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Hack9.Make Toll-Free Calls


Hack 9. Make Toll-Free Calls

Most regular phone plans don't charge for toll-free numbers you call in your own country, but what about toll-free numbers in other countries? Skype allows you to make free toll-free calls for your own country, and for other countries !!

Works with: all versions of Skype.

Many VoIP plans charge for what would otherwise be toll-free calls (1-800 and the like in the U.S. and other numbers elsewhere) under a regular phone plan. Indeed, until recently, Skype also charged for these types of calls.

Now, many toll-free calls are free when made using Skype. Even better, you don't have to be a SkypeOut subscriber to take advantage of making toll-free calls without paying a penny.

Regular phone plans normally don't charge for calling toll-free numbers in your own country, but that is not usually the case for toll-free numbers in other countries. In fact, such numbers might simply be blocked. With Skype toll-free calling, there is no such restriction.

Support for all types of toll-free numbers in all countries is not yet available. Skype currently supports the following countries and number prefixes:



France

+33-800, +33-805, +33-809



Poland

+48-800



United Kingdom

+44-500, +44-800, +44-808



United States and Canada

+1-800, +1-866, +1-877, +1-888

You can obtain toll-free directory assistance for some U.S. toll-free numbers by calling +1-800-555-1212. The service is free, but not all U.S. toll-free numbers are listedonly those for subscribers that choose to list them.

Some toll-free numbers in the U.S. are geographically restricted in the sense that calls to that number will be accepted only if they originate from a caller in a known geographic region. Because you can make SkypeOut calls from anywhere , these restricted numbers cannot determine your location and therefore may block the call.


As already mentioned, you don't have to be a current SkypeOut subscriber to dial these toll-free numbers from anywhere . Just enter in Skype's address bar one of the prefixes listed earlier, along with the rest of the toll-free number, and click the big green call buttonyou'll be connected for free. If you call certain toll-free numbers on a regular basis, you might want to consider adding them to your Contacts list.

Lastly, if you've connected to a toll-free number and you have problems navigating an automated phone system using Skype's keypad (the "press 4 to get your account balance" sort of thing), "Avoid Problems with Interactive Telephone Services" [Hack #79] should help you.



Hack 10. Forward Calls

Have your calls follow you around! Skype's call-forwarding feature can forward your calls when you're on the move .

Works with: Windows version of Skype.

Skype gives you the option to forward incoming calls to up to three alternative Skype accounts (or regular phone numbers if you're a SkypeOut subscriber). This works whether the incoming call is from another Skype user or, if you have a SkypeIn number, from a regular phone. However, how quickly calls are forwarded depends on your online status, as shown in Table 1-8.

Table 1-8. Typical delay before a call is forwarded

Online status

Call forwarded

Skype not running

Immediately

Online

Between three to five rings

Offline

Immediately

Skype Me

Between three to five rings

Away

Between three to five rings

Not available

Between three to five rings

Do not disturb

Between three to five rings

Invisible

Between three to five rings


To forward calls you must first specify the forwarding Skype names or regular phone numbers (select Skype Tools Options… Call Forwarding & Voicemail), as shown in Figure 1-12. To activate call forwarding you must put a checkmark in the checkbox opposite "Forward calls when Im not on Skype."

Figure 1-12. Call-forwarding Options dialog

Skype call forwarding enables you to redirect incoming Skype calls to another Skype name , mobile phone, or landline number. If none of the forwarding contacts is available (for example, they're offline), or none of them picks up the call, the caller will either get a message indicating that the call could not be completed, or be directed to voicemail (if you are a Skype voicemail subscriber).