Peer to peer VOIP

I am thinking of using Voip to talk to family in Auckland and Taranaki. We have a three household wired/wireless network here and would like to use network devices like the linksys pap2 so it is not relying on the computers to be on. Can you use this device without having a voip provider? Are there providers that offer a free service if not using normal telephone lines (just internet calls)? One of my family is on dailup.. can you use SIP on a computer (no network) with the right software? Any comments/ recommendations would be great. Thanks

if you had DSL broadband connections at all locations then you could use a number of devices from a straight VOIP Phone or yuo could look at Netcom
Broadband Solutions Australia - NetComm Limited as they also have alot of VOIP options. most of this stuff can be sourced in NZ or via myself

There is a list of SIP/VOIP providers here for most countries: VoIP Providers List - Worldwide VoIP Providers Directory

Some providers do free calls if you're not calling land lines.

I think to have VOIP work you'd need a provider, i.e. someone to connect to. Be it SIP or IAX etc

you can use two IP phones to call each other but should have static IP's, otherwize you need a host like a sip provider where you both log into that to "Register" to the system.
If you both are on the same system and call each other, they probably will not charge you for the call.
I use Iconnecthere.com for my SIP gateway provider and Long Distance provider.

I think you really need a voip provider whether a free one or what not to use voip.

Anyways, I use Onesuite Voip and they don't charge for peer to peer calls.

BTW, you mentioned one of the connection is on dial up, I'm pretty sure if you try to use a dial up for Voip calls the quality would be bad no matter what provider you will use.

get intouch with a voip provider, ip2ip isnt very reliable according to experience..

I agree. There are voip out there who offer free pc to pc calls (and sometimes you can even use ATA or a device so it wont rely on a computer).

But first of all you need a connection better than dial up on else you wn't even have a connection or a decent call quality. Just like what have been suggested already, you can try Onesuite.com, sign up for $10 (minimum) and subscribed to its SuiteAdvantage (you will get a US number with area code of your choice) for $2.95 a month. Then you need additional number so thats another $1.95 a month (another Us nubmer will be given)

Now you can talk and call each other for free and just pay a total of less than $5 a month. On top of that you can also use the same account for calling another US number for only 2.5 cents a minute and other countries as well (rates varies)

HTH