With Skype ending soon, like many others, I started looking for an alternative. While looking for alternatives, I discovered SIP.

What is SIP? SIP is basically free internet phone-calling and texting, as long as it's between SIP users. This is because, like Skype, the calls and texts are made over the internet.

Like an e-mail address, you get an SIP address with an @service.whatever, and SIP users can send their calls and texts to your address, even if it's a different SIP provider.

I had been using Skype as my IRL phone. I was paying $60 a year, which is great when cell phones are easily $60 per month.

A reputable SIP service will offer you a plan that lets you send and receive calls to and from landlines, possibly for much less than what Skype was charging. (Depending on the plan you choose.)

Here's the catch: You don't just download a program and run it like Skype.

Like how you choose from many different browsers to access the internet, there are many SIP clients to choose from to connect with your SIP account.

And then you still have to set up that program with the addresses and passwords and stuff.

But the neat part about that is: Not only are there SIP clients for Windows, Linux, Mac, and Mobile devices, but there are also physical SIP phones. With a physical device, you set them up just like any other SIP client and connect them to your router, and then they act like a normal telephone with voicemail and everything (if your SIP network provides voicemail.)

It's more difficult to set up than Skype, but you can get your tech nerd friend to help you do it, and then you have your free* alternative to Skype forever. (With a cheap subscription to get a phone number and call landlines.)

When Skype goes away, I'll be using CallCentric.

As my SIP client, I chose PhonerLite. But you can do your own investigation to decide which client is right for you.

My SIP address is:
17778941746[at]in.callcentric.com
If you're already a CallCentric user, you can leave the "in" part out.
17778941746[at]callcentric.com