Backpackers kitting out bags with tech gadgets

Heading off around the world for months or years at a time is no longer the lonely trip it used to be, as backpackers are making use of new communications technology, such as VoIP, to keep in touch.

According to News Corporation's Australian news network, travellers heading off into the wilderness now are used to carrying along a laptop or mobile phone to stay in contact with the rest of the world during their trip.

This can be simply through connecting to MySpace or Facebook and posting snapshots or videos of their journey, but the increasingly widespread use of VoIP is allowing backpackers to cheaply call parents or friends back home.

Using IP telephony will likely be a welcome opportunity for backpackers to save a few extra pennies instead of opting for prepaid connection cards or reversing the charges, as the international call costs for VoIP are much cheaper.

According to technology website the Register, backpackers should "rejoice" that VoIP technology can even now be accessed online without any downloads, as this means they can the service can be used in all cyber cafes or shared computers without worrying about taking up their hosts' disc space.

Posted on: 2007-09-19, in: General VoIP

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