Skype

Posted by mjdykes (918 days ago)

Hi there

I'm interested to get going with this new technology. Anybody know where you can buy a suitable phone in HK?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by voiceofreason (918 days ago)

no need to buy a phone. just go to www.skype.com, download, install on your pc, and you're good to go. you just need to have a microphone and speakers (probably built into your pc/laptop already), although a headset w/ mike is best. read the entire website and familiarize yourself with all their services. it is the BEST way to stay in touch with friends far away

(I am based in Manila)

Posted by agsm (918 days ago)

yes, it is fantastic and there are 3.6 million skype users on line as I type...

I suggest a headset with mike as well, cheap, but get a decent one so that the quality of sound will be decent. It is usually as clear as any phone line...and no reverberation or time delay (depends where you are connected to of course)

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by FOTH (918 days ago)

Assuming that they too have a PO and a broadband connection and are amenable to having calls scheduled so that you are both in front of your PC, booted up and all that.

Skype Out (calling from PC to phone) is more expensive than traditional phone services for many of the more popular routes.

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by agsm (917 days ago)

Depends, and you can look this up on rates on Skype....

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Ed (917 days ago)

Moved to Tech Talk

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Onlyme (917 days ago)

For businesses, SKYPE is the most economical. All FOTH's assumtions are a given. And the quality of audio is astounding.

(I am based in Beijing)

Posted by Mini Mao (917 days ago)

Or you could get one of these in Windsor House, Causeway Bay:

http://www.synergy-hk.com.hk/sph/frame/networking_07.html

http://www.dualphone.net/

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by white rabbit (916 days ago)

I got my haed set from audio and video at the IFC opposite city super. it was a bit expensive but is fantastic.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by oyster (916 days ago)

I know I can talk on Skype with my laptop built in speaker but can I on a PC without a headset? It's a new IBM

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Rossy (916 days ago)

Can you use Skype for video conference?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by dotseng (916 days ago)

why bother with skye, when you can use msn mesenger, live video conference, or just audio

(I am based in Bahrain)

Posted by voiceofreason (914 days ago)

no video conferencing available on skype at the moment. some months ago they tried to add a video feature, but it was buggy - i ended up using skype for voice calls, whilst simultaneously using the webcam over yahoo messenger.

(I am based in Manila)

Posted by voiceofreason (914 days ago)

oyster, you should be able to talk on a new IBM pc sans headset. but really, nothing beats a headset (noise reduction, clarity and all that). lots of inexpensive options available. useful to have, even for the laptop, should you find yourself in a noisy area.

(I am based in Manila)

Posted by agsm (910 days ago)

acctom technolgies in Taiwan has just released a skype phone ie. not a need to use a PC wirth skype....

ANYWAY skype to skype calls are free...

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Mr Rotavator (909 days ago)

Oyster, the brand of your computer matters not.

Does it have a microphone and speakers? If so, it should work. Download Skype and call echo123. If you can hear your own voice, it works...

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sunshineband (860 days ago)

I find the voices of the people at the other end very distorted ( comically so!), even when both ends using headsets. Is this an issue with quality of sound at their end? Or at mine?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Mac-010 (858 days ago)

Acctom; interesting. Look forward to this one...If any more or simmilar, pls share :)

Happy New Year by the way!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ChinaDoll-HK (858 days ago)

a dial-up connection quite often can't hack it !

I've heard a good dial-up + Skype & I've heard gibberish from a dial-up + Skype. In that case the voice packets arrived at different times, and got re-assembled in a completely screwed up manner = Gibberish & totally impossible to understand.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Fuller (857 days ago)

I talk to all my friends in the UK with skype and i personally feel the clarity is far superior to that of ms messenger, especially if I'm downloading at the same time. When i was in the UK it was certainly more cost effective to phone international LAN lines/mobiles, but that's rip-off Britain for you! phone prices are fantastic in HK especially if you use the 007 service

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ChinaDoll-HK (856 days ago)

It's EVEN MORE "Co$t effective" to u$e "VoIPStunt.com - at least, at the moment - since calls to UK and many other country are FREE.

VoIPBuster used to be like that too....

Both VoIP programs use a wider bandwidth than Skype - so the quality ought to be better most of the time.

I've only used SkypeOut once when I was given a few Cents to burn up - it was "okay".

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by oyster (852 days ago)

The reason I am interested is that when we share a pc in the office, I don't want to share the headphones etc since flu season is upon us.
I have a new IBM desktop we use for internet but want to teach them all to talk to me when I travel.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by RadiodocReturns (851 days ago)

As ChinaDoll-HK has pointed out, OTHER VoIP programs are as good as - or even better than Skype.

I've very successfully used VoIPStunt to get free connections to NZ, Germany, France, and UK.

Use it - or lose it! The free calls won't last for ever with "Stunt" - they didn't with VoIPBuster !


>http://www.voipstunt.com/en/faq.html
>
>Make FREE calls to any regular landline in:
>Australia
>Austria
>Belgium
>Canada
>Chile
>China
>Croatia
>Cyprus
>Denmark
>Finland
>France
>Germany
>Gibraltar
>Hong Kong
>Hungary
>Iceland
>Ireland
>Israel
>Italy
>Japan
>Liechtenstein
>Lithuania
>Luxembourg
>Malaysia
>Monaco
>Netherlands
>New Zealand
>Norway
>Poland
>Portugal
>Singapore
>Slovak Republic
>South Korea
>Spain
>Sweden
>Switzerland
>Taiwan
>United Kingdom
>United States
>
>100% Free, no call setup!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by jacko71 (849 days ago)

thanks for the info Chinadoll & radiodoc.

VOIPSTUNT got through to HK and UK and the clarity was fine.

So there is such a thing as a free lunch after all!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by RadiodocReturns (849 days ago)

Yes - well now you know - spread the news around to your friends & neighbors. It won't be "free" forever - "VoIPBuster" started out as a mostly FREE service too.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by octopus1231 (16 days ago)

I have a very dumb question. I am based in HK. Possible that I can make local calls to my friends through Skype?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by omaharrison (16 days ago)

You can also try http://www.jajah.com/ you actually use your home set to talk to other people, you dial on your pc and then move to your phone to phone talk and it's free once both parties register with them. The only thing is that you have to make a call once every 2 weeks-minimum, after that it cost.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (16 days ago)

"why bother with skye, when you can use msn mesenger, live video conference, or just audio"

BEcause:
- You can buy a skype phone and skip the computer.
- With SkypeIn you can have one or more phone numbers so non-Skype-equipped friends and family can call from their phones.
- Even better, you can have phone numbers in other countries. For example we have a phone number in the country where our parents live so they can call us at local rates.
- You can take a Skype phone with you on vacation and call cheaply from Internet cafés and other hotspots.
-Skype video conferencing is more reliable and of better quality than Live msg.


"I have a very dumb question. I am based in HK. Possible that I can make local calls to my friends through Skype?"

Yes.



"Anybody know where you can buy a suitable phone in HK?"

As mentioned all you need is a computer. But if you want a Skype phone (we havce two), you can get one at most good computer stores. Foresoon, several in the Wan Chai Computer Centre, Computer Zone, Golden Arcade...

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by yifat (14 days ago)

try http://oneglobe.gotmyplan.com if you need to make international calls. You can also call directly from your mobile!

(I am based in Shanghai)