Skype

[oyajikun]

Someone turned me one to this yesterday and I thought it would make an essential application for the FG toolbox. Hope you enjoy it.

http://www.skype.com/


"Skype is the next phenomenon from the people who
brought you KaZaA. Just like KaZaA, Skype uses
P2P (peer-to-peer) technology to connect you to
other users – not to share files this time, but
to talk for free with your friends."

[Mulboyne]

Skype has been around for a while but I've never used it. Any views?

Asahi: Free Net telephony takes off (http://www.asahi.com/english/business/TKY200409140118.html)

As many as 250,000 Japanese are estimated to be making free phone calls around the world over the Internet thanks, indirectly, to a controversial file-swapping technology.
...The software has been translated into Japanese and is available for free download at the Skype Technologies S.A. Web site, although user registration is required.

Previous FG mention of Skype by oyajikun: Here (http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5290&highlight=skype)

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

We have started to use it with our UK head office in the last week. Clean and does the job. No longer use call back.
Will give more details later when it's been given a good bash.

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Sorry , more to this Mulboyne.
We have been using Webex in the past for demos etc also, but looking into Interwise. Will give a run down next week if interested.

[kansaiboy]

Skype has been around for a while but I've never used it. Any views?

Asahi: Free Net telephony takes off (http://www.asahi.com/english/business/TKY200409140118.html)

As many as 250,000 Japanese are estimated to be making free phone calls around the world over the Internet thanks, indirectly, to a controversial file-swapping technology.
...The software has been translated into Japanese and is available for free download at the Skype Technologies S.A. Web site, although user registration is required.

Previous FG mention of Skype by oyajikun: Here (http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5290&highlight=skype)

I use skype all the time to talk to friends across Japan and also in Australia....Very clean, not buggy at all.... but its not a "controversial file-swapping technology"...why r the press trying to Kazza it...?

[Watcher]

What's the difference between Skype and any of the IM Chats (MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, etc.)? I use MSN Messenger chat most of the time and it works just fine.

[Mulboyne]

We have started to use it with our UK head office in the last week. Clean and does the job. No longer use call back.
Will give more details later when it's been given a good bash.
I use skype all the time to talk to friends across Japan and also in Australia....Very clean, not buggy at all
Cheers. It seems straighforward enough but I'm usually one of the last people to use any innovation. This time, since no-one I know has picked up Skype to date, it will be up to me to get them registered so I can call them and I thought I'd best get a second opinion before I do that. Thanks.

[cstaylor]

I'm working on as Asterisk (http://www.asterisk.org) IAX2 PBX... not quite there yet. :wink:

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Mulboyne,
We have run this on a number of computers.

Nice plus, multi-platform.

Small problem, uninstalling it on machines that use NetMessenger causes a problem with the registry. The callto url does not get updated. A small fix to the registry fixes everything again. Just google it, plenty of sites for help in doing this.

[sirwanksalot]

Skype is by far the BEST thing ever for my savings account. I've got my friends and family on it. It's better than a phone and is hands free. You can also post on FG if you want. Gee this sounds like SPAM.

[Mulboyne]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll be giving it a go.

[FG Lurker]

What's the difference between Skype and any of the IM Chats (MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, etc.)? I use MSN Messenger chat most of the time and it works just fine.
I know this is an old thread, but instead of starting a new Skype thread I figured I'd add to this one.

To answer Watcher's question: Skype works flawlessly through firewalls, something that Yahoo and MSN do not. Skype also supports up to 2GB file transfers, and all connections are encrypted end-to-end.

Skype also offers "Skype Out" (http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/rates/) now, very cheap phone calls from computers to POTS (plain old telephone service) land lines. Skype Out's sound quality is not always as good as a standard phone call, but it is usually better than a Keitai call, and a lot better than a land-line call that gets routed via satellite. How cheap is cheap? How about 1.7 Euro Cents per minute to Western Europe, Canada, USA, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand (http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/rates/). They have also added a few other countries/cities I see, have a look at that link for the complete list. Other areas are still cheap, just not quite as cheap as 1.7 Euro Cents.

