Have You Tried Skype?

In one of our travel reduction blog posts, we recommended using Skype for instant messaging and for free calls over the computer (esp. good for international calling).

Do you use Skype? Or did you try it out after reading our post? Please let us know how it works for you.

I use Skype as a landline.  I got an assigned number and with unlimited calling it runs me less than $9 a month.  I've seen a lot of folks use it for overseas calls.  It's great.  The only drawback is it tends to break up when bandwidth gets maxed out on downloads.

HTH, Karl

I've been using Skype for years when dealing with distributed programming on projects.  I mostly use the chat aspect of the service, but do occasionally communicate with remote developers using voice.  In addition it is very convenient for passing information in a secure way and work well sharing files.  Since 2006 I've written several blog posts about Skype, which I'm linking below.

http://www.dogstar.org/drupal/content/why-broadband-matters

http://www.dogstar.org/drupal/content/aim-skype-chat-ichat-icq-irc-started-it-all

http://www.dogstar.org/drupal/content/how-i-use-skype-changedbut-didnt

http://www.dogstar.org/drupal/content/reflecting-virtual-versus-bricks-and-mortar-development

http://www.dogstar.org/drupal/content/skype-and-nonprofits

http://www.dogstar.org/drupal/content/skype-iphone-few-random-thoughts

My sister-in-law lives in Spain and my wife and I call her landline phone there for 2¢ a minute using Skype which is much less than dialing direct.

We've called her Skype-to-Skype for free, but often get an echo and the connection is not as good. So we cough up a whopping 2 cents a minute and call her landline phone, and I've been very pleased with the service. I only rarely use the IM feature.

Once in a blue moon--you can guess how old I am with that expression--we'll use up our 700 monthly "anytime" cell phone minutes so we use our Skpye phone to call US numbers. Again, it's only 2¢/min which is much better than 45¢/min. cell phone overage charges. The only disadvantage being that you have to call from your computer.

If you're going to use Skype, I recommend headphones with a mic or a USB handset which I have. You'll get much better sound than from your computer microphone and speakers.

The Skype user forums have lots of complaints about the Skypein online number and since I don't see any need for an online number, I've been reluctant to get one. Otherwise, it's a great service.

I use it, among other apps, for IM, voice and video chat.  As someone else mentioned, network traffic (or something?) seems to affect the quality, but voice only is usually pretty good.  I do a video chat from New York to a guy in Amsterdam every once in a while.  We've gotten to know each other pretty well via Skype without having ever met in person. 

-Don

My company uses Skype for conference call meetings with our staff and also as the main communications device when receiving and responding to tech calls.  We have regular phones available if we need them, but find that we don't.

We have found that opening a port(s) in your firewall to the computer(s) on your network running Skype often resolves many of the call quality issues people experience.  I learned about it from listening to the TWIT network (http://twit.tv).  Apparently, opening a port allows Skype calls to access your installation directly.  If you don't do this, you are connecting Skype to a supernode with a lot of other Skype users.  In a Skype-to-Skype call, only one of the Skype instances needs to have a port open in order for a direct connection between the two (or more) computers to be negotiated.

Anyhow, I have all of the staff computers set up on static DHCP leases so their IP addresses don't change.  I have 1 port each forwarded to each of these static IP assignments (so, 5 PCs = 5 ports) and have the staff change the port that Skype uses in the advanced options.  Call quality is most often good, sometimes great.  Rarely do we get the echoes or static.

Chris,

This information would be very helpful for other Skype users on a network. Maybe you could write an article with simple step-by-step instructions and then have it uploaded to the TechSoup website. Many of us are not all that technologically savvy, but willing to try something with adequate instructions.

Hi

I am planning extended stay and working (say 2 months) abroad. I will have access to broadband internet. What is the best way to get US number so I can be reachable to my colleagues?

Thanks

I think my answer would be to get a phone card that includes a free 800-number that you can give people to call you. The Continental Card includes one 800-number at no extra cost, and you can set it up to forward calls to any phone number in the world. You can forward the 800-number as you change locations or forward it to your cell phone. US calling rates are about 2.5 cents a minute.

You can also use the card to call 800-numbers in the US from overseas. The link is to my site which offers these cards, but I have been using this one for about a year now and have been happy with the cost and features. If you have any questions send me a PM and I would be happy to answer them if I can.

The other option is to get something like Vonage which should have a US number and you can take it to other countries, plug it in and get calls just as if you were here. If you want a REALLY cheap solution you could check out the  Magic Jack, but I have heard mixed revews about how well it works. I think Best Buy and Radio Shack are selling it, so it can't be too bad.

I have seen the Magic Jack at a friend's house.  It works pretty well.  I would get one, but they don't have any local numbers in my state at this time so anyone calling me would be long distance. 

I'd use [ Skype-In ], but its more expensive than MagicJack