I've been chatting to Si on the phone just about every day for the past couple months for FREE!
Today we ended up with a 4 way "conference" phone call with me, Si, RT, Curtis,& Bolt joined in later after we showed him how.
Skype is basicly a FREE computer to Computer phone call. In North America you can also buy credits for computer to land line at 2.1c per minute! Anywhere in the world!
It's a Free Download http://www.skype.com with unreal reception. No time lag even between here and USA. Send pics, files, and use wen cams. Once we figure out the "Conference" room we should be able to replace "Head Cam" to some.
All you need to start is speakers and a mike hooked up to your puter, although if you don't want the rest of the household in on the conversation ... buy a set of headphones
It tells you who are your contacts and if they are online and available to talk anytime.
Check it out.
If you register, e-mail me your Skype Name, or call into Letterville chat and I, or Si, will hook you up with the other Letterheads.
Posted by Dennis Raap (Member # 3632) on :
Thanks Jon I have been looking for something like that Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
You don't need a fancy expensive mike for Skype. Just get one with a stand and set it away from your speakers ....so that you don't get a feedback echo.
I prefer the mike to a headset ( I have both) because I tend to forget to take them off when I go to get a cup of coffee! Posted by Joe Crumley (Member # 2307) on :
Every once in a while I get a call from the operator who tell me I have a person waiting to talk to me by computer. Then she asks me if I know how to use this service? I hang up!
Is this what you are talking about?
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
SKYPE is great, although I find that there is sometimes lag time when talking to others in North America. I use the chat feature with it a lot as well. It's neat in that you can send files back and forth while you talk or chat. It's a great tool for working on projects together. The conference feature is neat too if you want to have a group discussion. You can also use web cams and if someone tries to reach you and you are not available at the time there is a missed events flag that alerts you to that.
Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
No, Joe... That's something way different. That is someone typing on a computer and an operator reading the call to you...
This works like regular phone, you're talking back and forth to each other normally. Microsoft Messenger & Google Chat have features that allow you to do the same thing... Blake and I talk occasionally over Google Chat.
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
I tested it last night with Jon in OZ and Si and Steve (bolt) and RT.
I was shocked at how clear it was and how fast it was. Jon in OZ was talking with no lag at all just like a regular phone. well it should it takes the same paths anyway. Computer to computer is FREE. I used an old computer microphone and computer speakers to listen. Skype is a fine tool.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Skype is great!!! Dave Fisher in OZ introduced me to it 3 or 4 years ago. I have never used it for the free computer to computer feature, but rather for the computer to telephone feature.
In the past we used a headset to call home from Mexico, but that keeps you tied to the computer.
This year I bought a "Netgear" wireless Skype phone. Looks just like a regular cell phone and works just like one, but you have to be within range of a wireless internet signal. Works just the same, we can sit out at the pool and yack to our frozen relatives while working on our tans.
An hour long call to my brother costs around $1.20
Even on a dial-up connection, using a laptop and headset, the connections are pretty good.
Thank You Dave Fisher!!!
Posted by Joe Crumley (Member # 2307) on :
Thanks Jon,
That makes sence now.
Posted by John Thomas (Member # 2854) on :
Skype is great... I have used it for over 2 yrs now. I use it to call from the US to Canada and back to the US for about $36 a yr..
I use it in the business for all my contact...
Posted by Linda Silver Eagle (Member # 274) on :
Jon,
I registered as MlleLinda but apparently my mic dudn't work LOL. That is a blessing for all y'all! I'll see what I can do about gettin' another one...I have one here somewhere, just am unpacking stuff I hadn't seen in at least 6 mos. It may be awhile LOL. I saw it, I really did but that was several weeks ago and not sure where it went.
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