SKYPE

[buzzy]

I have a friend who wants me to download "Skype" I seem to remember some tme ago it was deemed as undesireable because of bandwidth "stealing" or something. Does anybody use this technology and if so, please give me your comments.

I have niece in Australia and thought it might be useful?

Many Thanks.

[jojo]

I'd also be really interested in any informartion and experiences people have with this technology.

[lazysod]

Hi I have Skype and VOIP cheap as well, I really like Skype free calls whenever you want, I have a friend who recently moved to Spain so I chat away for ages with Skype , I remember reading in CIT about it using your bandwidth but I just never have it running at start up I just click it when I want to use it but I have had it on for many hours at a time if I am waiting on a call from someone else on Skype and I have never had a problem with it. One of my friends here also has it installed on her mobile so she calls me from that and vice versa. You do have to buy credit for other mobiles but not if they have a mobile with skype and you call that. Apple phones have Sype as well and 3 have lots of mobiles with it on them. I would never call abroad before I got it only talked to them from messenger before. Maybe others know more than me but I am happy with it its saved me a fortune in the last year. Also I talked a lot of my friends and the kids friends into installing it to save me money I dont moan at my daughter for chatting for hours now

[buzzy]

Lazy - thanks for the info. Would it be silly of me to ask if one were to call another Skype user, THEY have to be actually logged into the program before they can answer your call? My point being how would they know you were calling otherwise.

[lazysod]

yes buzzy both parties must be logged on just like in messenger I always turn it on on a Sunday night as I know ill get a call then. Also you can set your status as online away etc a lot of it is similar to messenger. Although you can call landlines really cheap if you want to buy credit. The other thing I know a couple of people do is buy a skype compatable phone you get real cheap ones for about £5 that plug into your usb but again your PC must be on if you think you will use it a lot then you can get phones that work without PC being on. Just talk everyone you know into buying one LOL. Or just use it with headphones and Mic through the PC.

[buzzy]

S'pose it was a daft question really. Mind you I have had a little demo wherebye a friend 'phoned his Brother in Corfu on his mobile at a cost of 5.4p/min, I was impressed. With regard to the method of speaking, he told me that the microphone on his webcam worked automatically and the other person came through his speakers, or USB headphones.

Thanks for your help, I'll look into it further and decide what to do.

[lazysod]

yes Buzzy thats the way I use mine but I know others prefer headsets I don't care if everyone here hears my conversation but my daughter sticks in headphones if she gets a call Ive just got a cheap logitech webcam but it picks up my voice no problem you can see each other as well like in messenger but I like the wee shutter shut especially if I am slumping around in my PJs. If it wasn't for me knowing people with it on their mobiles id probably just have chatted in messenger as you can do that but it means they have to have messenger as well which a lot of mobiles don't have good luck if you try it. As its free its worth trying you can just uninstall or not start it up. SMS are cheap as well if I have no credit on my mobile I text from skype its just 5p.

[roo]

I don't have any experience with Skype other than receiving calls to our landline from Holland , sent with Skype . The sender has been using it for years and is very happy with it .

VOIP is very popular here in Oz , either thru ISP's or software
like Firefly , which i have been using for years and would not be without .
www.freshtel.net/

We use a USB Voip phone which is just like a mobile but with a cord , and will soon be getting a cordless phone that does not require computer to be switched on .

Whichever way you go with VOIP you will almost certainly save lots of dollars and it need not be at all inconvenient .

We rarely have voice quality problems, they are just about a thing of the past it would appear .

Do yourself a favour.

[buzzy]

Thanks Roo - I am considering it seriously.

[jojo]

Me too.

Thank you Lazy and Roo