Skype

[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 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 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...

[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]

[quote="Cyka UchuuJin"]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.

[Grumpy Gramps]

My droid just got upgraded with the "new Skype". "Choose your color, well done!" WTF! And nothing is, where it was. Mainly cannot see anymore, who is online or "available", as they called it. And, of course, need to go through some hoops to turn the bloody thing off. Once signed out, it forgets my login. And still cannot have my own ringtone either, or so it seems.

Maybe just need some "gamman", until they fix the crap. Not holding my breath, though.

[Russell]

My droid just got upgraded with the "new Skype". "Choose your color, well done!" WTF! And nothing is, where it was. Mainly cannot see anymore, who is online or "available", as they called it. And, of course, need to go through some hoops to turn the bloody thing off. Once signed out, it forgets my login. And still cannot have my own ringtone either, or so it seems.

Maybe just need some "gamman", until they fix the crap. Not holding my breath, though.

Worse, they'll force you to update by July 1st, otherwise it stops working.

Yesterday I was exposed for the first time to Google Hangouts. It seems to be a good alternative.

[wagyl]

Well, I am about to be kicked off Skype unless I install a different Operating System: they are killing the old Linux client because it still uses peer-to-peer architecture, the webclient will only do text messages, no voice, video or screen sharing, and their replacement Linux client does not support 32-bit. Even if I went to the effort of installing 64-bit Linux just so that I can use Skype to be more than a $8.5 billion replacement for MS Messenger, it still can't do group video or display more than 30 days of chat history.

Skype has started to have connectivity issues for me, which I attribute to congestion at the central servers, and many of the reasons I used to use it are now no longer relevant. It is, to me, now another network which is rapidly losing its importance, like Yahoo Instant Messenging did. My only remaining challenge is to burn through the credit I still had in the account, given in a promotion for being a brave little boy and being in a certain country during a certain earthquake.

Any alternative relies on your contacts also being in the same network. I have started to use https://wire.com/en/ , which is developed by the original peer-to-peer pirates who created Skype. It is based in Switzerland -- make of that what you will. It has the issues of slow initial account registration, and never telling if contacts are online or offline (deliberately, with some bullshit story that that protects privacy) but seems to work OK. I am only there because one contact changed to it, but it turns out that I am his only contact there, and he is my only contact, so we can't really call it a network yet.....

[Grumpy Gramps]

they are killing the old Linux client

Woot, when? Oh, Google says, on 1st July. This is my desk telephone, it is how I call people. I hope, the replacement will be worth it. If it is anything like the garbage that got dumped on my Android, then I don't know. At least, I have moved to 64 bit Linux already, and the old client runs fairly well on it.

[wagyl]

they are killing the old Linux client

Woot, when? Oh, Google says, on 1st July. This is my desk telephone, it is how I call people. I hope, the replacement will be worth it. If it is anything like the garbage that got dumped on my Android, then I don't know. At least, I have moved to 64 bit Linux already, and the old client runs fairly well on it.

Yes, but only for the next two weeks or so.
To get an idea of what the new Linux client looks like, it is basically a reskinning of the web client, so take a look at https://web.skype.com (but best on an empty stomach)*
If you are using Skype to call to landlines and mobiles, it may pay to consider other VOIP alternatives using SIP protocol, if only for that fact that you are not reliant on just one provider with a history of changing direction more times than the wind. That is, unless you have a huge bundle of Skype Credit to get through.

* I just tried logging in.

We're a bit overloaded right now...
Please try again later, or download Skype to use it anytime.

A sad face with a bead of sweat emoji doesn't cut it guys. Do you want to be taken seriously as a utility provider?
It does confirm my suspicions that the root of most of the issues is central server congestion.

[Grumpy Gramps]

take a look at https://web.skype.com (but best on an empty stomach)*

Inspiring (the smiley doesn't clap slow enough)

I have always secretly hoped that one clever soul would build a Skype plugin for Pidgin, which would also work for audio/video and then I could have all my chicken in one coop. Maybe I have to hope harder.

[Mike Oxlong]

Youtoobs is working so well too...

[Russell]

Who needs Skype when you have email...

[legion]

Great find

related, a piece of history at 8.50 perhaps

[wagyl]

Who needs Skype when you have email...

Password "1234."

[legion]

Who needs Skype when you have email...

Password "1234."

My first job was using a terminal on a mainframe in a library, didn't take me long to work out the password for level one was "1", level 2 was "2". Level 2 was where you could access and change library user's personal details. Some of the users where friends of mine, my witty additions to their personal information may have strained this in some cases.

[Grumpy Gramps]

First of July has come and all my Skype contacts misteriously went offline **sigh**. So with a tear in my beer I installed the "new" train wreck of Skype for Linux and, alas, all my contacts are still offline...

Still seem to be able to call landlines, though.

[wagyl]

Not seen that here: as of now I can still sign in on the old Linux client, and can still see contacts online. Of course I have probably jinxed that now. I have managed to burn through over half of the credit I still had....

[Grumpy Gramps]

I can still sign in on the old Linux client

Might be that I just panicked when all my contacts disappeared, but it might as well be that it is them who got cut off. Old people, most of them. And on Windows, most of them, so their "distro" doesn't automatically update their software for them and they can't be arsed to go look for updates by themselves

Anyway, the new client, if pulled to its smallest possible size, takes 'only' about a quarter of your monitor space, so you might be able to squeeze half an office document or brwoser window beside it to do half of some productive work, while watching who's there. Better upgrade to a multi-monitor system, if you don't have already.

[wagyl]

Where is the emoji for pffffft?

[wagyl]

Plug finally pulled for old Linux client. It is now a web browser access only, no audio or video, no more than 30 days history, no group chat allowed chat client for my 32-bit system. But what about those emojis, eh?

I'm tempted to ask for my money back.

[Grumpy Gramps]

And just this week they updated the new Linux beta client with an even more new hip GUI. On my box, audio doesn't work anymore, though. I am sure, they'll fix that over the years...