Skype = Too good to be true?

[Old Salt]

I live in England and have a friend in the USA. He tells me that if we both download and install Skype free software, buy a microphone (no idea how much), we can make free calls

Having survived Seven Decades on this earth, not to mention some very scary times+plus several near-miss scenarios, I have become a total believer in the axiom, "There are no free lunches."

However, I do always try to keep-an-open-mind to new ideas, so.........I would be extremely grateful for any enlightenment.

I have good reason to be cynical

Thank you in advance for any feedback
Old Salt

[rojash]

Well, it ain't exactly a free lunch - it's just using the connection that you have already paid for (your broadband).

So, it is effectively free, because using it doesn't increase your costs (unless of course you have a download limit, and exceed it - but a few Skype calls are unlikely to do that).

It's extremely popular for those who live or have friends in different countries. I use it from Greece, and I know Ethel uses it a lot too...

[ct75]

Yes this is totally free, I use it regularly to speak to my parents in portugal.

[SlackAlice]

Use this quite regularly, especially to my son in Thailand. Totally free pc to pc (other than as rojash mentions)

Use also in conference mode, eight of us all on together, good fun.

[weeal]

Yes PC to PC is free and even if you use it to call a land line, the call charges are really competitive, still cheaper than your current land line probably.

Check it out here http://www.skype.com/intl/en-gb/

[fo3nix]

Just remember that it doesn't replace your landline, since they don't do proper emergency calls.

There's also no real guarantee of the service, but due to the way the system works, it's inherently quite reliable.

A headset will set you back about �10, give or take. You can get ones like they use in call centres, with regular headphones and microphone attached (which is better than just using your normal PC speakers to hear your friend talking, since that can cause feedback issues with your microphone).

[Lakitu]

Can you do it wirelessly? So I can still natter to my mum for hours while I do the dishes/load the washing maching/make coffee etc?

[Ethel]

I don't have a landline and use Skype for all my calls - a have a Skype In number so people can call me from their landlines and mobile phones.

Skype to skype is free - whether through the PC or Skype phones.

It can be wireless - if your laptop has bluetooth and you have bluetooth headphone/mic, or any other way or using a wireless headphone/mic with your pc or Skype phone.

[Lakitu]

Brilliant, thank you, Ethel :) x

[Old Salt]

Wow Everybody!

Just got back from overpowering a tremendously out of control hedge. I can tell you some of the branches were as thick as your wrist.

You have convinced me, but, I have a Dell 3000 PC running WIN XP. The Skype software should be fairly stable. But a couple of years ago I downloaded and installed some writer's software and it caused so many problems I had to reformat the drive and reload all the software................,minus that da**** package that was going to be a tremendous help.

My sincere thanks to each and every one of you.

Will research the operational record for Skype
Old Salt

[Giggsie]

Hi it's brilliant skype just buy a webcam with microphone built in and you can see your friend as well as talk to him amazing things computers. Webcams not expensive mine only cheap one from Argos works great.

[Old Salt]

Thanks futritcat

It sure sounds great. I have requested confirmation from my Internet Security regarding the possibility of this software weakening my firewall or anti-virus protection.

It is obvious from the amount and speed of the response that many people are already using and seem happy with Skype

Old Salt

[stefos]

I use it frequently to see and speak to my daughter in Switzerland and mate in NZ and there are never less than 9 million simultaneous Skype users!

[Old Salt]

I'm a believer stefos

But, I really would like to know if anyone has had any bad experiences with the software. Or worse yet, does it make your PC more vulnerable to attack?

Yea, I know, but, I have seen too many free software deals turn peoples lives into nightmares

A Timid
Old Salt