VoIP

Skype Me!

Chris Jefferies — Mon, 06 Jun 2005 18:22:00 GMT

OK, I've been using Skype for a while now and I see only one downside (mentioned later) to using it as a telephone replacement. I'm eager for all my friends to get on board so I can talk for free.

If you have a computer and an Internet connection, you can upload Skype onto your computer and we can talk for free. You may need to hook up speakers or a microphone, if you haven't already, but that's pretty easy to do.

I went to Radio Shack and bought a really inexpensive headset with a microphone for less than $3. I see that there is an online version for about $15, but look for the $3 version.

I have set up the SkypeOut service which allows me to call out from my computer to people who don't yet have Skype so I can talk to them on their regular phones. It costs me 2.3 cents a minute to use this service to anywhere in the continental US (land lines and mobile phones) and I have to pay in advance (in chunks of 10 Euros, or 25 Euros). I think that's still a better deal than most folks get on their home phone service. Overseas calls cost more. For example, calls to our friend, Zsuzsa, in Hungary, cost about 4.6 cents a minute. Still a good deal. Click here to look at the rates.

Downside: Outgoing (SkypeOut) long distance international calls to cell phones cost substantially more. A call to Pace's cell phone in Italy cost 33.5 cents a minute. Not such a good deal.

I have also set up a SkypeIn account. My number is: 415.578.3309

Notice I now have a 415 area code . The SkypeIn account allows my friends to call me at my computer. And as I AM very often at my computer, you'll be likely to catch me there. It includes an answering service as well so you can leave me a message that I can hear on my computer. The SkypeIn service costs me 30 Euros per year or 10 Euros for 3 months (including the voice mail service). It will cost my friends the same amount they would pay to call my house phone.

I may eventually disconnect my home service and settle on a mobile phone and Skype. If most of my friends get Skype, then most of my calls will be free.

I recommend that you check it out: www.skype.com

Talk to me at my computer for free; Skype to Skype: chrisjefferies
Talk to me at my computer via telephone: 415.578.3309

Skype Out

Chris Jefferies — Sat, 04 Sep 2004 11:28:00 GMT

Skype is a computer to computer telephone service (a.k.a., voice over IP service - VoIP). I've used it for a few months now and it works great. When connecting between 2 computers, the service is free, and they claim, it will always be free.

Skype now has a service called SkypeOut where you can pre-pay for minutes to connect from your computer to a private phone line that does not have a computer. Within the US the calls cost 1.7c a minute and it varies and is relatively cheap for land lines internationally. It does cost a lot more for international calls to mobile phones.

Check out the rates.

Read about skype here.

Here's an earlier post.
http://jumano.com/blogs/chris/archive/2004/02/21/SkypeMe.aspx

Once you get a Skype account, call me here:

Jumano Forums

Chris Jefferies — Fri, 16 Jul 2004 14:30:00 GMT

I've set up a web forum for discussion threads at: http://www.jumano.com/Forums

Please visit the forums and start up or join a discussion.

Skyped with Elena & Family

Chris Jefferies — Sat, 28 Feb 2004 21:26:00 GMT

Yesterday afternoon, Tom and Elena called on the Skype phone. They called while I was still at work so we only talked for about 15 minutes. However I got to hear the kids talk about “Go Texan” day and how they dressed in jeans and boots and cowboy hats and saw sheep and goats but no cows. I couldn't quite understand Carter, but I heard him tell me that his name was Carter. I guess it's a little weird talking to speakers.

Skype test - Ringy Dingy

Chris Jefferies — Sat, 28 Feb 2004 00:35:00 GMT

When you're setting up Skype you can call a test address that returns your voice back to you so you can hear the quality of your connection.

Call echo123 and leave a messge. It will be played back to you almost immediately.