Googletalk - an amazing free technology
 

Googletalk is my favourite discovery this year.

It is a free application that you download from Google.

It allows you to speak through your computer's microphone or headset in real time with anyone else that has googletalk FOR FREE.

The sound quality is unbelievable. If a regular phone is 100% quality, Googletalk is 97%.

For great results use a headset which can be purchased for less that 10 dollars.

I have been using Google talk for three months and have saved a pile of dough in long distance charges.

I should mention that you need to have a Gmail (google mail) account to use Googletalk - and you can only get one through being invited by someone that already has Gmail....but MANY MANY people already have a gmail account so hopefully it won`t be a problem....

You can download Googletalk here
[url]http://www.google.com/talk/[/url]

Also, should anyone want a Gmail account, I have a TON of invites left that I would be happy to give away. Just send a PM if anyone wants one :)

There's another company that does it too... Dang! I can't remember the name of it. S- something... Dang. My dad uses it all the time to call Europe.

Skype - It's been around much longer - I tried it and it's not as clear.

It does have some better features like transferring files, 3 way conversations and the possibility of video (which googletalk does have too but you have to download another application) - but overall the audio quality - at least from my experience is inferior.

Try it free though...
[url]www.skype.com[/url]

Yeah, that's it. It sounded pretty clear at my dad's...

You can do that on msn messenger as well. All you need is a mic and speakers.

I have GMail as well - and many invites but have not used Google Talk. In the "old" days of the internet, I used to try out all those programs - I even forget the names, ICQ of course and Blackbiard (used mostly in teaching) - Paltalk maybe, there was one that was especially good for talking with friends overseas for free. Now we tend to use MSN videoconferecencing - but I have a state of the art $100,000 one at work (that I can only used at work and not to chat with with my cousin in Australia, even if she is in research, lol) so it spoils me, sigh!!!

I wish I could recall that one I really liked -- 1996 era. It had a whiteboard, a bit ahead of its time so to speak. I used to chat with ppl in Australia and NZ all the time - was wonderful. Great sound! And all free!