Looks like fun.We've gotten some good references regarding skype... but to tell you the truth, navigating the skype webpage is less than satisfying.
Maybe some skype fans can chime in with some help on the basics.
When you first go to skype.com the joy is boundless (par for the voip course) and you are herded to "download now."
You can resist the urge to download... but your only other options are "use skype", "business" and something called "shop".
"shop" isn't available to your average Argentine IP address and I can only hope that the "shop" holds t-shirts and trucker caps... rather than what I'd really like to know and buy. "business" sends you to a page splashed with a graphic of one of the many bald-headed pricks that led me to consider emigrating from yanquilandia. That's ok, that's ok! I hear skype is great!
If you click "use skype", you are encouraged to "set your conversations free." Not so bad, really, in that they are alluding to the fact that calls are free of charge if a skype customer calls another skype customer.
But I don't know any other skype customers (other than Rob and Shake from the previous comments ...not that it wouldn't be nice to speak with the "auld salt" himself at a Quaffers! And I officially invite Rob to join.) so I'm not concerned in the least about calling other skype customers. And, although I understand the marketing- focus going on there, it's a little creepy to me ...ala facebook, myspace, et al ...although I'm not quite sure why those sites and the above photo creep me out. Age, probably.
I'm not really too concerned at all about my out-bound calls. I'll jump through a hoop or two to make my calls and faxes to other countries ...it's not too hard nor too expensive, considering all the options available.
What I'm concerned with is the ease with which people in other countries can call ME. Nobody jumps through a hoop for me.
So after drifting through the lovely celeste haze of "use skype" page with its "finding friends" and other chatty options ...I notice a bar at the top that has something called "features".
"NOW THAT'S BETTER THAN A PHONE" blasts me from the big green graphic. Then more about skype-to-skype and cheap SMS and forwarding to a mobile. All fine and good.
Then after all that, they get to "or set up a personal online number for friends, family and colleagues to make a local call from their old-fashioned phone to your Skype, wherever in the world you are."
Now we're gettin' to the bifes!
But "OR"? Or? OR you can set up a number where people can call you? What was the "either" part? I'm having trouble believing from the propaganda here that this is something other than a service for people that like to make so many calls that they don't care if someone is calling them ..."who cares? I'm already talking to them! For the third time today!" That also brings back a hazy memory of the first days of skype when it really wasn't much more than an outbound-call service.
But I persist. I scroll down a bit and find a bullet-point graphic and something that says, "Online Number... People call your personal online number at local rates." Ok, finally, maybe.
"A SkypeIn™ number is perfect if you have friends, family or business colleagues that don’t use Skype. Anyone can dial your personal SkypeIn number from a phone or mobile and hey presto, your Skype rings and you pick up the call – wherever you are in the world – and the caller only pays standard local rates to call you and not international rates."Hey! Presto!
"For example, say you now live in Auckland and are traveling to Melbourne, but your dear mother, your best friend and the real estate agent trying to sell your apartment are back in Auckland. You can get an actual Auckland number that is connected to your Skype. So, when your mother misses you or the real estate guy wants to tell you the good news, they punch in a number familiar to them and they only pay their standard call rates – but you pick up the call with Skype in Melbourne."
Great! That's what I'm looking for!
But no joy. After going to some lengths to tell me how much it will cost (not too much, really,) I'm referred to some links:
- How do I get a SkypeIn number?
- Can I have more than one SkypeIn number?
- How much will it cost my friends to call my SkypeIn number?
Read other FAQs
...which refers me to a "knowledge base" of several other links. Most of these are useless to what I want to know: "How can people call me on this SkypeIn number and how do I get one?" But I do get some pretty scary options such as, "Why can't some of my friends call me?" That makes me feel good.
Apparently, it can be done. But you'll have to download the software BEFORE they will explain how.
Don't do it ...yet. The Yanq will go through that trouble for you. More to come.
7 comments:
Thanks for the invite! I look forward to drinking some good beer!
The skype website is a bit of a pain in the ass i've noticed. Everytime I want to buy skype credit, they changed the website and it takes me 5 minutes to find out where it is. Regardless of the pretty graphics yet really confusing website, it seems to be a pretty good service.
What I did was download the software, I had to choose a username then, and I got a really really stupid username I can't change now, and it's really embarassing when potential employers want to know my skype name, then I bought some skype credit. 10 dollars worth, then a couple months later I got a skype in number. Here is the link for that http://www.skype.com/products/skypein/ I still can't find the link for the skype credit!!! Anyway, I look forward to meeting you and the rest of the honerable club at one of the meetings!
Yankster....Just do it! You'll be glad you did. Just download the software and then sign up for "Skypein" to get you a bonafide 312 number to make any other Chicagoland expat jealous.
Do the $60 (US) a year plan to have unlimited calling time for the year. Then Aunt Bessy can call you all she wants... Along with your brother that is always trying to borrow money off of you.
Then have a friend back home go online to the skype shop you can't get to here and buy you a "Skype Phone."
I have the Netgear dual mode skype phone with three extensions. It plugs into your internet router and presto you have a real phone to get your skype calls on and it even sounds like the real deal. (Get the panasonic though).
The phone is optional. You can use your computer. It is just a little weird talking to your computer all day.
Just do it. Your brother will be glad you did.
As they said, just do it - it's actually pretty straightforward once you download and install the software, which takes all of about 2 minutes. The Skype-In number and/or setting up a Skype-Out account (the first by just clicking a few links and authorizing a cc or paypal charge, the second by putting on deposit whatever amount you'd like in reserve) are both easy to setup, and, completely optional.
In regard to the other stuff - no, people from all over the world can't just simply call you, unless you set your program to allow them to, and it's an "opt-in" rather than "opt-out" - i.e., you have to turn on the "SkypeMe" feature which then shows you online and available to chat... don't do it unless you're really lonely and bored. I don't know why you aren't able to access the "shop" stuff, not that there's anything of interest there, but I can access it from here in BA...
You're right, the website isn't well designed - but the software is, and all the optional features are available from within the program, with simple click and activate processes.
You guys are great! I'm gonna do it... at least download the software and look deeper. But good-lord-willin' Vonage will stay out of dutch and I can keep it.
Hey! What do you think about sound-quality with Skype? I sometimes let people believe I'm calling from Chicago: the sound is so good people think I'm calling from the same building.
The sound quality on skype is great. If I'm using my skype phone it sounds like I'm right next door and people can't tell the difference.
The better your internet connection the better the quality. Sometimes my quality drops off and I loose the connection. It is during busy "internet" times that i might have problems. However, they are rare.
The phone is much better than using my Mac. Without a headset, the built in mic on the mac can get a slight echo the party on the other end will notice.
Hope that helps!
Sound quality is generally pretty good, last week I had a problem where no one could hear me. I could hear them but they couldn't hear me. Then, 2 days later it started working again. I thought my computer was messed up, but it just happened to my girlfriends dad. Other than mysterious things as such, the sound quality is pretty good!
Please get Skype if you don't already have it. Yes I know the site sucks but I figured it out and Skype works great. Computer to computer is free... plus you can ban anyone who calls you don't want. I have never received an unwanted call myself. The chat works with it too but I only use it to pass written info to the person I'm talking with at that moment. With Skype Out calls to the US are about 2.1 cents/min after the 4 cent connection fee... calls to landline in BA and many other places are the same. If you sign up for "Pro" $3US/mo gives you free landline calls to the country you are in after the 4 cent connection fee plus voicemail.
Do it Mike!!!!! I'll even help if you need it.
Do It Now!!!!!!
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