Explainers
Explainers: the networks, numbers and prices behind a browser call
Explainers answer the “what is it” and “why does it cost that” questions that come up once you call from a tab; I built each from the definitions, help pages and rate cards I read on . On the network side: the PSTN, the public network that ordinary telephones and phone systems connect to [1]; how VoIP compares with a landline; what a softphone is; and why carrier Wi-Fi Calling, a built-in phone feature that carries your mobile line's calls over Wi-Fi [2], is not browser calling. On numbers and privacy: what a VoIP number is and why some apps refuse it, which caller ID the other person sees, and whether WebRTC can expose your IP address. On money: what minutes abroad cost, whether prepaid calling cards still pay off once hang-up and maintenance fees are counted [3], and what “5 minutes free” offers really give. Call2Friends, for example, lists 120 seconds for a call to a US number and 180 to a UK one [4], once or twice a day [5]. A last post weighs a browser tab against an installed app. For the full path from microphone to phone, see WebRTC, SIP and the phone network; for the risks, see privacy and safety checks.
Explainers
5-minute and 1-minute free calls: what trial minutes really give youA 5 minute free call is usually a 2–3 minute daily allowance or a one-off trial. I checked which free trial calls online still exist, their limits and catches.
Explainers
How much do international calls cost? Carrier, VoIP and app prices in 2026What international calls cost in 2026: carrier per-minute and roaming fees, VoIP and browser dialer rates, free app calls, and a worked monthly example.
Explainers
International calling cards in 2026: still worth it next to apps and browser dialers?Are international calling cards still worth it? I read card terms and FCC advice on fees, rounding and expiry, and compare cards with apps and browser dialers.
Explainers
What Wi-Fi Calling is, and how it differs from a browser callWhat carrier Wi-Fi Calling is, how it differs from VoIP and browser dialers, what it costs, whether it works on a laptop, and when to use which one.
Explainers
What is PSTN? The public phone network, and how VoIP calls get into itPSTN is the public switched telephone network behind landline and mobile numbers. How it differs from VoIP, how internet calls reach it and who gets paid.
Explainers
What is a softphone, and how is it different from a web phone?A softphone is a calling app you install and sign in to, often with a SIP account. I compare it with a web phone in the browser on setup, SIP, cost and limits.
Explainers
VoIP vs landline in 2026: power cuts, 911, cost and call qualityI compared VoIP and landlines on power cuts, 911 location, monthly cost and call quality, using the FCC rules and codec standards I checked in November 2026.
Explainers
What is a VoIP number? Fixed vs non-fixed, and why apps turn it downA VoIP number rings over the internet instead of a SIM. I explain fixed vs non-fixed numbers and why banks and apps refuse them, with their rules read Nov 2026.
Explainers
WebRTC leak test: what a browser call reveals about your IP addressHow to run a WebRTC leak test, read the result and see who gets your IP on a browser call, with the Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Safari and VPN settings I checked.
Explainers
VoIP caller ID: which number people see when you call from a browserVoIP caller ID on a browser call can be a shared number, a number from the service or your verified mobile. I compare what each shows and who can call back.
Explainers
Browser vs app calling: when a tab is enough and when to installBrowser vs app calling compared on install size, microphone permissions, incoming calls, battery and cost, and the cases where an installed app is better.
Sources
- public switched telephone network (PSTN) – ATIS Telecom Glossary · ATIS (Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions) · checked November 1, 2026
- Wi-Fi Calling at Verizon FAQs | Verizon Support · Verizon · checked November 1, 2026
- Prepaid Phone Cards: What Consumers Should Know - FCC Consumer Guide (last reviewed 02/25/20) · FCC · checked November 1, 2026
- How to call to USA, United Kingdom, Uganda, Uzbekistan using internet | Call2Friends · checked November 1, 2026
- Free call | Call2Friends - Online call · checked November 1, 2026