Do you know you can sign up for a US and/or UK-based number that will route calls to your computer thru VoIP?
It’s as simple as signing up for an account with FWD, downloading a SIP-enabled VoIP client, and signing up for a DID (direct international dialling) account with IPKall or CallUK.
Here are the steps:
- Sign up for an account with FWD. Freeworlddialup will then assign you a “telephone number,” in xxxxxx format. This will be your SIP (session initiation protocol) number, which other VoIP users can use to call, via xxxxxx@fwd.pulver.net. If they’re using FWD, they just dial your number.
- Download and install an FWD-compatible client. You can use any SIP client, but you’ll probably spend some time configuring for FWD. I suggest you download a client pre-set for FWD already, such as Pulver’s own communicator. But if you want to go lite, download SJPhone instead (choose the one marked as FreeWorldDialup softphone. It’s free and it takes only minimal CPU and memory load. There are even versions for the PocketPC (yes, I’ve tried it and it works—I was able to turn a WiFi-enabled iPaq into a mobile phone of sorts).
- Sign up for a free DID number from IPKall (US) and/or CallUK. These services will assign you a US or Uk telephone number, and calls made to those will be redirected to your FWD number.