RG!

As wdrc_ncc suggested Skype is probably a good starting point. Skype also allows you (for a fee) to call mobiles from the Internet. Calling a mobile in South Africa, for example, costs about 35 cents a minute. If you try Skype and in doesn´t work due to lag your best bet may be buying a ¨calling card¨. These give you credit to make phone calls which you use by ringing a a freecall number, then entering your calling card number, then the number you want to call. Rates are usually dirt cheap. They´re usually available from newsagents.

Matt