Anyone here heard of/use Skype?
I discovered it/was video chatting with a guy in Ghana last night - seems to
work wonderfully. That particular aspect is free - the pay part apparently is
also pretty spectacular.
It allows you to make unlimited calls anywhere in the US & Canada for free.
I got a lot of happy forum members reporting about it to me on a Mac forum.
I'm curious - I've been reading about it and it seems to be legit. Wondering if
anyone here has used it.
Any experience with it/opinions?
work wonderfully. That particular aspect is free - the pay part apparently is
also pretty spectacular.
It allows you to make unlimited calls anywhere in the US & Canada for free.
I got a lot of happy forum members reporting about it to me on a Mac forum.
I'm curious - I've been reading about it and it seems to be legit. Wondering if
anyone here has used it.
Any experience with it/opinions?
0
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Its just a glorified yahoo MSNGR. type deal. My nephiew sent me the program, a few years ago. I still have it loaded in my PC, but have only used the part u used. It was free back when i used it, figgered it'd be all "PAY-SIGHT" by now.. 0 -
My father in law uses it pretty regularly. He runs diabetic testing research across the nation, Austrailia, and Europe. He manages the testing from his home office. He really likes it and it cuts down on the phone costs big time.
It's neat to see the number 1-012-345-6789 when he calls us. I can give you his email info if you want to hear from another satisfied customer.0 -
If you find this an interesting concept - here are some replies I've
gotten elsewhere.
Ain't bad ... for free.
[:D]
quote:FORUM MEMBER
Senior User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Status: Offline
I live by Skype! It's my link back to the developed world. I use it for all my long distance calls (SkypeOut) and I also have two SkypeIn numbers in the States. One for work and one for my family and friends so they can call me for free (it's a local call for them). I can also forward my Skype account to my mobile phone so when I'm not at my computer it rings on my iPhone... of course that costs me for the Skype call to St. Maarten (around US .17 cents/min). I seriously couldn't live without it! It's been worth every penny.
FORUM MEMBER
Mac Elite
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: In the shadows of the past, between 1946 and 1991
Status: Offline
I use it for video chatting and it works very well and is reliable (whereas iChat, for some reason, has connectivity issues when both parties are behind separate routers. At least for me).
I intend to try the paid features in the future.
FORUM MEMBER
Senior User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Status: Offline
I keep getting porn spam and have to block the meanies.
FORUM MEMBER
Senior User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Status: Offline
Forget to mention. I recently got a cordless VOIP Skype phone from Philips that connects directly to my router... don't even have to have my computer turned on. It's awesome! It's nice to look at as well:
FORUM MEMBER
Senior User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Status: Offline
Originally Posted by FORUM MEMBER
I keep getting porn spam and have to block the meanies.
That happens about once or twice a month with me.
FORUM MEMBER
Senior User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Status: Offline
Today , 06:21 PM
Originally Posted by FORUM MEMBER
That happens about once or twice a month with me.
That is happening about five times a day right now. I ought to hide my profile from the public or whatever.
FORUM MEMBER
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado Springs/ Seattle
Status: Offline
Today , 06:50 PM
I use it, but not very often. It works great for audio chatting with a friend in Manilla. Other then that, I stick with iChat.
FORUM MEMBER
Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York City, NY
Status: Offline
Video chatting. iChat is bleh for me.
FORUM MEMBER
Professional Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Status: Offline
Solely for video chatting. None of the people I talk to has a Mac, and iChat doesn't seem to play well with AIM (or not at all with MSN of course).
I like it, but it does seem to have its kooks. It crashes randomly about 25% of the time I'd say.
greg
FORUM MEMBER
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: the Gulag of Eastern ON
Posts: 1,642
Ah, we meet again! Whatever became of that studio-naming contest?
Skype is pretty cool. My daughter lives away and I get to see her every day! with Skype. I have a great long distance plan, but talking isn't seeing. It is pretty hard to beat free computer-to-computer for video calls. Mind you, HD-TV it ain't but what the hell, it is free! There are glitches in the audio sometimes but all I do is hang up and connect again. A headset is nice, but you can easily get away without one.
EDIT: I should say this is from MBP to MBP both on Leopard, but it was just as good 10.4.* to 10.4.*
FORUM MEMBER
Honourable Citizen
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: MasterBlaster Run Bartertown
Posts: 1,949
Skype works just fine and will work properly with the iSight camera.
FORUM MEMBER
Full Citizen
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: BC
Posts: 974
In addition to the regular computer-to-computer use, which is free, I use a Skype service called 'Skype-out' for phone calls to regular phones when I'm on the road. Not generally for calling clients (because the audio can be crummy and drop out), but it's a cheap way to check voice mail. (less than 3? a minute compared to considerably more on my cell phone, and even cheaper than using a calling card). Haven't had to pick up the handset in a hotel room in a couple of years.
I've also used it when I could get internet but not cell phone service. (who woulda thunk, eh? Yellowknife doesn't have Rogers ...)
When talking to a human I prefer to use it with headphones or a handset, as that way the person on the other end doesn't get the echo of their own voice.
