In this global economy, an increasing number of individuals are finding themselves living abroad to achieve their career goals or to support their families. For these expatriates, staying connected to family and friends can be challenging. Email is inexpensive and widely available, but it’s also rather impersonal. Long distance calling is convenient, but it can be very expensive. Fortunately, there is a new alternative for calling home that offers both the cost-effectiveness of email with the convenience of long distance calling. It’s called VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), and it’s rapidly changing the way we all communicate.

VoIP is an innovative technology that enables you to make calls through the Internet. Users of VoIP can take advantage of free domestic and international calling, and it’s as simple to use as placing a standard land line call. With a simple download of VoIP software from a provider, anyone with an internet connection can begin making calls to almost anywhere in the world for free. Yes, it’s that simple!

Of course, it pays to shop around for a quality VoIP provider as they’re not all created equal. Generally speaking, the companies that have the most comprehensive and quality service are those that have been around the longest. They’ve taken the time to build their distribution networks and fine-tune their service offerings.

The VoIP providers that deliver the most value offer free PC calling to landlines, as well as free PC to PC calling. Most offer free calling in the United States and Canada, but for expatriates, there are providers that offer free calls to a variety of other countries. It’s smart to do your homework and compare free calling destinations and rates for other areas.

Providers will also offer a variety of value-added services to help you maximize your phone communications. Instant messaging with presence is one of the most useful of these tools and enables you to keep your family and friends updated on your availability with a presence indicator. Multi-user voice conferencing is especially beneficial for expats who want to connect with multiple family members or friends back home simultaneously.

VoIP is not only helping the world stay connected, it’s also enabling those abroad to communicate more affordably and efficiently. Through these recent advancements, free calls across the globe are not just the future of communications; they are today’s reality.