I know its not Noble but....

[paulcundy]

Has anyone started using Skype? www.skype.com
Its telephone PC-PC over broadband (or a simple dial up). I only use it sparingly but I have to say it is very good.
Regards
PauL C

[actech]

Paul,
For personal use Skype is a nice and innovative application, however, the quality is poor and there have been some security issues surrounding it.

If you only use it occasionally and only to people you know then it does have it's benefits over the standard PSTN - for me I'd recommend installing an Asterisk server or if you want someone else to do it for you a dedicated VoIP provider like Vonage!

Anthony.

[mc101]

Paul

We use it personally and for multi way conferencing (for free) -- wife uses it to call Oz alot ... quality a bit variable but overall quite pleased with it.

[gizard]

I have problems with it at all - I also use it with my house DECT phone so rather than being tied to a laptop I can wonder around with a cordless phone speaking through the Internet - excellant!!! Saved me loads of money earlier this year when I was speaking to people in OZ alot

[kentviking]

I had hoped such forums as this might help me escape such work related topics...but ho hum

The word Skype for me brings images of lost millions - literally - I could/should have joined them half a year ago as my mate did (employee number 7 or so, and now a multi millionaire!)

That aside - the product is quite revolutionary - and even the US government cannot crack it, so I wouldn't be concerned about security of calls - other security issues seem to arise off 3rd party attempts to pass off as Skype to encourage downloads of infected software - it is my understanding that no-one has yet managed to infect Skype itself.

Skype is a damn site cheaper than vonage and there ilk - but watch this space (or maybe not piston-heads, but the web in general) for the next wave of instant message platform voip interconnectivity that will see Microsoft, google, yahoo etc all offering free telephony to basically everyone else with a broadband connection.

Im sure Joust will pipe in with the Easynet (or should I say BSkyB) version of the world - but voice telephony will ultimately be free (within 5 years)...all we will be paying for will be the connectivity. Until then Skype is cheap or free...and if you have a granny overseas with no broadband connection you can by skype in so that they can make cheap local calls to you instead of them having to pay international rates.

Also check out cheap "resellers" - who for traditional phone to phone calls can actually be cheaper than skype to some destinations.

[adrian w]

I use it when in Spain, quality is not very good and the line gets dropped a lot.
Adrian