I wouldn't switch over to it 100% (there are new and better technologies on the way), but it's handy, and legit.
FORUM MEMBER
Honourable Citizen
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Belleville, Ontario
Posts: 3,152
Originally Posted by FORUM MEMBER
quote:
........but it's a cheap way to check voice mail. (less than 3? a minute compared to considerably more on my cell phone, and even cheaper than using a calling card). Haven't had to pick up the handset in a hotel room in a couple of years.
I have a Skype account which I had set up to call Europe but with the 1 cent per minute rate now from a regular phone to Europe, I don't use it.
From a cell phone I use 'Dial & Save' which is 2.8 cents per minute from selected Canadian cities either to Canada or US or to the larger European countries.0 -
I've got a sister overseas. It costs about $5/minute to talk to her by phone, or free by Skype.
I also used it a lot to talk to South Africa when I was working on getting those guns imported.
Yes, I love Skype.0 -
i too use it for friend s & family oversea's free.....can be a bit distorted at times...but ok. 0 -
I use it when I travel internationally. I have a head set and I call back to the office our to my home and talk for as long as I want at 0 cost. No charge for user to user calls and small charges to "skypeout"
Much better than the ~$2.00/min it would cost on my cell phone. You have to watch out though since some countries (UAE for example) try to block it to force you to use the national phone system.0 -
Yep - been playing with it all day - just got off the phone with a client in Bangkok
and another friend in Tokyo. No muss, no fuss, no bucks!
[:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by zipperzap
Yep - been playing with it all day - just got off the phone with a client in Bangkok
and another friend in Tokyo. No muss, no fuss, no bucks!
[:D]
Not to get OT but I just went to the tropicalglen site and that is a cool site. Currently listening to "Rock Anthems" We will rock you!0 -
When I took the whole family to Europe back in 2002 my daughters made good friends in Italy, Spain and Germany and both use Skype to keep in touch. In my opinion it is a good service for the casual user but no where near reliable enough for business or professional purposes. 0 -
I use Skype with a video cam and headset so Sandy and I can speak and see each other. It was a real pain getting it setup through the company firewall, but I finally got it. She also uses it to speak to her cousin in Iwoa and her brother in East Texas. No long distance and free video communication.
Cool!0 -
Use Skype all the time, talking to people at work, calling into meetings, calling my family abroad, and so on. 99% of the time - no problems, every once in a while there's lag or echo, but very very rarely. 0 -
quote:Maalox:
Not to get OT but I just went to the tropicalglen site and that is a cool site. Currently listening to "Rock Anthems" We will rock you!
Yep use it every day!
[:D]0 -
I have used it for years, but do you guys know who owns it?? Yes the evil E-Bay[}:)] 0 -
So, if I read it correctly, a Skype member can call another Skype member anywhere in the world for free. Is that right? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Wrangler
So, if I read it correctly, a Skype member can call another Skype member anywhere in the world for free. Is that right?
It's not a call on the telephone, it's a video and voice software that connects from PC to PC. You can see and hear the other person via your webcam, microphone and speakers (or headset), and yes, it's free.0 -
quote:Originally posted by dheffley
quote:Originally posted by Wrangler
So, if I read it correctly, a Skype member can call another Skype member anywhere in the world for free. Is that right?
It's not a call on the telephone, it's a video and voice software that connects from PC to PC. You can see and hear the other person via your webcam, microphone and speakers (or headset), and yes, it's free.
Thanks. I knew it was over the internet. Just wanted to make sure the free and anywhere in the world part was correct. Don't need the video, just the audio. [:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by Wrangler
Don't need the video, just the audio. [:D]
Then all you need is the download, speakers and a mic.0 -
quote:Wrangler:
So, if I read it correctly, a Skype member can call another Skype member anywhere in the world for free. Is that right?
NO, no, no, no. HERE'S THE CORRECT INFO.
Go to the site - read it. A very easy read ...
-OR-
You will find that it's FREE CALLS FROM YOUR COMPUTER to any TELEPHONE in CANADA OR USA for FREE. That means NO COST unless the other guy's paying for HIS CELL PHONE MINUTES - YOUR CALL (the Skype caller) IS FREE. You talk into your computer - your internal mike (they still called 'condenser mikes?')picks it up - I don't have a PC - three Macs - I don't need an 'external mike' to pick up my voice and you (PC guys) probably don't, either - unless you're using a 286[:D].
Now, FOR OTHER CALLS AROUND THE WORLD, they are about .01? a minute. YOU MUST PAY (credit card, Pay Pal, Debit Card - VISA, MasterCard, and one other, Diner's Club Card (I think) $29.00 A FEE to cover the .01? a minute for the calls OUTSIDE THE USA & CANADA. At a penny a minute, it's gonna take a long time to eat that up!
... it's as simple as that.0 -
quote:Originally posted by zipperzap
quote:Wrangler:
So, if I read it correctly, a Skype member can call another Skype member anywhere in the world for free. Is that right?
