Ok, now my head is getting dizzy from the number of times Microsoft Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger has had outbound VoIP-to-PSTN calling (2006), then pulling outbound VoIP calling (early 2008), and then putting it back in. Also, I believe it was 2004 when the Messenger client used Net2Phone before they pulled the plug. Well, apparently outbound PSTN dialing using VoIP is back in! Windows Live Messenger has now teamed up with Telefónica to offer VoIP services. Previously Net2Phone and Verizon have had exclusive deals with Microsoft's Messenger client. When you click on Make a Phone Call you see the dialpad window and it explains you can sign up with Telefonica's Voype service to call directly from within Windows Live Messenger. Telefónica's rates seem decent as compared to SkypeOut. For instance,Telefónica charges $0.014 per minute for the U.S. comparaed to $0.021 SkypeOut calls. Unfortunately, there is no dial-in (DID) capability equivalent to SkypeIn with Telefónica's service. The service uses prepaid amount in dollars. Increments of $5, $10, and $20 are available and you can set it up to automatically recharge the account when it reaches a certain threshold. To use it you just need Windows Live Messenger 8.0 and above. If Microsoft really wants to compete with Skype what they should do is partner with all the major SIP trunking service providers ( Bandwidth.com , DIDX , Junction Networks , Packet8 , etc.) and offer them all as ...
Anytime
Ok, now my head is getting dizzy from the number of times Microsoft Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger has had outbound VoIP-to-PSTN calling (2006), then pulling outbound VoIP calling (early 2008), and then putting it back in. Also, I believe it was 2004 when the Messenger client used Net2Phone before they pulled the plug. Well, apparently outbound PSTN dialing using VoIP is back in! Windows Live Messenger has now teamed up with Telefónica to offer VoIP services. Previously Net2Phone and Verizon have had exclusive deals with Microsoft's Messenger client. When you click on Make a Phone Call you see the dialpad window and it explains you can sign up with Telefonica's Voype service to call directly from within Windows Live Messenger. Telefónica's rates seem decent as compared to SkypeOut. For instance,Telefónica charges $0.014 per minute for the U.S. comparaed to $0.021 SkypeOut calls. Unfortunately, there is no dial-in (DID) capability equivalent to SkypeIn with Telefónica's service. The service uses prepaid amount in dollars. Increments of $5, $10, and $20 are available and you can set it up to automatically recharge the account when it reaches a certain threshold. To use it you just need Windows Live Messenger 8.0 and above. If Microsoft really wants to compete with Skype what they should do is partner with all the major SIP trunking service providers ( Bandwidth.com , DIDX , Junction Networks , Packet8 , etc.) and offer them all as ...