Skype and other such programs

[dirtybuck]

I'm thinking of enlisting the aid of my computer to start making landline calls (especially long distance), and I'd like to know if anyone uses these programs, and with the "claims" I'd read for some, are the calls actually FREE?

AT&T is charging me 0.10 a minute with a monthly 2.00. Now, I usually don't make a lot of long distance calls, and I was using my Net10 phone for my long distance needs, but at this time, I don't have the 30.00 to buy a two month card (still unemployed here, and money is VERY TIGHT).

Any assistance you all may provide would be greatly appreciated.

Bill in MO

 

[toggleswitch2]

Magic Jack..no it's not an adult toy.

I use this.

It's not Ma Bell, but it'll do for $20 PER YEAR!
Circa $40 to puchase which includes first year fee.

Stick this in your browser:
http://www.magicjack.com/1/index.asp
And if you say the name of the song title with a Southern accent, it sounds like "ma(h) bell(e)"....
ooooh---weee work it baby!

pipe...

 

[yogitunes]

Toggles is right.....

Magic Jack works great and very inexpensive........

but he is wrong, there's an adult toy also, but at a different site.......there's even one disguised as a "Flashlight"

come on Togg's, know your equipment....lol

 

[toggleswitch2]

*BLUSH* see how innocent and pure I am..............

 

[dirtybuck]

In "flashlight", change the first vowel to an e and you'll have the real name for it.

I'm sure you won't have to think too hard as to what the name of the web page might be.

 

[spiceman1957]

Speaking of Skype,

Does anyone here use it and is it easy to operate?

 

[revvinkevin]

I have Skype.....

... though I don't use it for calls to land lines. Yes you can call from computer-to-computer anywhere on our little blue marble, as long as each computer has Skype installed and you both have better/faster then dial up (preferably a hi-speed internet service.) Plus with Skype you also get video calls (computer - computer, assuming you both have webcams).

My understanding is you can call from your computer to a land line somewhere, but they do charge a per-minute fee.

When I was on the island of Boracay in the Philippines a couple years ago, the owner of the small hotel which I was staying (originally from Boston, BTW) had a "Skype phone" he used to make calls. It looked like a cross between a cordless and a cell but made calls through Skype via wi-fi internet access. I believe there was also a per-minute charge for that device too.

For the home phone I use Vonage and have for over a year now. Nationwide calls along with calls to Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, France and perhaps a couple other countries are all free, like a local call. Hong Kong is just 4 cents a minute the last time I checked. Skypes per-minute rates were comparable to Vonage, so I had no reason to use Skype to call land lines.

Kevin

 

[yogitunes]

Toggles there is nothing that shames you....BLUSH, my a$$......PURE EVIL, you rascal...lol

I know the correct spelling, just wanted to keep it clean for the kiddies who haven't discovered alternatives to Rosy Palmer, only those who have one know how it's spelled, and they only BLUSH when it's pulled out from under the seat by a passenger, wondering when they turn it on nothing happens, yet they shake it up and down....practice makes perfect....lol

 

[brisnat81]

I use Skype for long distance and international calls.

The Long Distance calls are about .04AUD per minute and the US and UK international calls are about .11AUD per minute.

It works well with a good set of headphones and mike. Skype has done a few funny things with my computer but nothing major.