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| Thread ID: 102061 | 2009-08-06 00:05:00 | Skype (or similar) - can someone please give me the FACTS!! | Aporosa (5671) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 798664 | 2009-08-06 00:05:00 | Hi, I run a Windows XP Toshiba laptop with 3GB memory. I have been considering downloading Skype (or something similar) - not for video phoning, just for audio phoning. I phone the Pacific Islands a lot (landlines and mobiles – lack of computers there) from New Zealand and want to cut my phone bill. Last night I was told to stare clear of Skype because it’s unreliable and to use iChat instead. I subsequently read the thread on Press F1 and learnt that iChat is incompatible with Windows. I then read a pile of other stuff which seem contradictory regarding what actually works and doesn’t. Some say there are applications that allow you to call landlines and mobiles for FREE using ‘voice calls over the internet’. SO, CAN SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY KNOWS (as opposed to someone who thinks they know) answer this question for me: 1. Is there a program (maybe its Skype), that is RELIABLE, SIMPLE to use, that will allow me to call landlines and mobile phones in other countries using ‘voice calls over the internet’ for FREE? I would be extremely appreciative if someone could please give me some accurate information. Cheers......... |
Aporosa (5671) | ||
| 798665 | 2009-08-06 00:12:00 | Not landlines and mobile phones, no. Other computers with the correct software installed, yes. Skype does offer very cheap calling rates to landlines/mobiles though. |
wratterus (105) | ||
| 798666 | 2009-08-06 00:14:00 | The call option on skype isnt free. It uses skype credits, that you have to pay for, before you call landlines. Altho Skype may not be around soon as its in battle over licensing. And depending on what happens in court, it may shut down | Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 798667 | 2009-08-06 00:19:00 | For PC -> PC use Jabber / XMPP / GoogleTalk For calling Landlines, use something such as 2talk which is a TRUE VoIP / SIP service. 2talk.co.nz :) Skype doesnt allow you to call Landlines for free, but things such as VoIPStunt / VoIPBuster do (1 minute free), longer calls cost. They're basically crap-quality VoIP, but *the* cheapest option. Long story short, if you wanna call a regular landline anywhere, use a VoIP service such as 2talk. If you want PC -> PC voice chat, use Google Talk / XMPP / Jabber EDIT: Yes, avoid Skype at all costs... Its evil for so many reasons. |
Chilling_Silence (9) | ||
| 798668 | 2009-08-06 01:18:00 | Thanks all, I think I will have alook at 2talk.co.nz. Cheers.....:rolleyes: | Aporosa (5671) | ||
| 798669 | 2009-08-06 04:20:00 | Kia Ora,We use Voipcheap.com. Free calls to landlines in most countries (including Nz) as long as you have a credit balance..10c per min to Cooks 17c pm Fiji 19c pm Niue.Also very cheap rates to Mobiles all over the world and you can send texts from yr puter for nothing or very cheap.Minimum credit to buy is 10 euros about $23 nz. | kjaada (253) | ||
| 798670 | 2009-08-06 04:50:00 | Thanks all, I think I will have alook at 2talk.co.nz. Cheers.....:rolleyes: I second 2Talk - I use them regularly (via a Softphone on my PC) to call NZ landlines and mobile phones, and occasionally international calls (to the US and beyond) - all have been fine. Obviously it's not free, but it's cheap. Another option is to use those cheap phone cards you get a dairies and corner stores - there are a number of brands like Kia Ora Cards, Go Talk, and similar. They're an option you might want to consider (basically you ring a local number, enter in the code on the card, then dial the phone number you actually want to call and they put you through). Call quality with those services is acceptable. |
somebody (208) | ||
| 798671 | 2009-08-06 06:48:00 | For PC -> PC use Jabber / XMPP / GoogleTalk EDIT: Yes, avoid Skype at all costs... Its evil for so many reasons. Why is it evil,Chill ? Interested, not criticizing you. |
Neil McC (178) | ||
| 798672 | 2009-08-06 06:50:00 | Or just use email. | Greg (193) | ||
| 798673 | 2009-08-06 07:15:00 | Its a proprietary system (goes against morales), its peer-to-peer which means your calls aren't going through the most direct route, meaning they can be intercepted, not to mention they give you a false sense that everything is secure... They also try and lock out other vendors softphones, aren't good at interconnecting with, have lousy support to say the least and their attempts at supporting Linux are horrible. That said, I like how it auto-detects the best codec to use, and the call quality isn't too shabby ;) |
Chilling_Silence (9) | ||
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