Does VOIP cost money to call to a regular landline that doesn't have VOIP?

Question

Does VOIP cost money to call to a regular landline that doesn't have VOIP?

Answer 1

Yes, generally speaking, VoIP to PSTN calls cost money...

InNetwork Calling

VoIP over the Internet is almost always free.  Almost all VoIP services will advertise free calling "between account holders".  Calls between account holders over the same network is known as "In-Network Calling".  The cost of In-Network call processing is minuscule and thus usually free. (calls don't traverse the PSTN network)

VoIP-to-PSTN phones

There is "almost always" a toll charge for VoIP calls that "terminate" to a PSTN (public switched telephone network) landline....

Why?

Because the call termination has to go through a local telephone company exchange switching office to reach the number you are calling on landline.  Since when do telephone companies give away free phone calls???

Sure they give you free local calling for only $25-30/month (if you want to call that free....)

The Baby Bells aren't in the business of giving away free phone calls.... they would rather sell their souls before doing that....

There is just no such thing as Free phone calling over PSTN telephone networks.... and VoIP has to terminate through PSTN phone network to get to a "real phone number".... not to a virtual number.... a real local exchange number.

Ok.... some services advertise FREE phone calls....  

Free phone calling to PSTN phones via VoIP is strictly MARKETING strategy to get new customers.... It is almost always for a "limited" time or, period.  Inevitabley, a VoIP service has to charge you money.... afterall, a business isn't a business.... unless they make money.  But, the cost of Marketing often means giving away FREE Samples.  Free phne calling amounts to free samples..... enjoy it while it lasts.... it ain't goint to last forever... not even close.

Skype started out giving away FREE VoiP to PSTN phone calls..... now look at them... they have to start turning a profit or...go the way of SunRocket and others that went belly-up.

The way to get "free" VoIP to phone calling is to sign-up with new start-up services that need to establish a customer base.

These start-up companies often note that their services are in BETA development phase and "while in beta" they offer free calling services.

MagicJack is in essence a new beta service... it will be interesting to see how long they can give away free USA/Canad VoIP to PSTN calls before they either go belly-up or... start charging more than $20/year for the so-called free calling.

GrandCentral is currently offering FREE USA phone numbers and Free calling to contacts in your GC account contact list..... GC is in BETA right now... I have an account and am using it for testing and to take advantage of the free features... while in beta development (beta also means "buggy and limited")..... It will be interesting to see how long before GC starts charging "money" for the service...

MediaRing Talk is currently offering FREE 10 minute VoIP to PSTN calls to 8 countries...  They have been offering this promotion off and on over the past year, since they started up.

Note, that is always "new start-ups" that offer free calling.... how else can they get your attention...

Here is the latest FREE VoIP to phone service I have come across recently (and am using it for testing too)..... "EarthCaller"

http://www.earthcaller.com/index.php?opt...

When you visit their web site.... note the little "beta" tag above their name.... yep... it's currently a new start-up and still under development..... and they want your business..... so, All Calls are FREE to any PSTN phone in USA/Canada from your PC web browser... You just need a headset to talk and download thier small downloadable web-plug-in to activate the VoIP calling module.

Enjoy it while it is in Beta development.... cuz.. if they want to stay in business, eventually they will have to start charging money...

(I think I smell a MagicJack killer-app on the horizon... :)

P.S.

I didn't really want to spread the word about EarthCaller... I'm stingy at heart and wanted all those free calls for myself, before the rest of the world started overloading the EarthCaller circuits.... oh, well, cats out of the bag now...

Answer 2

no.  Your call leaves the internet world and interface with the regular landline telephone switch through a gateway. Actually it's cheaper for long distance calls

Answer 3

It depends on what provider you use. If you have one of the pay per month services, no. If you use a free PC to PC service, yes.