[mdlug] Free phone calls

[Joe Doehler]

If you don't mind using Windows, you can get MagicJack setup by Monday.
You can pick up one of those things almost anywhere, and pay for service
($20/year) during setup. I use it precisely for this sort of thing: I
routinely have conference calls that last 2 hours or more. Can't beat 
the price. The only complaint I receive is that volume, as heard on the 
other end, is low.

It works on Linux only with XP running in a VM.

Make sure your Internet connection is suitable for that purpose:
http://myspeed.visualware.com/index.php

Hint: use the Chicago server.

Concurrent streaming video may eat a good chunk of your bandwidth.

"MagicJack" has promised direct Linux support shortly, but that could be
just hot air.

Hope this helps.
Joe.

___________________________________________
On 2/5/2011 10:22 AM, Carl T. Miller wrote:
> I'm taking a remote class next week, and everything is being
> delivered digitally.  The streaming video, the textbooks, the lab
> book, the virtual classroom and the virtual lab.  Well, everything
> but the voice content. I've been told that I need to be on the phone
> for 42.5 hours next week.
>
> Ouch, for several reasons.  I won't be able to recieve incoming
> calls.  That would eat up over 500 minutes. I don't like the idea of
> using a phone line for an online class.
>
> Believe it or not, it looks like Google is the answer. I've set up
> and tested the gmail phone plugin.  It works on LMDE (Linux Mint
> Debian Edition) and I plan to use it for the class.  I just hope they
> don't mind 8.5 hour phone calls.
>
> Has anyone else used this?  Any feedback?  Or are there other ways to
> get free phone calls to landlines?
>
> c