Be a smart customer of tele-communication services. How? Here are some tips.
If you have a computer and a decent bandwidth (minimum 33.6 Kbps), use free software like Skype to make calls.
All you need is a microphone and speakers that already are included in most modern computers. You need a decent bandwidth, if you do not use video, you don't need much. A telephone dial up connection will not work.
Skype is a free software that you can download from the internet.
Install it and read the instructions. Yes, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. We all can learn to use modern technology, I am a living example of it.
If you are a computer illiterate, call up a friend, colleague, family member or neighbor that knows about computers, they can help you. There is always someone eager to show off their computer skills. Make them a meal, bake them a cake, whatever, it will be the best investment you ever made.
You can call for free from computer to computer using your screen name and that of your contact. Your contact has to be online on his-hers computer to receive the call.
You can also call from your computer to a normal phone or cell phone, but this has a cost, a lower cost than the usual phone providers.
You use your credit card to create an account where you can deposit $10 at a time. The payment system is very secure and you do not have to worry about someone stealing your credit card number.
Skype could not exist if it was not a secure system. They have millions of users all over the world.
If you call any Central American country it is between $ 0.02 and $ 0.09 per minute. Nicaragua is the most expensive one with $0.09, the rest of Central American Countries is between $0.02 to $ 0.03. If you call Europe or the USA, Canada, South America and other continents it is $ 0.02 to $0.03 per minute.
That means that you can talk for an hour and it cost you $ 1.20 to $ 5.00. That is one of the cheapest rates that you can get.
Stay tuned for other articles on how to save money on telecommunications on "The Guatemala Times." We are looking out for you!!
Illustration by Notwist