I don't have any connection to Skype other than as a user. It's free, it works without special network setup, it has good sound quality. Try it!

Ian

[Mulboyne]

Japan Today interview with Skype CEO (http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=executive&id=183)In Japan, Skype estimates it has 600,000 registered users and is growing every day. The company has teamed up with livedoor to deliver free Internet telephony through livedoor's portal. Since last summer, stories about Skype have been appearing in the Japanese technical publications and magazines SPA! and Weekly Playboy.

[FG Lurker]

I'm still using Skype for all my international calls. The price is unbeatable.

However I've had problems paying for SkypeOut credits recently. They won't take a Japanese credit card, and they won't process my Canadian card at all because I am trying to use it from a Japanese IP. With 600,000 Skype users in Japan you'd think they would get their shit together from the payment side. (I heard a few days ago they take PayPal now, so I guess that is an improvement. Still, direct transactions would be better.)

On the good side though, Skype has worked flawlessly for me out of HK hotel rooms! Great to pay SkypeOut rates instead of rip-off hotel rates! As long as your hotel offers free broadband you also get ultra-cheap phone calls -- with encryption. Nice.

[Steve Bildermann]

I have been using Skype almost since it started. Excellent software. Works consistently and has excellent quality. I have removed my local phone and my Keitai bill is way down.

Next thing must be a Skype capable Keitai. Now that would be something!

[Mulboyne]

Interesting to see if this kickstarts IP telephony in general.

CNN: AOL to offer VoIP (http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/09/technology/aol_phone.reut/?cnn=yes)
America Online plans to offer an Internet-based telephone service to its customers within a month, and will eventually offer it to anyone with a high-speed Internet connection. Jonathan Miller, AOL's chief executive, announced the service Tuesday in a speech to an Internet telephone conference, AOL spokeswoman Anne Bentley said. Pricing details were not released. The service by the world's largest Internet access company will be similar to that of Vonage Holdings Corp., which uses a customer's high-speed Internet link to send and receive telephone calls. Vonage announced earlier this week it had reached 500,000 lines in service.

[Steve Bildermann]

Such voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) companies typically charge less than traditional telephone companies thanks to lower network costs. Vonage sells unlimited calling for $25 a month, and some smaller providers offer unlimited calls for less than $20 per month.
What's with this $25 a month business?

I assume that is the equivalent to Skypeout allowing users to call regular POTS telephones. I buy Skype credits every few months and I swear I never get anywhere near $5 a month.

[FG Lurker]

Skype enables video calling (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/06/01/skype_video_calling/)
The Register, June 1, 2005
Skype users can now download a free plug-in from Dialcom that will enable video conferencing using the Skype P2P engine. The Spontania Video4skype, allows any users with a webcam connected to their PCs and a Skype account and broadband internet access, to make video-calls using the Skype client.

Dialcom’s Sponania video plug-in is designed to be integrated with any third party VoIP system and Skype just happens to be the first. We’re not quite sure what the business model for Dialcom is, but perhaps, like Skype, there will later be paid versions and add-on sales.

(Full Story (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/06/01/skype_video_calling/))
I've been waiting for this!! No word on if it is spyware free or not yet though, so I think I'll wait a wee bit more before grabbing and trying.

Download page is here http://217.15.33.218/index.php?id=79. Rather scary looking link but that's all I could find.

[emperor]

Skype have been bought by eBay today.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticleSearch.aspx?storyID=253881
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4238258.stm

Many worried comments by users on the skype forums, foreseeing pop-up ads and spyware - theres speculation on how they will integrate it into the ebay buying and selling process, maybe skype itself wont change that much...

Gizmo is another popular alternative:
http://www.sipphone.com

[IkemenTommy]

Anyone using Skype? I want to test it out with anyone. Thanks

[IkemenTommy]

It's been almost 2 years since the original post.
This is a great software.

