[Off Topic] Free Phone Calls -- MSN Instant Messaging Phone.

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ALL:

[Off Topic] Free Phone Calls -- MSN Instant Messaging Phone.

Quick Summary: You can use the Internet to make free phone calls.

Below is the complete full dialogue that Warren recorded

on a live chat help session with Earthlink service rep ChrisA.

reports that except for a slight delay, full duplex voice:

Perfect voice clarity, even on slow dial-up internet connection.

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Date: August 22, 2002.

Warren.taylor@...: A question for you, Chris. OK?

ChrisA: Go right ahead.

warren.taylor@...: I have done Instant voice messaging

using different programs. Are you familiar with using the

computer like a telephone, using instant messaging?

ChrisA: I have used MSN Messenger's phone service over my DSL at

home before for local calls.

warren.taylor@...: Wow, that is great. Now, my question, OK?

ChrisA: Sure.

warren.taylor@...: Was the voice quality superior on MSN

messenger? I have used ICQ to Sweden, and I got full duplex telephony,

just as perfect as a bell, just like a telephone.

ChrisA: Were you using a broadband connection at the time?

Warren.taylor@...: Yes, on both sides, US and Sweden, we had

broadband.

ChrisA: I was using a headset to place the calls and the connection was

crystal clear, with broadband on both sides...

When not on Broadband, I did have some delay, about a 2 second delay.

warren.taylor@...: When you used MSN Instant messaging voice,

just like a telephone, was it perfect quality -- full duplex, like a

telephone call exactly?

ChrisA: Exactly like a phone call, if not better.

warren.taylor@...: The 2 second delay was on broadband?

ChrisA: No, the other user was on dial-up.

warren.taylor@...: Ah, dial-up gave you the slight delay.

But you were able to communicate just fine.

Except for the delay, it was fine?

ChrisA: Yes it was fine, despite the delay.

warren.taylor@...: Hey, that is fantastic.

May I post our conversation to a list of computer friends

who are interested in using MSN Messenger for telephone calls?

ChrisA: Sure.

Warren.taylor@...: Thank you Chris. You are terrific.

You have answered all my questions. Thanks again. -- Warren

ChrisA: You are most welcome and you can feel free to post our chat to

anyone you wish.

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The news is good. Even on a slow dial-up internet connection,

the computer works fine to make clear full-duplex phone calls using

instant messaging phone/voice (from MSN, in this example above).

-- Warren