I keep hearing about Skype... a way to use your computer to make free phone calls internationally. I have been using PennyTalk to make cheap (2 cents a minute) calls to France, but free would be even better.
I wondered if someone who used Skype could share more information about it-- how does it work, what do you need to do to get started, any issues...
Hi, Kathy How's France? Ann is leaving today for a month there. Wonder if you two will meet up.
SKYPE:I am a relatively new user so there are others who know more than I do--of course, that is true of just about anything. Anyway--it is free for computer to computer and works great. When I have used it the transmission has been very clear. Calling a landline is cheap. I have had 40 minute calls for about 80¢.
If you don't want to be attached to your computer, you can buy a wireless phone for SKYPE and then have freedom of movement. I plan on buying that for our year there and when I am using it here.
Of course, you can also just regular computer chat, too.
I am trying to find out the differences between it and things like Lingo which is a flat fee.
Hi Kathy I use Skype both for calling regular phones (about 2 euro cents per minute) and for calling other computers with Skype (for free). You just need to install Skype on your computer, buy a webcam or headphones with microphone if you don't already have one of them, and get started! It works just like yahoo or msn messenger but the voice option is much better! Please ask whatever you need!
Ups! Hi Jane! You appear to write faster than I do!!
But I think you need a fast connection, don't you? I know I'm probably still inthe dark ages, but we're limited to 128 kbps with our ISDN line inItaly and I don't think Skype will work for us....
You're right, you need a fast connection... well, I have a friend who actually uses it with an ISDN line and it "works" but I think it's not such a good idea. I'm amazed when somebody tell me that they can't get a dsl in Italy as I have one at the Locanda that stands 5 km from the nearest village in Le Marche (not the most technological place in the world )
well, I don't know too much about it, but do have it and have made calls computer to a long distance Landline. That is called Skypeout. it does cost something like $.023/min. the headset I bought to use came with a free 120 min deal. you can reload a prepaid card with money and use the it for making Skypeout calls.
computer to computer is free with good voice quality, just got to have both parties with skype. I asked all my techie Brit friends that live in various EU countries if they use it... and yes they do and have been for awhile and love it. Makes calling back to the UK very feasible for them. I have not heard any complaints so far from anyone about it. - Lynda
The Skype web site says that you can actually use it over dialup (33K), although I would think the sound quality wouldn't be so good. It is free, though, if you call another Skype user on his or her computer, so you have nothing to lose by trying it.
One thing I found is that you really should use headphones. If more than one person wants to listen, you can get a splitter for the headphones so you can plug in two of them. We first tried it just using the built in mike and speaker on our computer, and we were getting a lot of feedback and echo. Once we plugged in the headphones, the sound quality was excellent.
By the way, for Mac users, Skype does not yet have the webcam option. But of course, if you have a Mac and want to video chat with another Mac user, that is built in to iChat.
The sound quality is much better with headphones or with skype telephones (as Jane suggests) but I used it with a webcam and with mike and speaker and when you get the good volume balance the sound is ok too. About skype telephones: the most common ones have a usb plug and a cable connecting you to the computer. There are new cordless models coming out almost every day both "just skype" or adaptors or telephones that you can use both with your normal phone line and skype.
I tried Skype In, which didn't work at all. Skye Out also has some limitations (I can't call 911 or call the AI voting line...worked for Dancing with Stars though ).
I'm on Mac and the new version works very smoothly. The voice quality is better than regular phone, IMO especially if both parties have good connections.
Hi Kathy, We just got skype and looooove it!! I am telling everybody about it ,so you probably read some in my posts.You can get lots of info on the website.
I actually heard about it some time ago,but did not pay too much attention to it.Then when we were emailing some rental places they suggested we talk thru skype.So we down loaded it ( very easy)from the website and hubby went off & got a cheap microphone and headphones.Well we have never used the headphones because the computer has great speakers and they work better because usually we are both talking to the person on the other end in Europe.
We talked a LOT to the person that we bought the camper from ( we are actually buying 2 campers from him and its a big purchase sight unseen)and it helped us get clear and feel connected with him.
We have just done the free stuff so far.I am so NOT techie,but I guess its like text messaging ( which I have never done)and is one way you could use it.But it works just like a phone only you talk to your computer.My little microphone just sits on a little case thing on the front of the bottom of the screen.It was like talking to someone who lived next door.
We have not gotten it yet but you can get a web cam easily so that one can talk and see each other if both have it ( free ofcourse) and that is really important for us on several fronts.First it helps our child stay connected to her grandparents ,friends,cousins and relatives ....heck maybe even her beloved cat on a daily basis if needed.
