How to Setup Freewire Phone

What is a Freewire Phone?

With Freewire phone you can:

  • make free voice calls to other users of the software
  • make cheap calls from your computer to landlines, mobile phones, and international numbers
  • receive calls made from normal phones - the caller just has to ring an 0844 (local non-geographical) number
  • have free instant message and video conversations with other users of the software

Freewire phone should work whether you're connecting to the Internet from ResNet or home broadband.

What do I need to use Freewire phone?

If you plan to make voice calls you will need to plug in a microphone and headphones/speakers. You can supply your own microphone/headset or buy one from the Freewire online shop

Setup Freewire phone

  1. Register a Freewire account if you haven't already done so. You can use the same account for Freewire TV and phone.
  2. Download and install Freewire phone for Windows.
  3. Login to the program using your Freewire username and password.
  4. If you see a Windows Security Alert telling you that Windows Firewall has blocked Freewire Telephone, click the Unblock button.
  5. If your computer has more than one sound card, you can select which you want to use by clicking File, Preferences, then Devices.

Make a voice call to a normal phone

  1. Before you buy credit, make sure that Freewire is working properly on your computer. Make a test call to a friend who uses the Freewire phone software for Windows. The Freewire website has an interactive guide to making and receiving calls.
  2. You can buy credit at the Freewire website. An up-to-date list of call rates is available - note that calls to mobiles are far more expensive than to landlines.
  3. Make a call by entering the phone number you want to dial and clicking the green telephone icon. See Freewire's interactive guide for help.

Receive a voice call

  1. To receive a call your computer must be on and connected to the Internet and you must be logged into the Freewire phone program.
  2. Other users of the Freewire software can call you for free by dialing the 11 digit account number in the title bar at the top of your Freewire progra
  3. People with normal phones in the UK need to call 0844 546 0000 and then enter your 11 digit Freewire account number when prompted. 0844 numbers are charged at a local rate but are not normally included in mobile phone contract minute
  4. People with normal phones outside the UK need to call +44 207 983 938 and then enter your 11 digit Freewire account number when prompted.
  5. Answer the call by clicking the green telephone icon in the window that pops up

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