Skype do you have it or an equivalent?

Was wondering how many of us have now got onto the bandwagon and make free internet calls ?

I have three kids that live in Germany and use this to speak to them all the time. Chat for hours a zero cost. I also have skype credit and make some calls to normal numbers (land-line and mobiles) at very cheap rates.

So, what do you have and is it compatible with other VOIP programs. ?

Mine is a dual phone so I can take both land-line and internet calls from the same handset. It's also wireless so I am not restricted to sitting in front of the PC to take the call.

[embee]

Same here (apart from the kids in Germany).

Dual cordless phone on Skype. I have friends working for airlines and we chat wherever in the world they end up (depending on the broadband service available locally). Also one sister lives in Philadelphia.

Skype has improved their quality of calls no end in the last year or so, if folks have decent hardware the calls are little different to normal phone lines. Conference calls work well too, get the family together on-line.

[SoulKiss]

I refuse to use Skype.

They are the same people who put out Kazaa - and the spyware that was in it.

That is why I wont use it, not because I believe that there is Spyware in Skype, but because of the previous business practices.

Also it has some rather dubious technology built into it that allows it to circumvent firewalls and the like - mainly this is to make it easier for user, but makes network admin a right royal pain.

The fact that it is a closed source program, when open and free alternatives exist.

As it happens, the latest update on me PSP has Skype built in, but I doubt I will ever use it.

Originally Posted by BigApe

I have three kids that live in Germany

You're more verile than i thought you were!

Is that 5 in total then? Or have you any others secreted away?

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

The fact that it is a closed source program, when open and free alternatives exist.

Do you use any of the free alternatives then? And can you use it to make calls to any other platform...like skype?

And TBH I've never heard of kazaa...maybe I dont watch star trek enough

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

I refuse to use Skype.

They are the same people who put out Kazaa - and the spyware that was in it.

That is why I wont use it, not because I believe that there is Spyware in Skype, but because of the previous business practices.

Also it has some rather dubious technology built into it that allows it to circumvent firewalls and the like - mainly this is to make it easier for user, but makes network admin a right royal pain.

The fact that it is a closed source program, when open and free alternatives exist.

As it happens, the latest update on me PSP has Skype built in, but I doubt I will ever use it.

At the time of Kazaa, just about every single free shareware program had spyware installed. That was how it was at the time. And anyhow, it's the same old story isn't it. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Kazaa was a shareware program that most users used for downloading illegal software. Why were so many of the programs free Because of the additional spyware that was installed alongside the main program.

Thanks for clearing that up BA. I like skype...most people use it and even businesses are now advertising skype details because it makes financial sense!

I used to have a Skype In number as well but it was hardly ever used so wasn't worth paying for.

[timwilky]

I use proper VoIP, I have a Grandstream SIP ATA and use sipgate.co.uk as my provider.

Because my broadband is cable I have no need for a landline. It has saved me a fortune as Virgin Media charge 6 pence per call connection charge as well as £11/month line rental and exorbitant call charges. My monthly bill is generally less than £8/month including all calls to mobiles etc.

The obvious advantage of using VoIP is.

You get a free of charge local number, in my case 01772 (Preston)
calls to other VoIP peered providers is free as is direct calls to IP addresses if remote side doesn't use a sip provider
There is no limit to the number of connections you can have, simply use a different TCP port and forward it on your router to a different ATA or buy a phone capable of upto 6 connections etc.

Disadvantage is that if my cable fails, I have to use a mobile to phone/complain

[TEC]

Yep using Skype, rather handy to keep in touch with a friend who lives in the USA, just the 8hr time difference to sort out