Friendcaller is a browser based system for making voip calls, which means there is no software to download, simply call directly from your browser page. The system is a Java applet which works on all platforms and you can call all countries. There is also a software download called FriendCaller 3 Pro for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

The fact that you can use FriendCaller from your browser means that you can use it anywhere on any computer so long as you have internet access, and you can call mobiles and landlines.

DialaCode is a service for making cheap international calls from the UK with your mobile phone. It works with T-Mobile, Orange and 3 mobile networks. The cost for making an international phone call starts at 3p a minute, and there are no other added charges. There are over 400 countries available to call including Spain, France, India and the USA.

You can use DialaCode whether you have a contract or pay-as-you-go. DialaCode take the cost of the call on their network directly from your mobile phone credit, which means that the system is easy to use, particularly if you are on a contract. It also means that there is no registration required in order to use the service.

Truphone Mobile Voip is an application for mobile phones that lets you call other Truphone users, and Skype and Google Talk users, for free over a wi-fi network. It also gives cheap international call rates, and when abroad you can avoid expensive roaming charges by accessing a wi-fi network. The software works worldwide, whatever country you’re in, and turns your iPod Touch into a phone.

You can save money by making cheap international calls to landlines and mobiles, and if you don’t have access to a wi-fi network, you can still save on international calls as Truphone will route the international part of your call over the internet – you pay for the local part of your call and a low cost rate for the international part.

1-800-Free411 give free long distance calls and free international phone calls to continental USA residents. The calls have a limit of 5 minutes, but there is no limit to the number of calls you can make. The service is simple to use – dial 1-800-free411 (1-800-373-3411) and then listen to the instructions – select ‘free call’ then enter your international or long distance phone number.

The calls are free because you have to listen to two short adverts, but as there is no limit on the number of free 5 minute calls you can make in one day, it’s not bad for a completely free service. There is no registration required, you just dial, and many countries are supported on their free international call service. The 1-800-Free411 website gives a full list of the countries that you can call using this service, and it’s a comprehensive list.

Localphone give cheap international calls from landlines and mobiles worldwide. You are allocated a local number for every person you call which can be stored in your phone making dialling very easy. Rates are very competitive, and popular destinations include India, Pakistan, Australia, UK, US, China and UAE.

Open an account online to use the service and register the phone numbers you will be calling from. Once this has been done, you need to enter the country and phone number you’re calling from and the destination country and phone number. You are then allocated a localphone number for that call which remains valid and which you can save in your phone for future calls. There is no pin number, access number or software required.

Lebara Mobile is a pay-as-you-go mobile service for the UK that gives a cheap flat rate for national calls and very cheap international call rates. You need to purchase the Lebara mobile starter pack (stockists are listed on the Lebara website) which comes with a pay-as-you-go SIM card and a credit voucher for the Lebara network.

Mobile phone calls and sms are free between Lebara users, and calls to other mobile networks and landlines are 10p per minute (at the time of writing). International calls are very good value with rates starting at 4p per minute, for example calling a Spanish landline costs 4p per minute and calling a Spanish mobile 15p per minute. (Yes, it’s cheaper to call Spain than to make a national call within the UK.)

There are some amazingly cheap international call rates available, but sometimes that’s still not quite cheap enough. Believe it or not, you can make free international calls when calling from either a landline or when using VoIP.

Some telecom companies give free calls from your existing home telephone, and to access these free rates you simply need to dial a number before your call in order to connect to their free network. There is no need to change your existing telephone provider or your telephone number.