whats this skype phone thing all about?

[hedders]

My mate in cyprus has just got one and reckons i should, but i don't know anyone else thats got one..

Are they the next big thing?

[pmanson]

I was told by a good source this week to avoid Skype as it is likely to be used to market ebay and paypal in the near future.

>> Edited by pmanson on Wednesday 22 February 21:38

[billynomates]

Yep free calls across the world, use it loads ..

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

billynomates said:

Yep free calls across the world, use it loads ..

Your name's a fib then!

[robdickinson]

Skype is VoIP, voice/telephone over your internet connection. Skype works on 36k(modem) upwards.

Theres a number of other VoIP solutions that work on compurters too (open source, free, or not).

Skype phones can work by being pluged directly into your home network rather than (some) that are pluged into your PC and just work as a mike/speaker

If its PC-PC (or net phones) the call is free. Skype you can call PC-landline or landline-PC which costs (1pence per min most countries).

It has just been bought by ebay for $3bn, which is a lot of moolah for a free service...

[Lion-O]

Skype is excellent. Free calls internationally if the other person has a computer and has downloaded skype (for free). Dirt cheap calls to normal phones (it's like 1p a minute to talk to a US mobile from the UK). I speak to my brother in China a fair bit on skype and the sound quality is better than normal phones and it's free!

[billynomates]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

billynomates said: Yep free calls across the world, use it loads .. Your name's a fib then!

Did I say anybody answers my calls?

[hedders]

But you don't have a phone number, you have a user name or something , is that right?

[SuPaSpArK]

Voipcheap is the one to use free calls to UK,USA,Australia landlines for a £10 deposit!
You get your own telephone number too thats ringable!!!!
Supes.