Convert your iTouch into an iPhone using Skype

From a distance, you cannot make out the difference between an iTouch and an iPhone. Your budget may not let you buy the iPhone for its expensive data features and the recurring, yet again expensive monthly dataplan. But you are not far from making inexpensive calls using your iTouch and almost pay nothing for making inexpensive calls whatever the destination is !

Well, how can you get your iTouch upgrade to an iPhone ? can you really make calls using the iPhone ? ...Well, Yes !

What does it cost ?...Nothing much.

All you need is the hands free cable that is available for the iPhone. This is the cable that has the earbuds and the tiny microphone alongside. This is the way you are gonna be able to talk through the iTouch. Without this headset, iTouch is designed only for outputting music.

Just note that the iTouch can act as your phone only where you can access Wi-fi. Do not expect the itouch to be able to allow you make a call when you are hiking in the desert.

Yes, I understand is what you say !. Ok, move on !

Using the Wi-fi connection on your itouch, download Skype for iPhone/Itouch from the iTunes store. Once you install this, attach the headset cord (microphone with speakers) like the ones you use for iPhone to connect to your iTouch. You can login to your skype account or create one to get started. Also consider getting a suitable subscription to make local calls and international calls over skype. An itouch at home can double up as your music player ond your home phone by using skype.

Economic ways to call families abroad

So.. you are hooked on to that calling card.. It never seems to last for enough time. With the minute rounding, call set up charges, the card expires faster than you recharge and you raise a brow when you get your credit statement at the end f the month !
You are always on the look out for the best quality ccallign card for the lowest rate. The hunt goes on.. and you wished calling abroad home or your loved ones whom you call so frequently would be free !

Well yes, it is free or atleast can be economical.
Here are a few ways you could cut costs.

I am not gonna tell you about the facilities available for computer savvy people. they have the google chat, yahoo messenger, skype , Ja-Ja and the like. Your folks out there are not that tech savvy. They are content with the plain old telephone or utmost the mobile phone and they would never touch a computer no matter what incentive you offer them. !

Let me cut the crap and go for it:

These are based on the assumptions that you have broadband internet connection at atleast either or both ends of the communicating parties.

1. Magic Jack. Here is how it works.
Lets say you have a computer. You just need to turn it on so that the Internet is running. Plug in the Magic Jack to the USB and plug in the telephone to this Magic Jack. Every Magic Jack comes with a pre-determined US Phone number. So, buy one of those and send it to your folks and help them set it up with a computer. All they need to learn is to turn the computer on. Irrespective of its configured US number, make a call to this number and the phone rings whichever part of the planet it is now at.

2. Invest in a Skype Phone. Configure the skype phone to have the users dial your name. Send it abroat to your family. All they have to do is to connect it to the router once an internet connection is set up at home. Make sure that the skype phone that they are using iss asociated with a Skype id for them. Whenever you make a call from your skype out, you should be able to reach them on the skype phone. When they make a call to your id, you can receive the call on your computer if you are online or your mobile phone if you have configured it for receiving Skype in Calls. All this will cost you nothing for international calling except for the investment in the Skype Phone.