| Anyone who has been a college student or has a | | | | phone company.The other option is to use an |
| child in college understands how much of a | | | | Internet phone service that works using an actual |
| challenge it can be to save money while working | | | | stand alone phone...either your regular phone or a |
| your way through school. Even with a scholarship, | | | | specialized phone made to work with such |
| you still have to have money set aside for food, | | | | systems. You local phone company might already |
| gas, fun and living expenses, including your phone | | | | offer this service, making it pretty easy to switch |
| bill. That's why many students are choosing to | | | | over. In addition, there are several companies that |
| use Internet -based phone services to help them | | | | specialize in providing only Internet-based phone |
| keep in touch with friends and family back home. | | | | service that you can easily switch over to, |
| These cost-effective solutions allow students to | | | | including keeping your existing phone number. |
| make free (or at the very least, inexpensive) calls | | | | Typical prices for these types of services are |
| that can make that high monthly long distance bill | | | | anywhere from $15 to $30 per month, depending |
| a thing of the past. There are several options to | | | | on the plan you choose.Of course, with prices so |
| choose from depending on your needs.One option | | | | low, you might be concerned that the quality will |
| available to you is to use an Internet phone | | | | suffer or be much worse than a traditional phone. |
| service that works using your computer. If you | | | | However that's far from the case. In fact, you |
| use your computer, the only additional hardware | | | | probably won't be able to tell the difference |
| you need is a headset or a microphone/speaker | | | | between calling on a regular phone versus calling |
| combination. Then, all you do is fire up your | | | | via the Internet, especially if you're using a |
| favorite internet calling software program and | | | | broadband Internet connection, which most |
| you'll be able to speak and hear the person on the | | | | companies recommend (and some require).All in all, |
| other end. Most software allows you to call | | | | using the Internet as a means for placing calls and |
| landline phone numbers, though some might | | | | keeping touch with family back home can be a |
| charge a fee for this. You can also place calls to | | | | great option for the cost-conscious student. Gone |
| other computers and this is usually a service that | | | | are the days when you have to hunt around for |
| is offered free of charge. This can be a great | | | | the best calling card or be stuck with high |
| option for people who both have computers and | | | | per-minute charges for long distance from your |
| the appropriate hardware on both ends of the call. | | | | local phone company.If you're interested in learning |
| You get all the benefits of crystal clear calls | | | | more about your Internet telephony options, a |
| without having to pay expensive long distance bills. | | | | quick search online will point you towards |
| And even if your service charges a fee for calling | | | | numerous companies providing this new and |
| to a landline phone, the fees are usually much | | | | exciting service.Ready to make the switch to |
| cheaper than what you would pay using your local | | | | Internet phone service or just want more info? |