VOIP or Voice over Internet Protocol is a technology that allows you to make long distance calls in an efficient and economic manner. To use VoIP services, one has to sign up with a VoIP service provider and have a VoIP enabled phone.  The service charges and the cost of telephone depend from service provider to service provider. Though VoIP is a very important and crucial service, not everyone needs it regularly enough to buy a VoIP enabled telephone or sign up for a paid subscription with a VoIP service provider. Making free voip calls is possible, but there are some restrictions that you would have to keep in mind.

To make free VoIP calls, it is required that both the parties have a computer and a broadband connection. Also, since the call requires voice, it is also necessary that both have a headset, which will enable the users to speak and listen to the other party.

Today, most chat software like Google Talk, Yahoo Messenger, Live Messenger and Skype, allow the users to place free VoIP calls via their services, Skype is supposed to be one of the best services for Free VoIP calls. In fact, Skype is a freemium service, where you can place computer-to-computer VoIP calls for free, but are charged and have to buy credits if you wish to place a computer to phone or a phone to phone call.  There are several other software that allow the user to connect to others via PC to phone VoIP calls.

Though making free VoIP calls is possible, one does not have any control over the quality of the voice or the connectivity during a free VoIP call. You may hear static or other disturbances during the call, which may be because of the hardware that you have installed or the connection that you are using.

If you do not wish to use a virtual phone to call up your contact, both of you would need to sign up for either of the instant messenger services and then add each other to your contact lists. Once both of you have accepted the other as a contact, you can click on their name and then text chat as well as voice chat with them, over the Internet. This is the best way to connect with your friends with free VoIP calls over the Internet.

The call charges for PC to phone and phone to phone VoIP calls differ from service provide to service provider. You would have to look at all the options that you have, to ensure that you get the best service for your budget.

The best way to find out the best VoIP services is the Internet. You can run a search on your favorite search engine, and you will find the list of free VoIP software.  Also, since it is free, you can install all the software that provides VoIP services and can check out which service offers you the best quality.