who uses Skype?

[chevrofreak]

Originally Posted By: CivicFan
I think Pandabear meant Google Talk. Google Talk has an app.

Google Voice is a web based service and does not have an app. It's more like a switchboard/voicemail/SMS service.

"Talk" is VOIP. "Voice" is not strictly a VOIP service but a hybrid. My apologies to chevrofreak.


Google Voice requires an invite (which he mentioned) but Google Talk does not.

Google voice works very well for international calls, with very low rates and excellent audio quality. There are apps for Android and Blackberry phones that integrate it into your handset, so you don't have to dial your own phone number before making a GV call. On my Android phone, I have it set to automatically use Google Voice for all international calls, since it's free to Canada, and cheap everywhere else.

 

[chevrofreak]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
The underlying technology is no different than Skype, IMO. It still relies on VoIP.


It is different. Google owns their own telephone company, and just uses call forwarding to make Google Voice work. Some of the call data may go over the internet, but that doesn't make it VoIP, nor much different from most other phone carriers. At this point you cannot make a call using Google Voice over an internet connection, but that will be changing.

I have my Google Voice number added as a Friends and Family number, so all outgoing calls are airtime free, and since I have it set to show my Google Voice number rather than the incoming callers number, incoming calls are airtime free as well. It works very well for me.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: chevrofreak
Some of the call data may go over the internet, but that doesn't make it VoIP,

If that does not make it VoIP, then what does?

 

[chevrofreak]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: chevrofreak
Some of the call data may go over the internet, but that doesn't make it VoIP,

If that does not make it VoIP, then what does?


If it relies on a regular phone system, it is not VoIP. With VoIP the data is sent over the internet, starting at the originating point of the call (your computer, or internet enabled phone with the appropriate software). Google Voice does not work this way. With Google Voice you are using a regular phone line to call in to (or receive calls from) an automated computer system, and that remote computer system is what places and receives the calls to and from your Google Voice number. If the data between you and that phone system went over the internet (which it does not) then it would be VoIP.

 

[Quattro Pete]

OK. Got it. Thanks. So basically Google bought Gizmo5 to allow it to offer VoIP in the future.

 

[CivicFan]

At some point they will probably integrate Google Talk and Google Voice so that you can make and receive calls through Internet - like Skype but a little more sophisticated in a Google fashion.

 

[chevrofreak]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
OK. Got it. Thanks. So basically Google bought Gizmo5 to allow it to offer VoIP in the future.


Sure looks that way.

Google is also working on bringing out their own mobile phone that is data only, using VoIP for calling. Monthly fees would be very low.

 

[Quattro Pete]

That'd be cool. I have a Google Voice number which for now only redirects to my work cell phone. I don't have a fixed line at home. If the monthly fee was low enough, I wouldn't mind picking up such a data-only phone from Google to allow me to place calls, too.

 

[SrDriver]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
That'd be cool. I have a Google Voice number which for now only redirects to my work cell phone. I don't have a fixed line at home. If the monthly fee was low enough, I wouldn't mind picking up such a data-only phone from Google to allow me to place calls, too.


I too would be interested. Think we will see that soon along with a Tablet Computer and some other stuff.

 

[ahoier]

I used Skype, and it worked pretty good, I was surprised.

The interesting thing I had though, was sometimes the data would seem to "cut out" and the other parties voice seemed to get replaced with a more "computerized" voice lol.....

But yea, the Skype concept is neat, totally p2p, where all "online" users communicate with each other to route calls around to other users.....but I doubt there's any way of intercepting.

 

[97tbird]

just used skype for a video chat with my fam in Sri Lanka - worked pretty good, i could see them, but they could not see me, as i still don't have a web cam.
Any suggestions for a decent, affordable usb web cam? I never had one.

 

[Cutehumor]

I got a long distance number for my google voice. So that way, my family can call me on it as a local call to them. Their phone calls are forwarded to my company paid landline at home and my cell. I even used google voice to make a long distance calls free. (Google voice will ring your phone first, you pick up, then it will ring your long distance number for you free). Call quality and service has been great for the past year.

 

[97tbird]

SCORE !!!

was at Wally Mart and saw a Logitech c-300h web cam( head set included) for the price of a lesser C-250h web cam...I knew the price ($32.00) was wrong the moment I saw it, and sure enough the "real" price check tells me it's $49.00, so I point out to the lady at the counter that it's mislabeled, and that $32.00 should be the price for the c250, not the c300, which is a better web cam with better resolution and functions...
Lady @ the counter thanks me.

So I grab the c250h for $32.00 and start walking, and the lady calls me back and says "you were nice to point out the price mistake, most ppl would have just grabbed it and then pitched a fit at the check out, so you can have the c300h for the "incorrect" price of the c-250h", which is $32.00

...nice !!! - of course, I didn't refuse

Will update later how good it is, after I set it up...