“Callers hang up phone to use Internet”

Posted: 28 Aug 2010 04:21 PM PDT

Updated: Saturday, 28 Aug 2010, 6:49 PM EDT
Published : Saturday, 28 Aug 2010, 6:49 PM EDT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - More people are hanging up the phone to make calls over the Internet.

Google is making it easier to reach out and call someone on your computer. Now, you can make a phone call through your G-Mail account for free, or a few cents you can make international calls.

"Before it was computer to computer and you had to set up a 'Skype date,' 'chat date' now it's a lot easier and free to call a phone from your computer with just a few clicks," said Wilson Tang, CNET Editor.

That means the person you're calling doesn't need a computer, just a phone. You don't even have to install any extra software.

Dialing the phone on email works just like how you would work a regular phone. Once you are logged onto your G-Mail account just click on make call and dial the number director or enter in the number from one of your contact names.

Google is taking direct aim at traditional phone companies and at Skype, the European company that is currently the worldwide leader in so-called Voice Over IP services.

Technology experts say it's the latest step toward a single phone number that can be used on multiple devices, including your computer, land line and cell phone.

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