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.

The Tru App is a mobile voip application that lets you call other Tru users, GoogleTalk and Skype users for free and it 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 is compatible with Android, Nokia, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

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 Tru 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. They also have Tru – a SIM card giving cheap calls and no roaming in supported countries. There is the usual voip application for computers too.

Lebara Mobile is a pay-as-you-go mobile service 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. Currently Lebara works in Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.

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.)

Call for Free is an Australian service which lets you make free international calls using the free minutes in your mobile phone package and you can call cheaply from your landline phone. You can make cheap or free calls to 70 different countries by using an access number directly from your phone. The only cost is for the connection to the CallForFree number.

There is no account to set up, no software to download and install in your mobile, and no pre-payment required, just dial the access number which is: 0413 704 086.

Fring is a mobile phone application that lets you talk to other Fring users for free, and gives cheaper call rates to local and international numbers. It’s a social network on your mobile phone with many services, including being able to interact with friends on Facebook, Messenger, Twitter, Yahoo and others directly from your mobile phone. Works on the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Fring allows you to put all your friends from different social networks in one friends’ list. You can then see quickly who’s online and contactable. You need to have a mobile device that will support the Fring software (see their website for compatibility) and has internet capability. Works on the iPhone and turns your iPod Touch into a phone.

Yak is a Canadian telecom service with several features: Home Phone, Long Distance Plans, Long Distance Cell and High Speed Internet, among others. It’s not a voip service but a standard telephone network and is available in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

There are no access fees and the only monthly fee you will pay is if you choose to receive a paper invoice rather than an electronic one. This incurs a fee of $1.95 per month, but is waived for the over 65s. The system also enables access to emergency numbers.