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.




Skype Hacks
Skype Hacks: Tips & Tools for Cheap, Fun, Innovative Phone Service
ISBN: 0596101899
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2005
Pages: 168

flylib.com © 2008-2017.
If you may any questions please contact us: flylib@qtcs.net