Skype

[Martin Francom]

Several years ago I tried SKYPE and was not very impressed.  But I decide to give it another try now that version 4.1 has been released.   I am very impressed now.  It was very simple to set up.  And, with the USB Skype phone that I found at a local computer store, it gives you the ease of use of a standard phone handset.

I haven't yet purchased a local number so that regular phone can call me but may do that soon.  Currently I can call out to anyphone or to any skype user.   The clarity has been much better than I expected.  And, it works with my "AirCard" on my lap top which makes it a good choice when travelling espectially when out of country. 

I would like to build a list of friends and colleagues that have skype accounts and add them to my contact list.   If any of you have a Skype account and would willing to allow me (and others here to put you on our contact list.  Please provide your Skype name.  My skype listing can be looked up by this account info:

         Marty Francom,  Bremerton, Wa     UserName:   martyfrancom

I have found that there are a number of great addons for Skype,  one of the most useful for me is  FAXtastic  which allows you to send documents to fax machines around the world.   

I haven't yet seen how well the Skyte to Skype video conferencing works but hope to try that with one of you.

Your experiences and comments about skype (pro & con) will be much appreciated. 

[Douglas McDonald]

Hi Marty,

I use Skype to keep in touch with my son who works in Japan. It works great and we Skype video conference weekly.

here's my info:

Doug McDonald Tulsa Okla.  UserName: dmtulsa

[Martin Francom]

Hi Doug,   Yes that is sort of what I have in mind.  Do you use it for regular phone calls too?   Or, do you just use it for Skype to Skype communications.  I am thinking it might usefule when I am travelling.
...Marty

[Rolf Brandt]

Hi Marty,

Skype is excellent for travelling, especially if you get a phone number for it. The great thing is that you can even get a phone number for other countries with it, I have a Newport New, VA phone number for example.

Besides Skype I use for business another VOIP account. That means whereever I am I can use my home based phone number to make and receive calls.

Skype: rbsoft.42

[Martin Francom]

Doug,
    It was fun doing the video call.   Thanks for helping me test it out.
...Marty

Rolf,
    Thanks for your Skype number,  I have added you to my contacts.  I will watch for you being online and I'll give you a video call.
   Oh,  I post a question on the SQLitening forum about a problem I am having if you get a chance could youtake a look.   Thanks.


Paul,
    I noticed you have a Skype account for  PlanetSquires,  do you use it much?   I having ever noticed you being login.

[Paul Squires]

Paul,
    I noticed you have a Skype account for  PlanetSquires,  do you use it much?   I having ever noticed you being login.

I used to use it about 4 years ago talking to Haakon over in Norway. Haven't used it since. I do remember the calls being very clear... except for the crying of a new Norwegian baby girl. 

[Martin Francom]

I think I'm going to be come a fan of Skype.   We have grandkids that live out of state so we don't get to see them often.  We gave it a try tonight and they thought is was great to be able to see each other.  They were showing us some of the favorite toy and pictures that they had drawn.  I was quite impressed with how well they connection worked and how much the kids like using it.

For those that don't already know you can download Skype at:
      http://www.skype.com

And, if you want to test it out, give me a Skype to Skype call.

[Haakon Birkeland]

... except for the crying of a new Norwegian baby girl.

Yeah, I'm not taking that route again â€" voluntarily! Those critters are huge(!) time and energy consumers.

As Rolf mentioned, a SkypeIn number is very interesting, but we can't have one in Norway. Otherwise I'm quite sure I'd use one for my business / in the office. It would be quite useful when we're in China a month at a time every year.

We have a Skype phone at home, that combines as Skype to Skype / Skype to landline / landline to Skype and of course as a normal landline to landline phone. I've also been thinking about getting my mother in law a similar phone but with a camera and a screen. You know, she don't know her way around computers â€" at all!

Check out this one; www.skype.com/allfeatures/videophones

[Rolf Brandt]

Hi Haakon,

you might be able to get a Norway based number with other (SIP based) VOIP providers. Skype won't give me a German number either, but I got a couple of Phone and Fax number via Sipgate. These number I can use everywhere in the world. And when I call out it always will show my German number. And all that for â,¬ 3.80 a month.

[Haakon Birkeland]

I'm basically allergic to time-based fees ...

Anyway, the reason for wanting SkypeIn is simply because I have used Skype for many years and their protocol is widely supported by computer platforms, specialized phones and mobile devices.

[Martin Francom]

Yes Jim that is way cool....

Have you used it much?   Does performance running on a USB drive compare favorably to a hard drive of a local machine? 
 

[Rolf Brandt]

I use Skype also on U3 USB Stick. Performance is great.

[Martin Francom]

Jean-Pierre,   Thanks for the Skype call.  It was nice to visit for a few minutes.  Sorry I didn't have a video camera on the computer.   My laptop has the camera.  Amazing clarity.  The computer I was on was connect to the internet with a Clear-Wire "air-card", so my internet speed is a bit slow.  Even so, your picture and voice came though with amaze clarity.  I very impress with Skype.

I keep my computer on and my Skype connection open 24/7.   I have noticed alot of other Skype users here don't keep their Skype connection active.  Hey guys it's tough to contact you if your Skype connection is shut off.   You wouldn't keep your telephone unplugged (except when you need to use it) would you?   Then, why not keep your Skype running 24/7 ?   Then others would be able to call you.  Of course you don't have to answer but at lease people could at least make a call to you.

PlanetSquires has a Skype account, Paul,  how about keeping it active 24/7 ?
 

 

[Paul Squires]

PlanetSquires has a Skype account, Paul,  how about keeping it active 24/7 ?

  No chance of that. I work all day and when I come home to my development machine it is enough for me just keep up with the constant barrage of emails. My buddy is always on MSN Messenger and he nags the life out of me to keep it open when I'm online. The constant interruption of that program coming up with chat window alerts is way too distracting when I'm trying to program so I normally keep it turned off. It would be great to talk to FF customers from around the world but my wife would kill me because I would be on the computer more than I am now (which is a lot). 

[Martin Francom]

Paul,    Sad to hear that.  You do know that you can set the Skype to "Do not disturb" setting for those times that you just have to concentrate on the task at hand.  And you can limit incoming calls to a select list of "priority" clients, friends or family.  And, if your working with a group on a project you can set up conference calling. I that that all the advantages it offers, far out weighs any perceived dis-advantages. 

If you don't have Skype's latest version (just released a month or so ago) you don't know what your missing.

Hope you will reconsider when things quite down with Firefly.