Anyone use Skype?

[Matt Grunau]

I am really starting to dig this software. The computer to computer calling is fantastic, especially when you throw in that you could do a remote assistance at the same time. Plus, with the ability to conferance call with 4 additional peeps, you could be chatting away like mad.

I did notice Jarred or someone was kind enough to start a Skype option in our User Profiles. I put mine in.

The software is free to land lines and cells until the beginning of next year, but calling from computer to computer will still be free, and the packages you can buy for uber cheap are cool.


So if you don't use it, use it.

http://www.skype.com/helloagain.html



I haven't heard anything negative about spyware or the like, it comes squeeky clean from what I have found. And I've looked.

[Cryogenic Filmworks]

mediamogul (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/member.php?u=2006) has talked about using it in his filmmaking central podcasts.

[abalex]

my wife uses almost every day to talk with her mother who lives in Brazil. Sometimes she uses it to call on my cell phone. You can use that software as a regular phone, I think.

g.

[Adam E]

right on. skypeout free for a year. walmart even sells voip phones.

[Paul Coleman]

Matt, I've used Skype for about 2 months and it rocks. I have Skype In, so the number can receive calls from any phone. Plus it has voicemail.:beer:

By the way, what headset do you use?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000GHZ7UU/nextag-hpc-20/ref=nosim

[Bus No. 8]

Love the Skype. When we were in Copenhagen shooting the trailer for our doc, we set up a local (Denmark) number for people to call. Much cheaper than having them call our cell phones. We still have the number in service so folks in Copenhagen can reach us, or at least leave a message, without long distance charges.

[ChuckS]

From what I can tell Skype is only free until the end of this year. Not much bang for your buck now.

How is this different from Vonage? I'm not sure how it is now but when Vonage (VIOP) first came out the audio quality was a bit lacking. How is it today?

Paul do you rely totally on Skype or do you still have a traditiona phone line?

[MiniMan]

I've been using skype for over a year, and I really dig it. The only thing that sucks is the delay you might get when calling people on slow connections.

Feel free to call me at tore91 any day, I'd love to speak with some of you guys :)

[Paul Coleman]

From what I can tell Skype is only free until the end of this year. Not much bang for your buck now.

How is this different from Vonage? I'm not sure how it is now but when Vonage (VIOP) first came out the audio quality was a bit lacking. How is it today?

Paul do you rely totally on Skype or do you still have a traditiona phone line?

Audio quality is great. I don't know much about Vonage. Some say it's better than Skype. By the way, Skype In is el cheapo-- $12 for 3 months. (And Skype to Skype is always free.)

I still have my Cingular cell phone account, which I'm not real happy with. :/

[mikkowilson]

Skype rocks.
I've been using it for almost 2 years now. Username: "mikkowilson" (supprize!)

I use it for PC-to-PC both video and audio. (always free) PC to phone to the states (which is free untill the end of the year) and to other places for a damn good rate.

I've even used it in live production as a communication system in conference mode. Sort of a quick 'n dirty VoIP version of Clearcom :)

- Mikko

[Noel Evans]

Thats cool. I wondered about skype.. but seemed like a spyware nightmare... now i have it first had time to install. I mean living in Japan and calling Australia, the US, Canada every odd day adds up.

[nicholasraeburn]

Its great and probably the best software for mac to pc or pc to mac video chats:thumbup:

[Charli]

I spoke to my south African friend and it was clear, he called me on my cell.

[JY_Blue]

skype rules.

[Axel Segebrecht]

Yeah, Skype is pretty cool. Especially now the Video Beta for Mac is out! Although still having trouble abusing my camcorder as a webcam :-)

Sometimes it just won't work, Skype Out or Skype2Skype don't send any sound. Also, file transfers are s l o w... .

Using jajah.com now to talk with my missus who's back in the UK. Free for jajah2jajah users, and you don't need a computer!

Axel.

[ChuckS]

I'm not sure if this would be considered hyjacking this thread, sorry if it is, but has anyone tried via:talk? http://viatalk.com/index.htm

I would love to get rid of my "regular" phone service in favor of these types of phone services, not just for the price but all of the features they offer as well. But the one thing I know about my regular phone service is that the audio quality and up-time reliability is great and it is compatible with every phone on the planet.

