From...

December 7, 1999
Web posted at: 10:05 a.m. EST (1505 GMT)

by Tom Spring

(IDG) -- Now even non-geeks can start voice chatting over the Internet, with the 10.0 beta release of Net2Phone's popular voice-over-the-Net software.

The company's service allows any PC owner with a Net connection, a sound card, speakers, and a microphone to call anyone with a regular telephone. The latest version of its software includes a revamped interface that features bigger and more intuitive buttons. It also adds Net faxing and voice e-mail.

In addition, Net2Phone 10.0 offers tight integration with the 50 million America Online ICQ chat client users. And the company says it will soon offer client-to-client voice interoperability with 40 million AOL Instant Messenger users.

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Service bargains

While Net2Phone 10.0 is a free download and you can talk to another Net2Phone-equipped user for free, PC-to-phone service will cost you, as will the added faxing options.

Last week Net2Phone dropped its rates to 1-cent-per-minute for PC-to-phone calls inside the U.S. International calls vary by country and range from 8 cents per minute to $1.50 per minute.

Net2Fax fees are based on the same rates as PC-to-phone users'. Previously Net2Fax was a separate product download.

To use the 1.5MB program you need an Internet-ready PC that runs Windows 95/98/NT. Minimum requirements also include a speaker and microphone-enabled sound card. A headset with a microphone is highly recommended.

Talk gets easier on the Net

To get started you must fill out one page of contact information and make one toll-free phone call to register the product.

Using the PC-to-phone service also requires a deposit.

To call another PC you simply select the PC-to-PC option and type in the nickname of the person you are calling. The target Net2Phone-enabled computer will ring if the user is available and will sound a busy signal if not. To reach an ICQ user, you simply type in the user name (this feature will soon work with AIM users as well).

Vox unpopular

The new VoicEmail feature lets you compose short voice messages using Net2Phone and send them as e-mail attachments. Recipients must have Net2Phone software installed on the computer where they retrieve their e-mail.

Unfortunately, Net2Phone voice messages are sent in a proprietary file format and are accompanied by long, self-serving messages that explain to non-Net2Phone users that they must download Net2Phone software to hear the message. And you can't send an accompanying text message.

More product fax

Net2Fax, which also requires a prepaid account with Net2Phone, installs a print driver that allows you to fax a document directly from its application. To fax, choose Print from within an application, then select Net2Fax instead of your default printer and click Print.

Net2Phone has added a minibrowser that launches a window the size of a sticky note on the right side of the program window. The window serves no purpose today, but Net2Phone says it hopes to run ads or relevant information (for instance, toll-free numbers) in the box.

Net2Phone says it will likely deliver the final software before the end of the year.