How Do You Make International Calls?

Futurepower(R) asks: "How do Slashdot readers make international calls? I know about OneSuite, Vonage, Skype, and iConnectHere. I know that BigZoo is quitting business. What other telephone, VOIP, or other kinds of services are available? Is there any open source VOIP software that can connect directly through port 80, bypassing firewalls?"

Comments

Hardly ever call internationally

[mrjb]

Actually, I hardly ever do voice internationally, either by phone or over the internet.

I don't like the idea of wasting a huge amount of bandwidth, possibly surprising me with a nice bit of aftermath from my provider. For the same reason, I don't stream internet radio.

Personally I think voice is overrated. I do have an 'always on' connection, but it's instant text messaging all the way across the globe for me. Most importantly it 'just works', just like skype but without the adware/spyware issues.

I actually prefer to have IM conversations over phonecalls, because they allow you to keep working on something else in the meantime, while voice phonecalls tend to require full attention.

Additionally IM doesn't consume ridiculous amounts of bandwidth. With 1/3 of our bandwidth being utilized to deliver spam and another 1/3 used by bittorrent leeches, I think the 'net would benefit from not having everyone replacing their phone by VOIP just yet.

Re:Message-in-a-Bottle

[spitefulcrow]

On September 11th, 2001, I said "oh shit, time to watch Bush bomb the fuck out of the Middle East now." And I live 50 miles from lower Manhattan. There are dumbfucks like Osama bin Laden that will pull that kind of shit all the time. He got lucky and made the first major international terrorist strike on American property. How is this different from the acts of terrorism that are committed against Middle Eastern and European cities and countries every day?