I would hate to find that people are trying to contact me but for some reason they can't.

I guess when it comes to Viop I'm a bit risk averse.

[Prairieboy]

Skype is spectacular! I was shooting a doc in a fly in (no roads) comunity in Northern Manitoba. I made a phone call through the normal phone lines and it was awful. I was in a house that was 60 yards from their wifi antena, a made two or three calls with skype and wifi in a comunity where you have to fly into and a gallon of milk costs 18 bucks. Technology is rather outstanding at times.

( This was the same time DVXUser saved me thousands of dollars with a camera error, ah the good old days.)

[Matt Grunau]

cool responses all. I be a skypin fool. it's good to know others on the boards use it too.

I use an uber el cheapo 15 dollar mic from Staples, and the people I talk to tell me I sound fine, and much better than a phone. I'm going to invest in a better mic though.

[Paul Coleman]

http://jajah.com/

Wow, that looks amazing. :thumbup:

[Paul Coleman]

cool responses all. I be a skypin fool. it's good to know others on the boards use it too.

I use an uber el cheapo 15 dollar mic from Staples, and the people I talk to tell me I sound fine, and much better than a phone. I'm going to invest in a better mic though.

Cool. Yeah, it's pretty nice to just keep working while taking a call.

[Geoff_R]

Skype is also really reliable for large file transfers. I've sent multi-gig files across the country rather than mailing DVDs.

[Axel Segebrecht]

Skype is also really reliable for large file transfers. I've sent multi-gig files across the country rather than mailing DVDs.

w00t?! how the heck do you manage that? the best i get out of it is 2kb/s! according to skype that is -err- normal :-(

Axel.

[TimurCivan]

my girlfriend lives in turkey. if it werent for Video Skype. we wouldnt be together. Luckily she is here with me now and sleeping like an angel on my bed. :)

[mikkowilson]

w00t?! how the heck do you manage that? the best i get out of it is 2kb/s! according to skype that is -err- normal :-(

Axel.

If Skype can't establish a direct connection - like many other progrmas, it can be easily blocked by a firewall. But where other programs tell you "can't connect", Skype establishes a proxy connection through another user on the network to make sure that you can send *something*. But to be fair to that ther uses, skype thorttles the connection down to only a couple of kbps so as not to take up their bandwidth.

Yeah it's slow, but it's better than nothing when nothing is the only other option.

- Mikko

[Anhar Miah]

I'm waiting one dual Cell Phones that will have both GSM/Wifi ability, and with Skype installed, that way when ever you are in a wifi hotsot you can skype to another person Hopefully also in a wifi hotspot totally free!

The theory is then you can have international Cell calls for free, all day everyday.

But its still a few years away, and can only grow as big as Wifi hotspots grow, unless WiMax takes over.

Anyways interesting times ahead.

PS I have skype, but never used it (since I could'nt be bothered to buy a microphone (shame on me)) :0

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

DAMN !

Just remembered my main reason to reply was to to suggest we have a thread with with DVXuser Skpye listing, kinda like a DVXuser "PhoneBook", heck we are all chattin here, when we could just zing each other at the same time hehe :)

[MiniMan]

I'm totally with Anhar on that one, make it a sticky with skype names! :)

[Matt Grunau]

DAMN !

Just remembered my main reason to reply was to to suggest we have a thread with with DVXuser Skpye listing, kinda like a DVXuser "PhoneBook", heck we are all chattin here, when we could just zing each other at the same time hehe :)


Thats a hell of an idea. A member listing, voluntarily based. Cool thought.

[Albaholic]

I've been trying to get skype to work with my HVX... I figured "why buy a webcam when I already have a camera" but skype isn't recognizing the camera if it's merely plugged in with a USB or FireWire cable... is there a certain driver I have to download?

[fixitinpost]

Yep. There are some third party drivers out there that will allow you to use a standard DV cam with Skype. A google search should turn up about three different drivers. I'm not sure which one is the best.

[Max R. Wilson]

The company i work for uses skype for all the employees, since they are spread around the world.

Works great and never really have any problems with it.