Is anyone using Skype

Submitted: Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 18:26
ThreadID: 43818 Views:2199 Replies:12 FollowUps:4
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I know a friend that uses Skype for making local calls when he is on the road on NextG broadband, he says it's only 2cents a minutes for local calls, and i think about 25 c for mobiles. or it's free if you only send messages.
Even if you had the cheaper broadband connection it wouldn't use much upload or download useage.
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Reply By: Dave198 - Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 18:36

Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 18:36
Not too sure about this, but I have heard that while you have your Skype connection 'open', perhaps waitng for someone to ring you, Skype will use your open connection to 'bounce' data through your connection.
This consequently increases your usage even though your not using it yourself.
Perhaps someone else can verify or refute this.

Dave
AnswerID: 230682

Follow Up By: swagman - Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 18:45

Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 18:45
i have been on skype for upto 1 hour a couple of times and havent noticed any much change in the usage
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Reply By: swagman - Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 18:40

Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 18:40
i use skype from home pc to pc.chat with people in oz and and uk no problem and no cost.most of the time it is very clear
AnswerID: 230685

Follow Up By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 18:45

Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 18:45
I use Skype at home too, and understand that without broadband on an unlimited plan it is not cost effective.
Brilliant to talk to others via internet for free if you have broadband.

Pedro
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Reply By: Peter 2 - Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 18:43

Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 18:43
I use it constantly to ring overseas, typically calls cost 2.7 c per min to the US either to a mobile or fixed line , local calls and STD here cost about the same, calls to mobiles here cost 25 c per min.
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Reply By: kingswoodwagon - Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 18:58

Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 18:58
30 years ago we all expected to see video telephones sometime in the future
skype is just that. and its popular. and most of the time its free

i have been using it or a few years. i use it for online chat (text) with my CDMA wireless - with little effect on my usage.
however- with a voice or video call - it will abviously drive up the Next G usage.

CDMA wireless is too slow for Video/voice calls.

good luck
roopaw@westnet.com.au

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Reply By: Leroy - Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 19:07

Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 19:07
'or it's free if you only send messages.'

skype to skype is free. I use it for international calls and it's very cost effective and also reasonably good voice quauity.

Leroy
AnswerID: 230695

Reply By: mike w (WA) - Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 19:24

Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 19:24
ME three.

Skype to skype is free, in the process of buying SIA a skype phone so that the girls can chat as long as they want.

Also purchased credit for skype out, which allows you to call normal phoneline and mobile for cheap.
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Reply By: Member - MrBitchi (QLD) - Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 20:10

Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 20:10
I use Firefly, the Aussie equivalent.
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Reply By: Alan H (Narangba QLD) - Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 20:12

Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 20:12
Firefly is a similar setup. My son uses it all the time without any problems from the PC
AnswerID: 230719

Reply By: ExplorOz Team - David - Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 20:51

Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 20:51
In our office we make ALL outgoing calls with Skype (either Skype to Skype or Skype Out). This is for all ExplorOz and all IT Beyond calls. 2.5cents per min anywhere in Aust on Skype out (25.4c/min mobile) has saved us around $200/month on the phone bill. We are also about to setup a load of Skype in lines so that calls from the east can ring as at local call rates and we will soon be publishing a Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne phone number.

As for bandwidth - if you are on a decent broadband plan then no problem at all - We have found some issues calling people on 256/64 speed plans with some delays (and video links are hopeless on this speed) but if you are using a higher plan with greater than a 200MB/month limit then the saving on your phone calls alone with make it worth while even to upgrade your broadband plan.

We also us it for the SMS interface and send SMS messages to mobiles for 11c each. Best part of this you can use the computer keyboard not the phone interface to type your SMS messages.

Go for it we are saving heaps and will not go back.
David (DM) & Michelle (MM)
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AnswerID: 230735

Follow Up By: ExplorOz Team - David - Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 20:52

Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 20:52
PS: See the contact us page we advertise our Skype status in our contact info on the site also. www.exploroz.com/aboutus/default.aspx
David (DM) & Michelle (MM)
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Currently Mapping in the Field Across Australia Fulltime in 2023 - 2025

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Follow Up By: SA_Patrol - Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 21:40

Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 21:40
Hi David, I noticed on the right hand column earlier on you had a Skype button to contact Jackie,

Are you in the future going to have this option for Members only.
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FollowupID: 491574

Reply By: Member - Rob (QLD) - Saturday, Mar 31, 2007 at 00:57

Saturday, Mar 31, 2007 at 00:57
We use Skype all the time.
We both work on boats around the world. Which most of have a VSat communications. So Skype is our only form of personal communication.
It has made it so easy for us to stay in contact with friends and family.
Most of which have Skype. We can be sitting of an island in the Caribbean talking to my mate in Cairns for free.
Modern technology, amazing.
Not sure if I would use it for local calls. But would for international.

Rob
AnswerID: 230776

Reply By: Zodarp - Saturday, Mar 31, 2007 at 06:48

Saturday, Mar 31, 2007 at 06:48
We had an internet phone and I was very happy with the service until we started to have connectivity and quality issues. Some times you would try and make a std call and the phone would be constantly engaged. Try again on the normal phone and you would get through straight away. Ask the other party if their phone was busy and they would say the phone has not rang all day.

Although we have the high speed broadband the voice quality was not consistent. Some times you would have to may have to hang up and try the call again because of the poor audio quality.

Also beware some internet phone companies use your computer as a server. This will increase your broadband usage as they use your service as part of their network. If you are on a plan, other than unlimited downloads, this may cause extra cost for exceeding download limit.

regards

Zodarp
AnswerID: 230791

Reply By: Red Frog - Vic - Monday, Apr 02, 2007 at 10:57

Monday, Apr 02, 2007 at 10:57
Skype just keeps getting better

Skype for Cows
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