NO, no, no, no. HERE'S THE CORRECT INFO.
Go to the site - read it. A very easy read ...
-OR-
You will find that it's FREE CALLS FROM YOUR COMPUTER to any TELEPHONE in CANADA OR USA for FREE. That means NO COST unless the other guy's paying for HIS CELL PHONE MINUTES - YOUR CALL (the Skype caller) IS FREE. You talk into your computer - your internal mike (they still called 'condenser mikes?')picks it up - I don't have a PC - three Macs - I don't need an 'external mike' to pick up my voice and you (PC guys) probably don't, either - unless you're using a 286[:D].
Now, FOR OTHER CALLS AROUND THE WORLD, they are about .01? a minute. YOU MUST PAY (credit card, Pay Pal, Debit Card - VISA, MasterCard, and one other, Diner's Club Card (I think) $29.00 A FEE to cover the .01? a minute for the calls OUTSIDE THE USA & CANADA. At a penny a minute, it's gonna take a long time to eat that up!
... it's as simple as that.
ZZ: if it's skype to skype and all done over the internet then it truly is free, anywhere in the world.
What that means is that you have to be on Skype all the time if you want to receive random phone calls, but what I do is to schedule calls with my sister so that we both know to be on Skype at the same time. It ain't that hard.0 -
quote:Originally posted by zipperzap
quote:Wrangler:
So, if I read it correctly, a Skype member can call another Skype member anywhere in the world for free. Is that right?
NO, no, no, no. HERE'S THE CORRECT INFO.
Skype to Skype is free.0 -
Almost forgot, the evil anti-gun company owns Skype, yes, you got it, eBay. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Rockatansky
Almost forgot, the evil anti-gun company owns Skype, yes, you got it, eBay.
Fine by me. They're not getting a dime from me the way I use it.0 -
[:D][:D][:D] 0 -
quote:ZZ: if it's skype to skype and all done over the internet then it truly is free, anywhere in the world.
What that means is that you have to be on Skype all the time if you want to receive random phone calls, but what I do is to schedule calls with my sister so that we both know to be on Skype at the same time. It ain't that hard.
What?
LOL ... you're making me laugh. I've spoken to two families today that don't own computers that are hooked up to the Net - if you asked them what a Skype was, they'd probably tell you it's a chocolate desert. Another guy I talked to, is 82, and hasn't ever touched a computer keyboard ... let alone, own one. I can assure you that none of them were "on Skype" in any way, shape, or form.
Let me explain it again. If YOU own a computer, and have downloaded the software (for free) - then YOU can call anyone, anywhere who 1.) don't have a computer(s) BUT have a telephone(s), or, 2.) who DO own a computer(s) BUT they aren't hooked up to the Net, or 3.) who DO own a computer(s) that ARE hooked up to the Net wrong, or, 4.) DO own a computer(s), BUT, it's busted, unplugged, in sleep mode, minus it's KB because it's being replaced, is only turned on on Tuesday nights (etc.), or, 5.) have a computer(s) that USED to work OK, back in the 80's, but is/are busted when Grandma bumped it/them off onto the floor when he was drunk and whistling Dixie with his two last front teeth, or, 6.) they got the computer(s) OK but the modem is busted and don't work unless you hold the wires near the box, all scrunched up like, so they touch inside the insulation, 7.) if you call folks who might buy either a computer(s) or a new lawn mower this Christmas BUT ain't got it completely all figured out yet - you can still call them, too ... even IF they ain't got the damn computer OR the Skype software loaded up, or it's on a CD on the table or visions of Skype is dancing like sugar plum fairies in thar heads!
... sometimes I just have to [8D]0 -
did you miss the
if.......then it truly is free
part of my post?0 -
guess so 0 -
I use Skype, MSN and ICQ here.
Have people from all over the world on the list too.
It's great for long distance.. if you have internet fast enough.0 -
C&P:
What is Skype?Set your conversations free with Skype. Skype is software that lets you use your computer and internet connection to communicate with anyone, anywhere in the world.
New to Skype?
Your first call is free - up to 10 minutes
to any phone in the world.* Download now Free calls and video calls
When you and the person you're calling are both on Skype, the calls are free. Oh, and video calls are free too.
Unlimited nationwide calls - $3 per month
Unlimited calls to landlines and cell phones within the US and Canada.
International calls - as low as 2.1? per minute
Low per-minute rates to landlines and cell phones around the world.
Receive calls
Calls from other people on Skype are free. Anytime. Anywhere.
Get a personal number that lets you receive calls on Skype, from anyone using an ordinary phone.
Answer Skype calls even when you're offline. Just forward calls to another number and you're always available.
Skype is safe
Skype automatically encrypts calls, chats and file transfers before sending them through the internet to protect them from unauthorised parties.
* Skype reserves the right to end this limited-time promotion at any time. For residents of the US and Canada only. Estimated minutes are based on a single 10-minute call basis at 2.1? USD per minute. Higher rates may apply to other destinations. A connection fee of 3.9? USD applies for every call.0 -
[:D] 0
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