Also she will take her piano and violin lessons via skype.If you go to their site ,you will see a great Jazz pianist who teaches around the world via skype.Wow was that a Godsend for us! I was not sure how I was going to manage music lessons while we travel the world,but I think he will be perfect.My childs violin teacher is so spectacular ( has 7 kids of her own,started a huge violin group out of Yale when she graduated there and a big group here and has an absolute incredible gift with kids)and my child has been learning with her since she was 23m and is very advanced for her age,so it really means sooooo much that she will be able to continue with her this way.
I know homeschooled kids who do really cool things with other homeschooled kids in different states ( like having a band ,rehearsals,putting tracks down etc together) and musicians who rehease bands at a distance,so I am sure there are more possibilities I have not found out about yet.
Expats are often big on Skype.Actually I am not sure why everyone is not using it.Tho I did not know about needing high speed.( What do I know about speeds).
If you down load it and want to try it out , just pm me and I will send my skype name The only down side that I can see is that once in a while you may miss a word,but we are thrilled to have free communication with loved ones while we are traveling.And it has been great for overseas business communications for us.
I'm a huge fan and think everyone should have it!Let us know how you like it.
We have used it for long periods on over seas calls and it was absolutely FREE.I think there is another way to use it that is cheap,but there is a way to use it that is totally free.I think skype to skype.
Generally, Skype to Skype works well if both parties have equivalently high speed Internet connections. Skype Out or In, quality varies depending on the connection, time of day, rain or shine -- whatever it is that affects availability of bandwidth. We have friends in NZ who use it, they have high speed Internet connections and I swear it is better quality than a ld phone call. Friends with a daughter at school in the UK (drafty castle, low tech) did not like the quality, but that was before the school discovered that the students were using one measley connection to download movies ... It's really free for Skype to Skype, easy to install, no hidden charges as I first feared when someone told me about it.
Thanks everyone for all this information on Skype. I'm going to have to study the website and see what will work for us.
By the way Jane, we're in Knoxville-- not back in France yet. We spent two weeks in France at the end of March. Now we are back home-- working on various things-- and Kelly has a month to go in seventh grade. We leave for Europe again on June 22nd: a walking trip in Ireland, a week in Normandy, and then to Provence for five weeks.
One of the people who has recommended Skype to us is the man who owns the house in Provence where we'll be housesitting this summer. He runs a consulting business out of their home and has partners in other parts of Europe. He talks to his partners daily using Skype.
Originally posted by Giulia da Urbino: I'm amazed when somebody tell me that they can't get a dsl in Italy as I have one at the Locanda that stands 5 km from the nearest village in Le Marche (not the most technological place in the world )
sigh....you're right...we can't believe we don't have ADSL either, espceially since our firneds who live about a mile down the road have it! I'm guessing it must come up from Marsciano, but still can't figure out why they wouldn't bring it all the way into San Venanzo...Iknow it a small place, but still.....
I only use skype to call landlines and other computers. My phone bills are down 60%. It is the greatest thing since sliced pizza. I try to be very disciplined and think in the following way - for every euro I save on phone calls, I can treat my guests to a new sample of local cheese. I would rather spend my money that way
I use Skype virtually every day from Afghanistan to Australia and although the speed is not great we do fine with it. Also use it to UK. pc to phone is generally fine, delays are less than with pc to pc and the cost is so cheap I would rather not have the delays. The webcam is a bit problematic due to the speed but we manage to tolerate that about once a week. Is great for chat as well. It is a great resource.
Eliza--a completely off the subject question--but someone with an ISP from Afghanistan reads my blog-a fact that seemed quite surprising to me--although I am constantly amazed by the number of readers it has and their locations. Anyway, my question is "are you the reader from Afghanistan"? I have wondered about that person--local? military? news? what?
Very probably! It is a long held dream of ours to live for an extended period in Europe so have been reading others' experiences. And I was reading your blog the other night and thoroughly enjoying it.
I am Australian - am working for a British donor funded aid program. My field is Human Resources so am capacity building /training etc - or so goes the theory. It is a fabulous adventure and an incredibly interesting place - albeit with some frustrations and restrictions.
Great to hear from you and thanks for your interest.
Liz--how fascinating and interesting! I admire what you are doing and in many ways envy your experiences. Hopefully we will hear more about them!! Thanks for reading my blog, You will see that you prompted my last entry.
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The only down side that I can see is that once in a while you may miss a word,but we are thrilled to have free communication with loved ones while we are traveling.And it has been great for overseas business communications for us.
