Press & PR

Portsmouth University students and their parents can chat for free as a VoIP scheme is introduced into halls of residence.

New facilities have been installed into the halls, which also include 25 television channels.

People using the new package will be able to access free and low-cost calls using handsets in their rooms or download free software to their computers allowing them to make internet calls.

The university's IT director Andrew Minter said: "We believe that making it easier for students to stay in touch with their families and friends back home will help them to settle in."

Portsmouth, formerly the Portsmouth and Gosport School of Science and Arts founded in 1869, has become one of the first establishments to offer VoIP. Students whose universities don't offer such services can take advantage of Vonage's V-Plan 1, offering free calls to the UK and Ireland for just £5.99 a month.

Those using the plan can make calls from any broadband-connected PC with a USB port with the Vonage V-Phone; small enough to fit onto a keyring, it acts like a fully-functioning landline once plugged in, making it ideal for students.