Well, the easiest way of explaining voip is to talk about Skype. Once you understand how Skype works, then voip is a piece of cake.

Skype is a free download that lets you use your computer to make telephone calls to a person next door or to somebody on the other side of the world.

The best thing is that calls from one Skype user to another are free, wherever they are in the world. You can even instant message your friends as well using Skype. Skype does not carry spyware or adware.

How Skype works is simplicity itself. You simply download the software onto your computer, install it and then start making calls to other people who have Skype installed on their computer.

So what do you need to actually get Skype working. A computer with an Internet connection as well as a pair of headphones.

Even headphones arent necessary as manufacturers are making phones that work with Skype, for those who don't like headsets.

Skype is simply VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) program, which basically means making telephone calls over a computer network. VoIP is not a new idea and has been around for some time. It is only really beginning to take off.

There are presently over 206 million people that have downloaded Skype onto their computer. Considering the price of long distance phone charges Skype is nothing short of a godsend for those of us who clock up massive phone bills. But here is the best thing about Skype.

Not only can you make free phone calls from computer to computer (VOIP) but you can also call from your computer to a landline as well as cell phones. This is known as Skype Out. The way it works is you buy some credit from Skype and you can now call a landline.

It allows Skype customers to call standard phones from their VOIP devices for a per-minute fee.The credit you buy is way cheaper than any package you may get from your phone company if you are looking to phone landlines.

As if that isn't enough there is also a service called the SkypeIn service where Skype subscribers who download the free VOIP software can buy up to three numbers currently available in eight countries: the U.S. and the U.K as well as Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Norway, and Sweden, A three-month subscription costs $13 and a full year $39.

The main benefit of the SkypeIn service is that it allows non- Skype users to reach registered customers. However there is an added benefit: calls made to Skype phone numbers are billed at the normal long distance rate.

Take, for instance, a call between London and Paris. Even if the Skype user, who has a London number, takes the call while on a trip to Japan, the person calling still only pays the rate for a call between the two European capitals.

There is also a voicemail option as well which is available as part of the SkypeIn subscription or can be purchased separately for about $7 for three months and $20 for a full year.

I have used Skype for twelve months, and have found the software to be simple to use and the quality of the calls is excellent. Best of all though I have seen my phone call bills slashed by up to 85% now that I use Skype to call everybody.

And if you are concerned about downloading and installing Skype, all I can is don't be. If my Dad who is a total computer nerd worked out how to download and install it then it simple for anyone to do.