Net Calls Get a Better Hearing

摘要

Skype, the Internet-based phone service, was created for consumers, not business folk. But it has been winning a big following in the business community, mainly because executives long for an alternative to paying extortionate international tariffs. After the initial sense of awe wears off, however, many people find that a laptop is a clumsy substitute for a phone. Two new products from teleconferencing leaders Polycom and ClearOne Communications can turn your computer into a high-quality speakerphone, which goes at least partway to solving the problem. Computer-to-computer Skype calls are free, but they work only if the recipient is sitting by a PC with the Skype software running. A service called SkypeOut lets you use your laptop to dial any phone in the world for mere pennies a minute. That's obviously a big improve-ment over paying 1 dollars per minute from a cell phone, including international roaming charges. Hotel surcharges can drive up the cost on international calls made from room phones even higher.