May 02 2007
Do you Skype?
I acknowledge that I spend way too much time at my computer, so it makes perfect sense that I have Skype (introduced to me by my 16 year old son who loves talking to people all around the world).
Nick Randolf recently announced a Skype challenge, whereby he would forgo his land line in favour of Skype and his mobile.
I can see this gaining momentum. Why pay $30 or $40 bucks a month for the privilege of a land line connection, and that’s before you make a call?
While I don’t use Skype a lot for business it’s good for family. My sister is working and living in Hong Kong, and on a recent visit home I was telling her about it. Last night she set it up & she said it took her about 3 minutes. It still amazes me that we can talk Skype to Skype at no cost.
So on the weekend I was telling my 72 year old mother, who enjoys her computer (especially solitaire) and the internet, but is by no means highly technical and she thought it sounded “terrific”. The plan was that I buy her a nice headset for Mother’s Day and set it all up then.
Well, Mum hates to feel like she’s missing out on anything (she absolutely LOVES FireFox) so I shouldn’t have been surprised when she popped up on Skype today, and gave me a call. Yep, she managed to download the software, install it, track me down and call.
The only problem? She bought herself the headset, so it looks like I’m back to giving her chocolates!
Do YOU Skype?
(Update: In case you arrived here wondering if you need to have your computer turned on to use Skype – yes you do, and you need to have a working internet connection as well. By doing this you can talk to other Skype users via the internet for free. You can make calls to regular phone lines and mobile phones, but you need to pay for this service).
(Correction: from Nick “you don’t need your computer on if you purchase one of the Skype capable wireless phones. These plug directly into your wireless network and don’t rely on your computer to make the call. Unfortunately these devices are unreasonably expensive – there are other VOIP devices out there that at approximately $100 make a much better investment. ” – thanks Nick!)
17 Responses to “Do you Skype?”
I don’t do voice Skype but I do use its messaging functions.
Of course, you still have to pay for a broadband connection one way or the other. Mine’s tied up with the phone line.
Ah yes, there’s a point – a lot of people here do have ADSL broadband via phone line.
Skype is good for messaging too
Can’t say i have ever tried it – i can see a lot of benefits but apathy is so much easier to achieve
Unfortunately the Skype Challenge as it stands is pretty hard to meet (trying to find time to post a follow up on where I’m at with it) as the technology isn’t quite there. Wireless networks aren’t pervasive enough and even when you are connected to them on a mobile device it is hard to maintain connectivity due to the way they are optimised for battery consumption.
I think the wireless skype phones might be the answer, but battery life and the cost makes them a poor purchase decision atm.
Personally I use Skype for everything (except receiving SMS – this one still bugs me) while at work – has saved me a small fortune in calls to NZ, US and the UK. Not to mention the ability to use a headset makes long conference calls easy.
I Skype. But I find it very difficult to explain to family members and friends why it is so great, and why they should have it. You see their eyes begin to glaze over. It’s a bit off-putting.
As you say, it is incredible to speak to people anywhere on a line that is clearer than your local telephone line. I have spoken to someone in the US – it’s like they’re next door! And the text-messaging is great, too.
Greg – Nike (just do it)!
Nick – Thanks for the mini update. So I guess at the end of the day, it’s been a moderate success. With any luck Skype will hear you about the SMS issue.
Rory – do you mention the “F” word (as in FREE)?
I have Skype but don’t use it often. All my friends & colleagues seem to use MSN for chat, and I’ve started using Jajah for calls since it avoids the need for new hardware or a softphone (and can still be free!).
The mind boggles how much change and convergence is happening in this space – I’m sure the whole landscape will be very different by the end of the year. Will be interesting to see how the telcos respond …
I Skype too. Both parents and in-laws live in SE Asia, and Skype video calls are the easiest (+ cheapest) way for them to see their grandkids
Grown ups use MSN? There you go – I thought Twitter might take over there! I haven’t heard of Jajah.
Re the Telcos – dang if you can’t beat ’em, buy ’em! And then use the data base to mercilessly plug all your paid products….
Scott – I bet they love that! I bought a cam to do that with my in-laws in Wollongong, just haven’t got around to plugging the thing in!
I have only recently gotten into skype but only as an instant messenger (i dont have a headset).
Sometimes i feel like i have shot myself in the foot but i actually encourage my clients to install skype, add me to their list and message me when they have any questions regarding their websites.
It saves alot of email backward and forwarding and needless phone calls.
Re people giving up their landlines in favour of mobiles i completely agree. I worked in telco for Hutchison 3 prior to getting into Web and with the rise of capped plans more and more people are moving away from their ball and chain line rental costs. Personally i have not had a landline for over 5 years! and if i did have one installed it was purely for ADSL and i wouldnt have even known the number!
Sorry for the long comment and no this is not a sponsored plug, but Skype is also now available on 3 Mobiles x-series handsets.
I do mention the “F” word! And it completely draws a blank – it’s ultimately outweighed by what they perceive as the “inconvenience”.
I have been a Skyper here in the USA since 9/04, when I took the download for XP so that I could freely talk with my daughter in Germany. Convincing her was not a problem and soon we both wanted web cams for video calling. Best free software to be found for such. It wasn’t long after I bought some SkypeOut credit to connect with others who were Skypeless. Then realizing I could save nearly $1200US annually I quit the landline altogether. I have since spent $60 for a Linksys CIT200 wireless USB and am no longer tethered to the PC. There are better wireless phones available now but I will stick with this one for a while. If you are interested in untethering I suggest you seek out a USB phone with Skype onboard to connect to your modem or router directly to avoid the necessity of keeping your PC on 24/7.
I Skype with a few friends, but i still have a land line and mobile 😛
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It’s interesting what a little blimb in the system can do – last week’s Skype outage would have cost them a lot of users who will have started investigating other VOIP services. Although Skype were one of the first they are by no means the best operator out there. Depending on your requirements you might want to considers some of the other providers out there.
Minor correction to Meg’s update – you don’t need your computer on if you purchase one of the Skype capable wireless phones. These plug directly into your wireless network and don’t rely on your computer to make the call. Unfortunately these devices are unreasonably expensive – there are other VOIP devices out there that at approximately $100 make a much better investment.
w.r.t my Skype Challenge – I keep meaning to post that it has been a complete disaster and that I’m back to only using Skype in the office. Skype on the mobile is a waste of time as it hogs the device’s limited resources and I still miss the ability to send and receive sms via Skype on the device.
Hi Nick
Thanks for the correction (I’ve updated the post).
I daresay you’re right about last week’s problems. Martin weighed in on this too.
Someone called me once from a mobile Skype application & the delay was so bad that it would have been virtually impossible to conduct a normal conversation.
Still, I can’t really bitch too much about something that’s free, even if restricted in its use!