Google Call Phone is the latest Gmail feature from the search engine leader Google. The new feature enable Gmail users to make free calls on US and Canada right straight from your computer. Other countries are also available with very low calling rates. Google Call Phone is available on both PC-to-PC and PC-to-Phone calls. All you need to have are the following: a Gmail account, headset and enough credit (if you’re calling other countries outside the US and Canada). For a complete list of international call rates of Google Call Phone, click here.

Here’s how to start using the Google Call Phone and benefit from such a great Gmail messaging feature.

First, you need to sign-up for a Gmail account if you don’t have one yet — from this link. When and if you have a Gmail account already, login to your account and sign-in to Google Chat.

Once logged in to Google Chat, download and install the Google voice and video setup installer from here.

After the plugin is installed, you can now start making calls by choosing the destination country of the number you’d be calling. No need to pay for a monthly subscription to use the service (I hope it stays that way, please Google).

Below is a short comparison of the call rates of Google Call Phone and Skype for calls going to the Philippines on both landline and mobile numbers.

Skype

Google Call Phone

A short comparison of the call rates from the rest of the service providers.

Based on the above figures, is Google now grabbing the crown from Skype? What do you think?