I'm using Skype now for a few days and I must say that I am impressed by the sound quallity and the lack of delay even when I "Skyped" from the Netherlands to the westcoast of the USA.

I should say.. try it for yourself I think it is pretty cool to keep in toutch with your team mates of the WCG whitout the cost..

Skype 1.1
Matthew Elliott February 21, 2005
Rating 8.0
List Price Free

So you aren't ready to give up your trusted phone line, but you still want to make free calls over the Internet? You might give Skype a try. This peer-to-peer application from the makers of Kazaa lets you talk to other Skype users using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). And for those friends and family you can't convince to download and install Skype, you can still call them from your PC by dropping some euros onto a prepaid SkypeOut account. For free calls among Internet-savvy friends, Skype is a no-brainer: calls are clear, and there are neither ads nor a charge. But before you throw money into a SkypeOut account, keep reading.

Skype is now in version 1.1 for Windows users and 1.0 for Mac, Linux and Pocket PCs. The software is as easy to use as any instant messenger. All you need is a USB headset (or a microphone and speakers) to make and receive calls. For free calling, you'll need to get your friends or family to download Skype, but the software is so easy to set up and use that you shouldn't have a hard time selling them on the service. Unlike FreeWorld Dialup, Skype is an integrated solution that combines service and software, resulting in unparalleled ease of use.

After a quick download, you'll soon discover that Skype 1.1 looks more like an IM client than a softphone. You sign up with a username rather than a phone number. Instead of dialling a number, you can just click a username from your contact list to initiate a call. There's even an IM option, should you prefer typing to talking, and a conference-call function that lets you converse with up to four other people at once. A separate download, Skype for Pocket PC, gives a Pocket PC-based, Wi-Fi-enabled handheld the ability to act as an instant messenger and make calls from any hot spot.

Call quality was very good in our trials: long-distance conversations were crystal clear, and there was only the slightest evidence of latency -- not nearly enough to interrupt the flow of the conversation. Impressive, too, is the fact that we had no trouble getting through our corporate firewall for calls to Skype users outside our corporate network. Considering that the software is free, we were surprised to find that it's also ad-free.

We experienced mixed results with SkypeOut, which we used to call non-Skype users. We added 10 euros to a SkypeOut account in order to call regular landline phones. You make SkypeOut calls from the regular Skype window on your PC -- just hit the plus sign, then the number. The welcome screen displays a running tally of your remaining SkypeOut balance. With SkypeOut, you can call any number in the United States, Canada, most countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Chile for 1.7 euros per minute. Calls to other countries and to mobile phones carry slightly higher but still very reasonable rates.

Call quality was on a par with what you'd expect from a mobile phone -- some calls were clearer than others. During testing, however, a number of calls were dropped after the first few seconds. We wouldn't recommend using SkypeOut to replace your current long-distance carrier. Instead, use it as an inexpensive alternative for the occasional international phone call. With no activation fee, SkypeOut is cheaper than other VoIP phone services such as Vonage for periodic overseas calls -- as long as you're comfortable talking through a microphone or a headset attached to your

Regards

That sounds good for now, but I have used "free" internet calls in the last 5 years or so that are no longer free. I wonder how long this will last. I think one of them was called dialpad or something like that. Also, can't you use available instant messanger services to talk pc to pc? I was under the impression both yahoo and aim had that capability.

Skype is cool!
Here's My "#" billybobmot

All wgc if you need support for anything (Everyone any Time) Skype me!

Team Members; Just call 4 fun or Biz!
Robby

Ih Everyone


I tried to give Pam the run around last night (twice) and she crashed my Speakers
Both times everything was back to normal after I de-installed it.
Seem worth trying to make it work so I'll Keep at it.
Thanks for the Links Dave.
Robby