Foreign telcos blocking free US calls

Remember the SkypeOut hack we wrote about before? It basically involves calling a 1-800 toll-free number to connect to a directory service that then connects your after giving you the listed number. Well, it used to work on non-VoIP solutions. Hence, callers from other countries could also call the toll-free number at no cost from their landlines and mobile phones, as with other 1-800 numbers.

However, some telcos seem to have discovered that their users were bypassing their international gateway facilities and are able to call the US for free. So the 1-800-3733-411 (which stands for FREE-411) number was blocked!

That’s what’s great about VoIP. If you’re using your own telecom solutions, you’re not subject to the restrictions that telcecom companies impose on their subscribers. You even get freedom of mobility, as you can bring along your “telephone” with you wherever you go, as long as you have a decent Internet connection. Whether you stay at a hotel, a different office, or even when on the road (through WiFi), you can stay connected. It’s almost as good as having a mobile phone from which you can make free calls. Pretty soon, VoIP phones will be mobile phones in themselves, with VoWiFi!