Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., is planning a “voice over Internet protocol,” or VoIP, program that essentially turns a computer into a telephone, and will include Macs in its plans, according to the New York Times. (A free subscription is required to view the article.)
As classes begin this week, the students entering the class of 2007 will be given the option of downloading software, generically known as softphones, onto Windows-based computers. But the program will expand to include Macs, as well as Palm and Pocket PC hand-held devices, the Times reports.
The VoIP software is used with a headset, which can be plugged into a computer’s USB port. Students can make local or long-distance telephone calls for free, and each will be assigned a traditional seven-digit phone number.