Get started with Windows Live Call

This feature is not available in some markets.
You can use Windows Live Call to call a contact's phone or computer. When you try to make a call for the first time, you'll see a Learn More link. Click this link to go to the Windows Live Call website. Your Windows Live ID is used for authentication when you sign up for Windows Live Call, so you don't have to create a new account. You must complete the sign up process before you can make a call.

Hardware requirements

* Speakers and a microphone (or a headset).
* A half-duplex or full-duplex sound card. Half-duplex audio allows only one person to speak at a time. Full-duplex audio allows two people to speak simultaneously.

About rate plans
Fees are charged at a specific rate, based on the country or region that you are calling, not on the country or region that you are calling from. For more information, see the Learn more about Windows Live Call page.

Free Windows Live Call trial offer
If you'd like to try Windows Live Call first, you may make two free calls. Each free call can last up to three minutes. At the end of the three minutes, the call will be disconnected. For more information, see the Learn more about Windows Live Call page.

Install your phone for Windows Live Messenger
Before you can use your phone for Windows Live Messenger (A digital cordless phone that serves as a traditional landline phone and as a hardware extension to Windows Live Messenger, allowing you to make and receive Internet calls throughout the home or office.) to make calls.

Install your phone for Messenger

Before using the phone for Messenger for the first time, each Windows user must:

* Install Windows Live Messenger on the computer if it isn't already installed.
* Log on to the computer, and then plug the phone into the computer.
* In the dialog box, select Allow this phone to make calls using Windows Live Messenger, select Always perform the selected action, and then click OK.


The phone icon appears in the notification area in the taskbar.

Make the phone available to Windows guest users

Automatic device recognition isn't supported when using the Guest account. To enable the phone for the Guest user:
For Windows XP:

* On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Run.
* Type %PROGRAMFILES%\MSN Messenger\Device Manager\msgrdvmn.exe, and then press ENTER.

For Windows Vista:

* On the taskbar, click Start, type %PROGRAMFILES%\MSN Messenger\Device
* Manager\msgrdvmn.exe in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.