[etto_neh]

Yes, it *is* great software. I've been in .jp for 1 1/2 years and I have never ever had to pay to call anyone in the US, my home. My conversations from Osaka to South Carolina are clear... almost perfectly so. I also use Festoon on top of skype for video. The encryption is on by default and, according to some study (i think sponsored by skype?) quite secure.

What's bad about skype, from a more techy point of view is that it's;

1)closed software, so we don't *really* know what's going on
2)ya have a tough time blocking cause it'll take over http ports if it has to. Maybe you'll notice a choppy conversation if you browse the web while on a voice chat.
3)this may lead to a bigger trend of apps that use whatever means to reach the outside. Web apps have been doing this via javascript (and now ajax) for a while. This sort of willy nilly programming threatens a lot o' stuff.

You think you're secure running (eff.org) Tor + Privoxy? Hell no. I can still find out where you live via your IP address if you still visit my site (if I made one)... that is, unless you use something like Sockscap to redirect every call from your browser to the Tor proxy. Case in point, try to simply proxy to

http://www.themidnightcoders.net/examples/messageserver/chat/mapchatajax-room1.htm

Tor and privoxy alone won't prevent you from been tracked.

Plus, i think skype was just bought by ebay.

I'm not a paranoid person at all... I just try to take these sorts of things into account after years of fighting spyware and viruses and various attacks from one source or another. I've never done anything illegal (outside of speeding, and downloading TV shows/movies. Oh yeah, and there was that trespassing charge... oh, and that DUI... and, umm, well, that guy DID look at me strangely and so begged for a beatdown) and my browsing habits are pretty boring. But, ya know, sometimes you just wanna stay anonymous.

[FG Lurker]

Skype 2.0 (http://www.skype.com/products/skype/windows/downloading_beta.html) is out..........with video!

The LA Times has a review up about it, I'll post it in the next message as they require annoying registration to read their stuff.

[FG Lurker]

Full article due to annoying LA Times registration requirement:

Skype 2.0 Clarifies Video Chat Picture (http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-technopolis5dec05,1,3506999.column?coll=la-utilities-technology&ctrack=1&cset=true)
latimes.com, December 2, 2005
Skype Technologies, the Luxemburg company famous for its free Internet telephone calls, today launches an update that brings us closer to an elusive technological dream ― the videophone.

The new Skype 2.0 software provides the ability to see as well as hear computer-to-computer callers ― provided both parties have webcams.

Video chats, as part of instant messaging services such as one sponsored by Yahoo, have been around for years, but they offer only postage stamp-sized, jerky, pixilated video that looks as if it was transmitted from Jupiter during a sunspot eruption. These seem to be mostly popular among the cybersex crowd, but I'm not sure how they can see anything well enough to get excited.

With the Skype 2.0 update, the picture is far clearer, larger and more stable. So much so, this may be the long-awaited application that brings video telephony to the masses, especially now that webcams can be bought for as little as $30.

It doesn't hurt that the software is free, like the computer-to-computer calls that allowed Skype to build up a subscriber base of more than 60 million. (The company makes money by selling other services, including prepaid plans for computer-to-traditional telephone calls at low rates.)

Version 2.0 retains the Skype desktop contact list that can be used to store info on people with which you regularly Skype (the name has reached the status of a verb). If someone on your call list has the updated software and a webcam plugged in, a little video camera icon shows up besides his or her name. You double-click the name and if your call is accepted, you'll see in a few seconds the live video of your friend.

At first the image, although clear, is a tad disappointing ― nearly as small as those on the instant message sites. But you can drag the image onto the desktop and enlarge it with no serious loss in visual fidelity. I found that I could expand the picture window to about 5 inches wide and 4 inches high for comfortable viewing.

The audio quality, always good on Skype, remains excellent ― usually better than on a landline phone.

Because I was using a prerelease version of the software (the update was still officially under wraps) I could use it only to speak to folks connected in some way with Skype. But we video-chatted from/to various locales, including offices, living rooms and bedrooms. The synchronizations of voice and lip movements were very good ― that's usually a big problem on the video IM systems ― and the image was quite clear.

