Skype is quite popular but it’s a closed shop using proprietary standards. If you want to call someone with another internet phone company they charge you for it.

However there are a number of UK firms now offering VoIP using proper Internet standards like SIP (see http://www.voip-info.org/wiki-SIP), and they have peering arrangements to allow you to call people on other networks for free. Also the equipment they sell you is usually open so you can set it up to work with different providers if you want to.

Check out http://www.gossiptel.co.uk or http://www.voipfone.co.uk. It has to be said their rates are pretty impressive! (If you’re wondering I’m a Voipfone customer but I don’t get commission or anything

You can get a phone number from them with pretty much whatever UK area code you fancy. Also you can use proper hardware Internet phones or connect your existing phone to a terminal adapter, both of which connect to your broadband router so you don’t have to have a PC switched on to make or receive calls. Some firms even let you port your BT number to them.

There are a number of software phones that can be used with the services, including one available for Pocket PCs.

I’m sure Skype is great but I don’t like borg-like companies that try to squeeze everyone else out…

Cheers,
Jimbob

http://www.gadgetopia.com/post/1219