SKYPE (VOIP)

[moribundman]

I've begun using SKYPE on my Mac for making phone calls. Domestic and international calls from computer to computer are free, international rates for calls from computer to phone vary, but are miniscule for many countries. For example, a call to Germany costs only 2.1 cents per minute. The regular long distance phone company's international calling rate is at least 14 cents per minute (with an international calling discount plan). With SKYPE, the sound quality is just fine. I've been using the system for a week, and so far there have been no snags at all. Payment works with SKYPE credit bought via PayPal. SKYPE itself only requires free software to be installed and a headset ($15-$30) is advisable.

Unless you are concerned with security, I'd recommend SKYPE. I really don't care if the NSA listens in on the latest gossip from overseas.

 

[keith]

quote:

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Originally posted by moribundman:
Unless you are concerned with security, I'd recommend SKYPE. I really don't care if the NSA listens in on the latest gossip from overseas.

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So you think the feds can't and don't listen in on landline calls? (and emails).

You might want to look up the Echelon program operated by the NSA during the 1990's by a former President.

All done without a court order.

 

[moribundman]

I was being sarcastic...

VOIP is easily being eavesdropped on by anyone with marginal skill, so it's even less secure than cell phones or landlines. As far as I know, encryption is not available or legal.

 

[moribundman]

Since what I said in my reply can easily be misread again, let me clarify: I'm not so much worried about Big Brother listening in on my phone calls than I am about private entities listening in.

 

[OriginHacker21]

I've had great success with VOIP as well. Although I use vonage I've heard great things about SKYPE. Having family in a different state (and in Italy) is great with VOIP as talking to them for 4 hours is free (virtually).

Problem I've run into is when playing online games (Eve, Call of Duty, Age of Empires, etc...) the quality goes down so I have to log off of those when answering the phone.

Nice thing bout my vonage setup is - if I don't answer it, it is set to forward to my cell phone.

Really handy!

 

[Pablo]

keep those comments coming - I'm on the verge.

Vonage seemed too expensive....let me know how it goes....

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Mori, I can't imagine that your phone calls provide any listening entertainment. Not that mine would provide any either

 

[simple_gifts]

My brother called using Skype from Iraq. My parents said the sound was pretty good. I have talked to my parents in VA from CT and it was crystal clear.

Skype also has security related issues relating to being hacked (indendant of the snooping issue)

Linux version also.

 

[rjundi]

Skype is variable in quality, sometimes better than phone other times maddening. I have been using it to talk to my father in China(Skype to Skype on high speed)for the last three or four years since early beta.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Been using Skype for a few years now, mostly between US and Poland, PC-to-PC, and PC-to-PSTN. Also, my company is extremely cheap, so we even use it at work to communicate with different offices worldwide.

Generally, I've been happy with the voice quality. Now, Skype video is another story. It's still a beta and they have a long way to go. There seems to be too much delay and the video negatively affects audio. And it's not an insufficient bandwith issue either. Hopefully they'll work it out some day.

 

[keith]

I have Sunrocket in my home. They did a $199 for 2 years deal - unlimited calls to US and Canada, 100 free minutes/month international. Just over $8/month and that's the bottom line - there aren't any extra taxes added on.

Sunrocket has been working fine for calls. I had some modem and router and voip adapter issues that they fumbled and I fixed myself. Can't recommend them unless you know a lot about networking or have a really simple install e.g no router, not running web servers, etc..

viatalk should be offering their $199 / 2 year deal soon and they have better tech support.

 

[moribundman]

quote:

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Mori, I can't imagine that your phone calls provide any listening entertainment. Not that mine would provide any either

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I'm sure some people are dying to get their fingers, or rather ears, on my aunt's aspic recipes. Anyway, if I suspect someone's listening in, I switch to Bavarian dialect, which is safer than Navajo.

All the top secret stuff is sent via snail mail hidden under the postage stamp in form of a microdot containing encrypted data, or it is sent with a homing bird trained in krav maga.

 

[oilyriser]

The first voip I ever tried was http://www.speakfreely.org/download/
It offers encryption if you can exchange keys somehow but it's awkward to set up a connection. It was lots of fun, though, especially in the days of high network latency.