Skype

[kingcrazylegs]

Anybody ever used Skype? What did you think of it? Any other good FREE programs to make international phone calls through the internet? (phone bills :greenguy: )

[LiveFreeorDie]

Haven't used Skype, but at home I have switched to Lingo which is internet based and has great CHEAP (but not free) calling plans if you have highspeed interet at home. I have been very happy with it. I have a few friends around the world (outside Western Europe - see below) and international calling ranges from 3 cents to about 15 cents a minute which is pretty good. Call quality is decent too. Plus, I get 500 minutes of anytime calls to anywhere in the the U.S., Canada and Western Europe as part of my $15.99 per month fee. I highly recommend it - its a much better deal than using landline phone companies at this point.

[Bgirl]

Once my cousin asked me to install Skype in my computer... I did it but I never tried...After some days a guy was sending me messages and inviting me to use Skype. We started to talk and after a week we met at the University I work... He was installing the softwares for the congress I was participating. I recognized him because he sent me some pics... i got soooo shy but nowadays we're good friends. This is one of the reasons I love internet so much!

[kingcrazylegs]

Yea, I'm just trying to find an easy way to have a verbal conversation over the internet, and free if possible!

[chana]

I'm in Geneva and I've been using it for a month. Its pretty good, if you have a reliable connection it shouldn't be a problem, and the rates are dirt cheap.

[butterj]

if you just call each other and you both have skype it's free i think, i want to get a bluetooth headset.

[kingcrazylegs]

Yea, I think I am going to start using it! It seems like its a good enoguh deal and such. I'll try it out at least. If I keep using phone cards I'll be broker than broke.

[benna2]

This is really rehashing an old post....BUT. I installed skype in my computer last night.
It's great. I don't know anyone else who has it though, but I was able to talk to my mom and my cousin for 20 minutes each and it cost like, under a dollar.
Very convenient for being in the Dominican and being able to stay in touch with people back home.

[kingcrazylegs]

Originally posted by benna2@Jan 30 2006, 07:23 PM
This is really rehashing an old post....BUT. I installed skype in my computer last night.
It's great. I don't know anyone else who has it though, but I was able to talk to my mom and my cousin for 20 minutes each and it cost like, under a dollar.
Very convenient for being in the Dominican and being able to stay in touch with people back home.*

[snapback]100656[/snapback]

Skype worked well for me in Belize, as did using AIM with people online when we both had a microphone!

[berwin]

For me, I just use MSN.....all the way baby. I've been here in Holland for about 5 and a half month's. Thursday I'm half way threw my exchange . Anways, I just used MSN with webcam and audio. Work's great 99% of the time, that's how i've been talkin to my family and everyone back home. All you need is a microphone if you just want to talk, but you can also get a webcam to see eachother. It's free and they get to see you, and you get to see them if they have a webcam too, and talk to eachother for however long you want.

[voyd]

How is Skype different than any regular IM program with voice? Can you actually talk on your phone, or what?

[Sabrosa]

Is Skype something you can use at internet cafe's or hostels...considering you bring your own microphone?

[bluepea]

^ You can. You can use it as a free service like any messenger service, but you can also get phone numbers so people can call you from their regular phone. You can get them in different area codes so people don't have to call long distance. They also have a phone now, so when people dial you you can talk on it like a regular phone. Pretty cool. I love Skype. Great for communicating with our fam in Germany.

[Sabrosa]

Originally posted by jamiepeaski@Jan 31 2006, 09:42 AM
^ You can. You can use it as a free service like any messenger service, but you can also get phone numbers so people can call you from their regular phone.

[snapback]100716[/snapback]

I've never been to an internet cafe (I know... ...I've just always used my own puter). I won't be taking my laptop with me to travel...so I'm just curious. How does the IM work on those remote computers? Do they all have the different IM's operating? With Skype...do you make the call through the website and charge to an account? Being on the road and not really staying in one place for very long....I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around all this.

[O-Face]

I use skype every single night to talk to my gf back in Calgary. It has a higher voice quality than msn or yahoo, and is actually better quality than the cheap long distance carriers with a regular phone. One problem I've found is the signal does break up occasionally, but that could be due to the crappy wireless connection i've been wrestling with. Skype does have webcam connection too, so thats cool.

For cafe's and any other computer that isn't yours...most would have skype installed, but now and then if you run into a comp that doesn't, and you don't have installation rights on the computer, there are browser based voips out there.

[Sabrosa]

Originally posted by O-Face@Jan 31 2006, 11:05 AM
For cafe's and any other computer that isn't yours...most would have skype installed, but now and then if you run into a comp that doesn't, and you don't have installation rights on the computer, there are browser based voips out there.

[snapback]100723[/snapback]

Uhhh, I have a good idea...but, what exactly is a "voip"? <------------me . Any suggestions on a good browser based "voips"?

[SuDz]

Originally posted by O-Face@Jan 31 2006, 11:05 AM
I use skype every single night to talk to my gf back in Calgary. It has a higher voice quality than msn or yahoo, and is actually better quality than the cheap long distance carriers with a regular phone. One problem I've found is the signal does break up occasionally, but that could be due to the crappy wireless connection i've been wrestling with. Skype does have webcam connection too, so thats cool.

For cafe's and any other computer that isn't yours...most would have skype installed, but now and then if you run into a comp that doesn't, and you don't have installation rights on the computer, there are browser based voips out there.

[snapback]100723[/snapback]

I have not used it myself but am on the recieving end all the time. My buddy is over in Iraq and he uses it to call me at work or on my cell phone all the time. It is usually really good but as O-Face said it can break up now and then. I notice if he calls me when network traffic at his station over there is high then it will break up. If he calls me when the network is clear or he is not doing anything online, you can't tell the difference.

SuDZ

[bluepea]

VOIP = voice over IP, pretty much just meaning you're making your calls/communication through the internet rather than a regular phone system.

[IDDQD]

skype is the bomb, i havent used it in a while but I did it worked great, very good sound quality. Brilliant for long distance. It may cut out every now and again but I'll take that over paying!

[O-Face]

Turns out there aren't quite as many browser based phones as I'd expected...my roomates programmed one in java for their final project in engineering last summer and said that it had already been done. I assumed more companies would have jumped on to this by now, but I spose they assume everyone uses skype. Could be some untapped market potential here...

That said, blasterphone.com apparently does have a free browser to browser voip connection-meaning neither computer has to install software to use it...handy when you're using another person's computer or in a cafe etc. Can't say if it's good or not though.

Question for those seasoned in international internet cafes - Do most internet cafes have things like skype, msn, installed? and if not, is it common that the employees will give u admin access to install such programs if required?