i negelected to proof read so i will just try again.
we use skype just because our family is on it. i have found that unless you have outstanding equipment, the video and the audio come out extremely choppy. it is free for computer to computer calls and i believe computer to phone calls, but not sure. i think they are the movers and shakers in this market right now, but i am not positive about that. if all you want is audio chat, i love gmail's gchat. it has phenomenal clarity and is by far the best i have used. i also believe that they are going to add video capabilities soon.
It's pretty popular with the expat crowd here in the UK. We already had Vonage (b/c with a cable modem, you can cut out the phone company but still use a regular phone). So we were pleased with it in the States and so just kept it here and our old Dallas number just rings through here.
For the web cam, we've just used MSN Messenger, or I guess it's called Windows Live Messenger now. It's free like other im options for video calls, and works fairly well.
I use Skype quite a bit for work - lots of video conferences with salesman throughout the country. As long as they have a free Skype account, the call is free. If connection speed isn't high-end DSL, cable, or T1 on both ends, the video/audio can be really sketchy. I've been on 3 or 4 hour video calls that have been exceptional, and I've been on 3 or 4 minute calls that made me long for the simpler days of carrier pigeons & smoke signals.
If you guys haven't checked out the wonderful world of webcams yet, you should definitely think about it. You can pick one up for $30 on ebay. After that, there are a bunch of options to use it. It's nice when family lives so far away and visits are few and far between. I've got Dad & Mom using one, so anybody can do it! :)
I have used skype in the past, with just our computer mic, and our webcam. We just bought a skype phone on ebay, because dh's sister just moved to England, then we can chat with her on skype for free.
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ReplyDeletei negelected to proof read so i will just try again.
ReplyDeletewe use skype just because our family is on it. i have found that unless you have outstanding equipment, the video and the audio come out extremely choppy. it is free for computer to computer calls and i believe computer to phone calls, but not sure. i think they are the movers and shakers in this market right now, but i am not positive about that. if all you want is audio chat, i love gmail's gchat. it has phenomenal clarity and is by far the best i have used. i also believe that they are going to add video capabilities soon.
It's pretty popular with the expat crowd here in the UK. We already had Vonage (b/c with a cable modem, you can cut out the phone company but still use a regular phone). So we were pleased with it in the States and so just kept it here and our old Dallas number just rings through here.
ReplyDeleteFor the web cam, we've just used MSN Messenger, or I guess it's called Windows Live Messenger now. It's free like other im options for video calls, and works fairly well.
I use Skype quite a bit for work - lots of video conferences with salesman throughout the country. As long as they have a free Skype account, the call is free. If connection speed isn't high-end DSL, cable, or T1 on both ends, the video/audio can be really sketchy. I've been on 3 or 4 hour video calls that have been exceptional, and I've been on 3 or 4 minute calls that made me long for the simpler days of carrier pigeons & smoke signals.
ReplyDeleteIf you guys haven't checked out the wonderful world of webcams yet, you should definitely think about it. You can pick one up for $30 on ebay. After that, there are a bunch of options to use it. It's nice when family lives so far away and visits are few and far between. I've got Dad & Mom using one, so anybody can do it! :)
I have used skype in the past, with just our computer mic, and our webcam. We just bought a skype phone on ebay, because dh's sister just moved to England, then we can chat with her on skype for free.
ReplyDeleteWe used it when the Man was working in Minnesota over the summer. It was a great way to "see" Daddy while talking to him once a day.
ReplyDelete