This site offers free telephone calls via the net to The USA. This makes it a boon for vast number of people who have their sons, daughters, families and relatives in the U.S.A. It works in this fashion. First you have to login after registration. Then a java applet will load which will look like the dial pad on your phone. That is why the site is named so. Then you will get a sign Ready which means you can dial.
The U.S based server dials the number and connects the caller and the called one. Since the process is entirely computerized you will have no eavesdroppers. Be rest assure of that. Then you can talk as long as you want. The only amount you are paying is a rupee per three minutes which is your phone pulse rolling along. Thus you are actually speaking to the US at the cost of a local call. For a while VSNL had blocked the site because it was losing lots of revenue. Because all out of country communications are given out by VSNL alone in India. It also blocked other services such as Mediatring, Phonefree, Net2phone and deltathree. But now these restrictions have been relaxed a little.
The thing about Dialpad is that because it has a Java based service (compared to others where you have to download softwares for speaking) it offers excellent quality. In others you get disconnected often, there is echo, disturbances and other hindrances. The requirements for using this service are pretty minimal 1) Any updated Web browser 2) 32-bit full duplex sound card. ( Creative SoundBlaster ideally ) 3) A headset will be excellent but even a good mic and your PC speakers will do. 4) Luck coz you have to get prompt connection, no network errors and has less disturbance as possible. These factors are not under our control. You have to keep your fingers crossed for this.
When the site was introduced, phone to the U.S used to cost Rs. 100 per minute or probably more. Now the rates have come down to 60 I guess but I am not sure. So this service provides tremendous advantage as using this you can call the U.S for 33 paise per minute i.e Re.1 for 3 minutes. This and similar services may sound the death knell for VSNL. Although you will be compromising the aspect of quality. Hey what the hell, you can hear the voice of your loved ones for free.