Dear Logojam,
Skype provides such a service, called SkypeIn. Read more about this service here:
"With SkypeIn, you can get your own, regular phone number. So if your
friends who aren?t using Skype want to call you by dialing a regular
number, you can still receive the call in Skype. No matter where you
are." [...] "You can choose up to three SkypeIn numbers total from
France, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States, but we?ll
soon have numbers available in countries all around the world."
<http://www.skype.com/products/skypein/>.
In order to do that, you have to:
(1) Donwload Skype at <http://www.skype.com/products/skype/windows/?autoload=true>
(2) Set up the Skype account (follow the instruction after you install
the program).
(3) Log in with your username and password at
<https://secure.skype.com/store/member/login.html>
(4) Choose "SkypeIn BETA" from the left hand bar, and buy a SkypeIn
number (SkypeIn numbers are sold on a subscription basis:
a 12 month subscription is ? 30 and 3 months is ? 10.). Skype accepts
all major credit cards, as well as PayPal.
Another company that offers a similar service is Vonage. Again,
subscribers to Vonage can get a phone number with an area code of
their choice:
Vonage
<http://www.vonage.com/index.php>
Explanations on the "virtual phone number" are available here:
<http://www.vonage.com/features.php?feature=virtual_phone_number>
More information regarding rates are available at the "product" section of Vonage:
<http://www.vonage.com/products.php>
In order to join, you have to sign up, pay for your service and choose
your settings.
A third, similar, option, is iConnectHere:
i Connect Here
<http://www.iconnecthere.com/nonmembers/eng/index.asp>
They ensure that "Because Broadband Phone is not tied to any specific
geographical area, you can choose the country and calling area code of
your phone number, regardless of where you live. For example, if you
have friends and family who live in Seattle and you live in Bombay,
you can choose a Seattle area code. This way, your friends and family
can call you as a local call."
(SOURCE: Worldwide Telephone Numbers
<http://www.iconnecthere.com/nonmembers/eng/broadband_phone/features_and_benefits.htm#GeographicFreedom>).
Information of tarifs is availabe on the main page
(http://www.iconnecthere.com/nonmembers/eng/index.asp). They accept
Western Union, wire transfer, money order, cash payments, PayPal and
the major credit cards.
These are three companies that offer these services. Because of the
fast rate of technological advances, there is a good chance that many
more will offer this service, or offer it in a smaller scale. I hope
this answered your question. Please contact me if you need any
clarification on this answer before you rate it. |
