Need advice: Is Skype the best cheap way to phone these days?

[wakemewhenitsover]

Anyone have advice about an inexpensive cell phone alternative?

Are there any Skype users out there who could tell me if the system's reliable, or does it crash frequently?

Thanks!

:hi:

[wakeme2008]

1. I know it works on cruise ships :) :)

One friend took his first cruise and wanted to call his kids (< 3 yo) every day and did it through the slow cruise Internet connection.

[wakemewhenitsover]

6. Failure fries, I love it

[rawtribe]

2. I use Gizmo Project

for computer to computer calls. It works very well.

www.gizmoproject.com

You can read the forums and see what other are saying:

http://forum.gizmoproject.com/

http://forum.skype.com/index.php

http://www.vonage-forum.com/

[wakemewhenitsover]

7. Thanks. I didn't even know the forums existed.

[wakemewhenitsover]

15. Thanks. Forums really informative. Why do you like Gizmo?

[cvoogt]

3. Skype is great

I have no landline, and use Skype for all my long distance calls. It is very infrequent that a call gets dropped, but it has happened. Every now and then one party will hear a slight "echo" but 99% of the time the quality is superb. I used it today to call from Holland to Aruba using my wireless internet connection to connect to a user on a modem - flawless!

Casper

[wakemewhenitsover]

8. I'm having trouble getting on Skype. Just tried. Is it difficult to...

...sign up for Skype-In (so you have a real phone #)?

[XOKCowboy]

4. I have a friend who travels over 200000 miles per year...

with 3 kids and a wife at home. He loves Skype. It allows him to call home very cheaply from anywhere with an internet connection. He raves about it.

Hope this helps.

[wakemewhenitsover]

10. Is it hard to sign up on Skype-In usually? I can't get it to work...

[AnnieBW]

11. Problem With Your Firewall

I don't know what your system configuration is like, but the fact that you're having a problem with Skype is probably because of your firewall.

And yes, Skype is very good if you have a broadband connection. It's cheap, and it's encrypted.

[wakemewhenitsover]

13. Are you supposed to disable your firewall temporarily?

I do have firewalls, so how do I get around that? Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. :hi:

[terip64]

5. My daughter is overseas studying and skype has ben amazing!

We are able to talk to her for free when she is at her computer. For about $20 she got a local phone number and so I can call her on her computer from anywhere for free as well. It has been incredible.

[wakemewhenitsover]

9. Would that be Skype-In?

[DavidMS]

12. I feel it depends on what you want...

SKYPE is a good deal for PC to PC calling. However it may not be as good a solution as somthing like VONAGE or BROADVOICE for general calls. Its a good solution for callign from the road provided you have a decent laptop. However its not a perfect solution as it still requires an internet connection.

I have heard good things about SKYPE but I would recomend checking online reviews and articles.

[wakemewhenitsover]

14. Thanks, I will. Is there a review site you like?

[Fleshdancer]

16. I love skype

My husband and I use skype all the time when talking to friends from other countries. We also use the skype in service and aside from a slight echo every now and then, it's great. I haven't had it drop a call yet and the sound is clear.

Why not just download and try it out? Use it for several days and if you don't like it, just remove the software.

[wakemewhenitsover]

17. Does Skype-In crash often? Thanks for info!

[Fleshdancer]

18. I haven't experienced a crash with skype in yet

but this is the first week we've used it.

[XOKCowboy]

19. My friend the traveler...

said he's had very few problem with dropped calls and most of his calls are with the IN service. He'd picked up a USB handset last I saw him in Madrid and let us all use it to call home. It sounded great. It sounded better than my cellphone. Granted we were on a very hi-speed broadband connection but he says that he's gotten good service on connections just this side of dial-up.

Hope this helps. Let us know what you think about Skype when you try it.

[sandnsea]

20. Step-son is a truck driver

He just got a laptop and is looking to purchase a wireless service. This sounds like something that would be good too.

Can somebody give me step-by-step details on exactly how it works.