Use Cell Phone to Make Calls Over the Internet

There are several VoIP services that allow you to make calls on your mobile phone over the Internet using a Wi-FI connection (and even 3G with some VoIP and cell providers).

An acronym for Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP is the technology for transmitting voice communications over your Internet connection. It requires a broadband Internet connection (DSL, cable, or 4G wireless) and can be accessed using your computer, on some cell phones (depending on compatibility), and even via some landline-style cordless phones that can connect via both VoIP and your standard telephone jack.

Using a VoIP service on your mobile phone over Wi-Fi can help you save on using your cellular plan's minutes. It's also a good way to make calls from your mobile phone when your cell signal is weak.

Additionally, if you are calling a contact who is using the same VoIP service application, the call is typically free (calling to an actual phone number may incur charges from that service).

The Skype service is available for the iPhone (as well as the iPod touch and iPad) and many smartphones on the Verizon Wireless network (including BlackBerry and Android OS models). A call made from the Skype app on your mobile phone to someone else using Skype software (either on another mobile phone or on a computer) is free. Skype also offers low-cost calling to mobile phone and landline numbers (including international numbers), which requires pre-paying for minutes using Skype Credit or purchasing a monthly Skype calling plan.

The free Google Voice service is available as a standalone app on Android OS. Additionally, a Web-based version can be accessed on other smartphones with a Web browser, including the iPhone, Palm Pre and Pixi, Nokia S60 models, Windows Mobile phones, and more. You can make free phone calls to domestic mobile phones and landlines over the Internet, as well as low-cost international calls using pre-paid calling credit. The service also provides you a phone number that can be connected to other numbers--mobile or landline--so that you never miss a call.