Tech how-to: Make phone calls from your computer

It’s tough living far from people you love, but telephones make that distance much more manageable. Unless you live very far away, then telephones can make that distance expensive.  

Roaming and long-distance charges and using up tons of your allowed minutes can make phone calls really expensive. Click or tap here to learn how to make calls when you have terrible cell reception.

But, if you make a phone call through your computer, using Wi-Fi, those extra costs vanish. You can even make international calls, and save a ton! Read on to learn how to make calls from your computer, and keep your long-distance loved ones close by.

What you need

To make calls from your computer, you need a few things, like small pieces of equipment and software. Let’s go over the equipment first.

Understandably, you first need a computer. It can be a laptop or a desktop. You also need an internet connection, preferably one that’s reliable.

Next, you need a headset or earbuds that can plug into your computer. Most laptops have built-in microphones, but they aren’t usually as good as using the microphone in a headset, or a set of earbuds, as those microphones can get closer to your mouth.

With a desktop computer, microphones aren’t usually built-in at all, so you’ll need the headset or earbuds to be heard on calls. The headset and buds can also help you hear better on calls than using computer speakers.

In terms of headsets, here’s an option that you will like. This Cyber Acoustics 3.55mm stereo headset with headphones and microphone works with PCs and tablets.

With a unidirectional noise-canceling microphone, this mic only picks up sound from a specific side or direction of the microphone. This helps minimize all ambient noise while speaking or recording.

For earbuds, we recommend Raycon. Raycon’s wireless earbuds are so comfortable — perfect for conference calls, video chats, or binging podcasts. And you can’t beat the cost.

Raycon earbuds start at about half the price of other premium brands on the market. You don’t need to worry about sacrificing quality, either. Unlike some of the other wireless options, Raycon earbuds are both stylish and discreet, with no dangling wires or stems.

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