-Hello, everyone.
I'm Jessica Dolcourt with CNET.
Here to show you how to get started making phone calls from right within gmail.com.
If you're Gmail user in the U.S., the first thing you do is look to see that the service has been added in to your account.
Check the left side bar where your Google Chat app sets and make sure you see the Call Phone link right under your name and status field.
After you click it, Google may ask you to install a chat and video plugin first.
Just follow the prompts.
If the plugin is installed, click that Call Phone link and you'll see a dial pad pop up in the bottom right corner of your screen.
Next, start typing the phone number you'd like to call.
Since the calling feature is also integrated with your Google address book, you can also type a person's name to search for your caller.
We recommend having a headset with a microphone attached to make your calls.
If you don't have a mic on your computer or your headset, your callers won't be able to hear you.
To check through your call history, just click the tab to the right of the dial pad and scroll through your history of calls.
Calls are currently free to the U.S.
and Canada.
But to make an international call, you'll need to buy credits.
To add more credit, click the blue monetary amount that's on the top right of the dial pad and select add credit.
Note, that you will need a free Google Voice account to buy credit for international calls.
There's more good news, you can also receive calls on your computer but you will need that Google Voice account to do so.
Here's how you set up Google Voice to receive phone calls and Gmail.
Log in to Google Voice or sign up for a free account by typing voice.google.com into your browser.
Then click settings in the upper right of your screen and select voice settings.
In the phone tab, cast your eyes to the bottom of the list of hoarding phones where you should see Google Chat as an option.
Click the check box next to the Google Chat listings and then look for a confirmation message at the top of your screen.
Google Voice treats the phone call feature and Google Talk
just like another number where you'd forward your incoming calls.
After that, you should be able to accept incoming calls in Gmail.
-Hi, mom.
How's it going?
-Now keep in my mind that this is currently only for U.S.
Gmail users and be sure to also check out our how-to videos on using Google Voice.
That's it for this how-to.
I'm Jessica Dolcourt showing you how to place and receive calls from your Gmail inbox.
I'll catch you next time.
