How to make free phone calls on an iPod touch
You love your slender, touchscreen-enabled iPod touch and rely upon it heavily for music, photos, videos, games and apps. And even though it’s not an iPhone, you can use it to place free phone calls. Here’s how.
You love your slender, touchscreen-enabled iPod touch and rely upon it heavily for music, photos, videos, games and apps. And even though it's not an iPhone, you can use it to place free phone calls. Here's how.
Want to know how to make free international phone calls on your iPod touch?
Yep, it's possible — but you need a piece of hardware and software to pull it off.
Here's what you need.
1. If you don't have one already, pick up a 3.5mm jack headset for your iPod touch. About halfway down the earphone cord is a tiny microphone so the person you're calling can hear you. I used one that shipped with my Blackberry Curve and it worked just fine. You can buy one for as low as $2.16 by shopping here.
2. On your iPod touch, download the free Skype application for iPod touch/iPhone and sign up for a free account if you don't already have one. I used the same login and password as the Skype on my PC. If you have a Canadian iTunes account, however, then you probably know Skype isn't offered yet in the Great White North (for mobile phones), so try a free VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) app like iCall.
3. Now have your iPod touch or iPhone join a wireless network, such as in your own Wi-Fi hotspot at home. You can then place calls to another Skype/iCall user for free. You don't have to pay a cent if your friends or family have a free account. With Skype, you can also buy inexpensive "Skype Out" credits to call any landline or cell phone.
Easy, no? Indeed. But keep in mind if you have a first-generation iPod touch you'll need some sort of microphone add-on in order to place calls.
Filed Under: Mobile Apps
You forgot to mention that you require to be in a Wi-Fi for all this to work!
Thanks for the info
(Report comment)
Good point, Brian! I'll tweak momentarily,
Marc
(Report comment)
The Skype app is great, but not yet available in Canada (unless you set up a US iTunes account).
My favorite new app is Slingbox. Its great watching TV on my iTouch.
(Report comment)
Can anyone tell me what Itunes has to do with Skype? I clicked the link and it just took me to an itunes page with no mention of skype. And why is Skype mentioned in the first place if this is a Canadian site?
(Report comment)
Hi Robert,
Many Canadians (including myself) have set up a U.S.-based iTunes accoint so you can snag all the apps available at the App Store (part of iTunes).
But I also provided info and a lonk for iCall, which is another VoIP solution, which is available to Canadian iTunes account holders.
Cheers,
Marc Saltzman
(Report comment)
You can also get the "fring" app and use it's dialer to make an SIP call (after signing up for a free SIP service. A simple google search will give you some good sites.
The difference with using this is that you can call landlines and cell phones for free (instead os just Skype contacts), as long as you have a good Wi-FI connection. The only problem is that I don't have a microphone yet to haha.
(Report comment)
Hi Marc,
My fiancée is really into the App store at iTunes, however she regularly complains how there is nothing available when compared to the US version (which she doesn't have access to). How would one do as you mentioned, create a US based iTunes account?
Thanks!
(Report comment)
sounds pretty good to me. i wonder how long it will take for those companies to figure out how to charge for the service. nothing ever remains free.
(Report comment)
http;//smartappsdownloader.com/78571
cell phone apps
(Report comment)
r4
(Report comment)
Casual Observer,
You can get a US iTunes account by going to the US version. She may have to go through a US proxy like http://www.freeproxyserver.ca.
(Report comment)
[...] AIM that enable users to use instant messaging on the touch. And there are a few hacks, such as one that involves using Skype, for making phone calls on the touch. Though of course you still need a Wi-Fi connection and a [...]
(Report comment)
[...] AIM that enable users to use instant messaging on the touch. And there are a few hacks, such as one that involves using Skype, for making phone calls on the touch. Though of course you still need a Wi-Fi connection and a [...]
(Report comment)