If there’s one thing that the world seems to have adapted to massively well during the COVID-19 lockdown, it’s video Calling. There doesn’t seem to have been a day go by without someone mentioning Zoom calls, FaceTime, or Skype! It turns out, video calling tech was right at our fingertips the whole time, but millions of us won’t making the most of it!

However, this really has changed – particularly as many people have been forced to stay indoors and communicate with friends and family through technology. COVID-19’s uncertainty and the nature of the pandemic have led to people having to stay apart, physically, until it’s safer to get back together again. While lockdown might be easing slightly now, there’s no telling when things might shut down again.

This is all too telling – as weirdly enough, there’s a webcam shortage that appears to be driving consumers and technology giants crazy! Does this mean it’s time to ditch the video calls and to start connecting to one another through cheaper international calls instead? Maybe!

Webcams Running Short

Weirdly, while we spent the first few weeks of lockdown wondering when and where we were going to get access to toilet rolls and milk again, it seems that webcam technology has taken their place as the red-hot commodity. While many of us have phones and tablets with webcams built in, there are still plenty of people who prefer to buy and install webcams separately, mainly because this can change the quality of the output and audio significantly.

Therefore, even as we head into the summer, there are still people struggling to scramble for a webcam to plug into their laptop, PC, or mac. All this talk of video calling being a new revolution, and plenty of people are struggling to even get started! Yes, smartphone and tablet cameras are fantastic – but what about those who want more than a handful of pixels staring them in the face when they connect?

Is Video Calling the Future?

Video calls really have taken off recently, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are always going to the be-all and end-all. For many people, video calling is likely to be the cheapest and most feasible option to speak to family and friends who are overseas. This is especially the case when it comes to the COVID-19 crisis, where we have all been unable to see each other physically for such a long time.

A key reason why so many people turn to video calling when it comes to contacting loved ones overseas is that it’s so expensive to speak to people overseas through traditional telephony. While mobile networks and household telephone services have opened things up clearer and cheaper for everyday people, it is still likely to cost you a pretty penny to call Australia from the UK, for example. You’re going to need a special package to make and receive these calls without any kind of premiums, and even then, you’re going to need to look carefully at all the terms and conditions.

Surely, therefore, there’s a better way to call abroad when you don’t have access to video call functions? What if you’re hit by the great webcam shortage, and can’t afford to rack up bills to speak to family Down Under? It might be time to look for a service which specifically saves you money on connecting to and calling numbers based outside the UK.

How Planet Numbers Can Help

What if you could make calls internationally for free? What if you could pay a small connection fee and chat through an affordable proxy, covered by an 08 number? Planet Numbers has just the option – in fact, we have several.

Especially in climates such as COVID-19, we understand that people in the UK are going to want to keep in touch with their loved ones all over the world. However, this is not always possible when webcams are running short! What’s more, if your current video camera isn’t up to scratch, and you’re finding it hard to keep a stable line or connection, it’s time to look for cheaper ways to call without all of the annoying dropouts.

Planet Numbers offers reduced and free calling to most of the world’s territories – meaning that if you have aunts and uncles in the South Pacific who you haven’t spoken to for months on end, you can now do so without worrying about your network or provider charging you over the odds for the privilege.

We’ve always stood by our ethos that we think people should never have to pay over the odds just to talk to one another. The coronavirus crisis has forced millions of us into very difficult situations. This means that people can feel locked off and cordoned away from the people who matter to them most. Why should they feel this way just because they can’t afford to pay for the privilege?

Stop Worrying About Call Costs

One of our missions at Planet Numbers is, of course, to save our visitors and users as much money as we possibly can. We know that calling anywhere in the world can cost a lot of money if you do so regularly. International calling, however, has been far too expensive for far too long.

For minimal investment, Planet Numbers will bring you free and reduced calling to international territories. If you’re sick and tired of trying to get that camera to work, and just can’t find a way to pay for the rates demanded of you by your mobile network, why not use Planet Numbers’ service to speak to the people in your life who really matter to you?

Take a look through our services and international call options now and do make sure to get in touch if we can be of any assistance. Lockdown may be easing – for now – but make sure you have a way to keep in touch with far away friends for less.