Minnesota, USA March 11, 2011- For those that have loved ones in other parts of the world, it can be increasingly stressful especially in situations that arise such as the earthquake and tsunami that recently hit Japan. International calls by cell phone are not only expensive but they are not always reliable. Unfortunately we are reminded of this after watching these tragedies happen, so it is best to have something in place as a connection between loved ones to prevent the anxiety that accompanies the 'waiting' time.
No matter if you are the person abroad or the loved one that is left constantly worrying over the others' well-being, connecting with your loved ones is a must. Even in the normal situations, there are frustrations when schedules do not match up and cause communication to be less. You do not need to cut back on communication just because one person may not be able to access a computer at the same time that you can. It is likely that you have looked into the options in keeping touch with others by computer-to-phone or phone-to-computer. There are many options out there; most people have their options narrowed down to two: Google voice or Skype.
Contrary to some beliefs, the best things are not always for free; international calls through Skype or Google are not that expensive so they are the best thing next to free. There are important facts to know about each before signing up, so take a look at the following lists prior to doing so.