Trout

iTrader: (1)

Can anyone tell me what Skype will give me that I can't do over MSN. If we both have a webcam at each end does Skype give me any advantages?

Just wondering?

Rannoch

KiwiGTI

I think Sype just gives you more options around IP telephony, SkypeIn, SkypeOut etc. As for IM clients the functionality is pretty similar on a PC.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

I have now downloaded Skype and it looks OK - I like the fact it has an answerphone.

I am not sure exactly how billing works when I am travelling. Any expert advice would be welcome...

...e.g. I have a UK registered number and someone calls me on that number from a local UK landline and I am actually logged on in San Diego! I know that if I had a San Diego registration it would cost the full long distance price.

Rannoch

RichB

Skype on my Mac to another Mac regularly loses sound quality one end, usually after about 5 minutes but can be up to 30.

iChat - Can be a nightmare to connect, sometimes works first time, sometimes wont work at all.

MSN - Can't do voice on the Mac plus mine wont stay connected for longer than 1 minute.

All communication is between G5/iSight and iMacG5 built in mic.

marklemac

No doubting that iChat is simply awesome at video, however, behind a firewall and its a PITA.

Skype however just works. video is pretty good, no where near the league of iChat.

GaryK

I use skype on the mac daily and don't have any problems. As above its best for the telephony options to receive calls from regular phone users and make calls out.

RichB

I cant make skype calls out as it just degrades and eventually cuts off and I end up having to call them from a landline....
It *may* well be my iSight. It does regularly decide to disappear from the menus...

Looking forward to iChat with screen control ability (ala Timbuktu or ARDC)

Iain Young

I use skype every day, either from XP or Vista (depending where I am) and not had any problem. I used it for a 4 hour teleconference to the USA last week from my Vista 64bit box, and the sound quality was fine.

I suspect it's less to do with the hardware, and more to do with the quality of the internet connection being used...

KiwiGTI

I use Skype everyday for calls to NZ/Aus/Thailand and it has always been excellent. As good as my home phone. Dropped my bill from £150pm to £13 (basically just line rental)

I have to use MSN because that's what all my friends use.
iChat is good but I don't know anyone who uses it.

RichB

Im on NTL 2mb which obviously has slow uploads so it could well be that!

Odd that it just deteriorates over time though...

Iain Young

I'm on NTL 10Mb, so that could well be the difference. Depends on traffic etc I expect...

jowl

I would use iChat...except I'm the only one with a Mac who I chat to.

I use Skype without problems on both Mac and Windows. I've used Skype out from St Lucia to the UK. Call quality was excellent and the cost was very low too!

Avi

Used skypeon my 1mb cable connection to USA quite a lot, sounds used to break up.

For international stuff I Would much rather use a service like Cheap International calls from Ratebuster : Ratebuster as i can use my home phone and it costs absolute peanuts. I even use it on my mobile to phone usa and it comes out of my free minutes!

dowser

Another Skype user - saves me loads of money talking to relatives and friends around the globe.

Rannoch - if you're travelling you simply log onto Skype and you'll receive all calls to your UK based number via VoIP. Issue is that if you want non-Skype people from San Diego to contact you, you should register a US number too

Simplest way to think about it is "on-net" and "off-net". On-net is free (Skype to Skype), off-net has a chargeable component (either for people calling you via a registered number, or for you using Skype out calling non-Skype users).

I don't have a registered Skype number, but my parents (who moved to NZ a few years back) keep a UK number to make it cheap for non-Skype family to
contact them. I simply make sure I only talk to friends who have Skype!

Richard
Richard