After several minutes of testing and talking about the system, we invariably fell into easy conversation about family members (photos were held up to the cameras), pets (dogs and cats were held up to the cameras, amid some protest) and hobbies.

Nevertheless, the image was hardly perfect, even when both parties were using high-speed Internet connections. There is a general haziness to the images, and the picture quality washes if the chatter is in low light. Movement causes some pixelization.

Indeed, the image quality is not quite as good as that achieved by the iChatAV system that Apple Computer Inc. debuted in 2003. But iChatAV was a marginal development because it works only on Macintosh machines, meaning it can be enjoyed by only a relatively small number of computer users.

The significance of Skype is that it's the first quality, online video communication regimen for the masses.

There have been numerous attempts to bring to life the age-old, sci-fi dream of person-to-person video communication. But this time it's cheap (actually free as long as you have the equipment), accessible and fairly easy to use.

But get ready for the little downsides, too. I checked myself in the mirror before every video call. Wouldn't you just know that the day I was trying it would be a bad hair day?

(Link to Article Page (http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-technopolis5dec05,1,3506999.column?coll=la-utilities-technology&ctrack=1&cset=true))

[mr. sparkle]

How does Skype compare with say, iChat A/V, which is free with OS X? I'd rather not pay if I don't have to.

[FG Lurker]

How does Skype compare with say, iChat A/V, which is free with OS X? I'd rather not pay if I don't have to.
Skype is also free. :)

[IkemenTommy]

Look at who came in at number 8

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,120763,pg,12,00.asp

[emperor]

How does Skype compare with say, iChat A/V, which is free with OS X? I'd rather not pay if I don't have to.

the Mac version dosent support video yet & it wouldnt replace msn messenger (or Adium on the mac) for me - but its handy for making international calls on the cheap

[ichigo partygirl]

Philips launches PC-free Skype phone
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3783649a28,00.html

Dutch electronics group Philips has said it would introduce the world's first cordless DECT phone that can make Skype internet calls without being connected to a personal computer.

The product will be available before the end of the year, Philips chief of consumer electronics activities, Rudy Provoost, told journalists at the IFA electronics fair in Berlin.

Skype, which popularised free phone calls between computers over broadband internet connections, is a unit of eBay.

Philips is the world's biggest lighting maker, a top three hospital equipment maker, Europe's biggest consumer electronics producer and the region's number three in semiconductors.

[Mulboyne]

Anyone tried Jajah (http://www.jajah.com/)? I don't have a landline to give it a go myself.

[Ke11iente]

I've been using skype for a while now and it has worked pretty well. Sometimes it will randomly say that other people are not logged in when they really are, but logging out and logging back in fixes that. That's the only problem I've ever had. The voice quality is reeeeally good, better than if I called someone from the phone in my room. It has a chat function and you can send files as well which is nice. I bought a skype-in number which is a number that is local to my hometown in the US, so my friends can actually call it from their cell phones and it will go to my computer. It doesn't cost either of us anything, it just uses their cellphone minutes. It also comes with voicemail, which is useful.

Also, strangely enough, I've noticed that my slingbox works much better/has much higher bitrates when I connect to my home computer with skype at the same time. I have no idea why this works, but it does.

[FG Lurker]

Today I spent some time setting up some dial-in numbers (aka SkypeIn or "online number") to use with Skype and Google Voice.

If anyone is looking for a Skype dial-in number there are various options provided by companies other than Skype. Jet Numbers (http://www.jetnumbers.com/) is one such company and they offer numbers in 50 countries instead of the 18 offered by Skype themselves. Prices vary depending on the country but they are often cheaper than what Skype offers directly.

If you don't mind people having to enter an extension when they call you there is also a free option, ring2skype (http://www.ring2skype.com/) that offers free numbers in a lot of countries, including Japan (if you don't mind a Tokyo number anyway).

I have set up two ring2skype numbers and one number directly through SkypeIn, and all seem to be working well.

