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Call regular phone numbers over the internet: the RingCredible example

When I wrote about RingCredible, many people already made internet calls through services that required both sides to use the same app. In my account at the time, RingCredible instead called ordinary landline and mobile numbers. The recipient did not have to sign up. That made it interesting to me, especially for international calls.

Reach matters more than an app name

For a phone call, you want to reach someone without first asking them to create an account. The questions I raised then still apply to any calling service: can you dial ordinary numbers, which countries are available and what caller ID does the recipient see? Consider call quality and what happens on a poor internet connection.

Compare the total price, not just an attractive per-minute rate. Include connection fees, bundles, mobile data and differences between landlines and mobiles. For occasional calls, convenience may matter more than a small saving. For frequent international calls, differences may add up.

A historical recommendation

My old post included a referral code, discount and a claim about large savings. I leave that promotion behind; I cannot treat it as a current offer. Nor do I give new signup instructions for RingCredible. The example is a reminder that the best communication tool fits the recipient's reachability, not merely the caller's convenience.

— GijsDiscuss this article

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