With the ring2skype service (and probably Jet Numbers too) you need to make a change to your Skype settings to receive calls: Tools Menu --> Options --> Calls --> "Allow calls from..." --> Set to "anyone". Calls will come in from the Skype ID "ring2skype.net". Once you have received one call you can add that ID to your contact list and then set "Allow calls from..." back to "people in my contact list only".

I also signed up for Skype's unlimited world plan today and made a couple of changes to the iPhone so I can use Skype over 3G. Now I can make calls to land lines in Japan for free from the phone as well as to just about anywhere else. So far the quality seems quite good, even over 3G. Not as good as using the mobile directly but certainly more than good enough for the vast majority of phone calls.

Things have changed a lot from when I first arrived in '93... I think it was ~600yen for 3 minutes to call Canada then -- I'm sure it was worse further back. The days of the magic Iranian cards... :twisted:

[FG Lurker]

Just been testing ring2skype on a jailbroken iPhone with Backgrounder installed. Skype runs in the background just fine and incoming calls ring with the normal Skype incoming call sound. (As long as you have your speaker volume (separate from your ringer volume) turned up of course. ;))

Also found that if I have the computer and phone both logged into Skype that incoming calls will ring in both places. It's all pretty slick.

[Longname]

I have two skype accounts. One has quite a bit of credit so I thought to transfer some over to my other account. Of course Skype says no can do. Ok. Then I saw you can buy gift certificates so I thought I might be able to do it that way *if* I could buy the certificate with my skype credit. Skype says ok as long as your account is in Euro. Ok so I switched to Euro but I of course Skype says sorry certificates are NOT available at this time.

So I switch back to Yen and *of course* Skype skimmed a little of my account for the trouble of switching between Yen and Euro currency displays (about \200)

I don't care. I can afford \200 for the privilege of learning another sleazy way of bilking a good thing and ruining a reputation nickel and dime shit.

Let me see now put Skype on my shit list for bad mouthing at every chance I get from now on.

[Coligny]

Let me see now put Skype on my shit list for bad mouthing at every chance I get from now on.

Try to find a hobby instead...

[maraboutslim]

Last week I tried to use skype to call to a japanese cell phone, from japan, with my iphone over a 3G wireless connection and had dismal results. It would make the phone ring but they couldn't hear anything I said. Oh well...

[Fullback]

Last week I tried to use skype to call to a japanese cell phone, from japan, with my iphone over a 3G wireless connection and had dismal results. It would make the phone ring but they couldn't hear anything I said. Oh well...

What? Did you say something? Hello? Moshi moshi

[Cyka UchuuJin]

Try to find a hobby instead...

maybe YOU need to find a hobby if you're digging up old posts from last year. ;)

[Coligny]

maybe YOU need to find a hobby if you're digging up old posts from last year. ;)

I swears, the thread appeared as updated on the previous day in my intarwebs...

Now for the skype quality... Even video conferencing over 3g from Iphone in the sticks to home works perfectly...

[Mock Cockpit]

Let me see now put Skype on my shit list for bad mouthing at every chance I get from now on.
So Skype won't let you play silly buggers and you get a sandy vagina out of it. Did I miss anything?

[Coligny]

So Skype won't let you play silly buggers and you get a sandy vagina out of it. Did I miss anything?
Seems yes...

The part were I was a complete dunce for reviving a zombie thread...

[Cyka UchuuJin]

I swears, the thread appeared as updated on the previous day in my intarwebs...

Now for the skype quality... Even video conferencing over 3g from Iphone in the sticks to home works perfectly...

you're forgiven. after all, you're french, we have to make allowances. ;)

i even got grey snotted for calling you out. sense of humour failure, i reckon...

[Longname]

I use Skype to send the occasional SMS message. Works fine.
I want to show my (AU) Keitai number in my Skype generated SMS messages. To do this Skype asks me to verify my Keitai number. Ok so far. The number is accepted with country code ok but SKYPE never calls me back with the verify code. Has anyone here ever got Skype to call back with SMS number verify code.

Any help appreciated Thanks.