[Minnesotalyn]

My husband and I just downloaded Skype so we could video chat with our kids on our trip out of the country. We thought that would be pretty cool. Now I notice all these different sites and the phone no. are all through Skype, even the Villages. What's the pros and cons of useing Skype to phone, and can you use your cell phone? Can your cell phone company still charge you? Thanks

[Challenger]

Originally Posted by Minnesotalyn

My husband and I just downloaded Skype so we could video chat with our kids on our trip out of the country. We thought that would be pretty cool. Now I notice all these different sites and the phone no. are all through Skype, even the Villages. What's the pros and cons of useing Skype to phone, and can you use your cell phone? Can your cell phone company still charge you? Thanks

Skype to Skype costs nothing. My son is a pilot- lives in Hong Kong and we Skype frequently. Sometimes he leaves it on for an hour or more and we watch the grand children play at their condo. He calls us on Skype from all over the world. We have talked from Dubai,- India and anywhere he can connect to the internet.Haven't used it for regular phone calls, but he does.

[memason]

Challenger is right....Skype to Skype is free, worldwide

If you have a smartphone, like the iPhone or an Android phone, there are Skype apps available for those. You can call landlines and cellphones, but you have to pay for that. We regularly call Germany and the cost is .02/min. Very cheap! We always use a WiFi connection, so we aren't using either phone minutes or data usage on the cellphones.

If you want to make free calls to any US phone, you can use an app called Whistle Phone. I used this app, while living in Germany to call the US for free.

Good luck... And happy talking!

[ajbrown]

I have been using Skype for about a year now on my laptops. All of my usage has only taken advantage of the free aspects of Skype. I use it to talk/video other Skype users and I also use it for call toll free numbers such as an 800 number. Being able to call an 800 number for free using Skype has really helped keep the minutes down on my cell phone as I often have to call into a meeting on an 800 number. These meetings can last 60 - 90 minutes zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I have not tried dialing any numbers using Skype that require you to pay as you go, so I cannot comment on the cost of Skype versus any other phone service.

I have been pleasantly surprised of the quality of sound and video on Skype with Comcast as my Internet provider.

[l2ridehd]

I would also consider google voice. It is free calling any number to any number in NA and also very low international rates. The advantage to google voice is I can select the number I want to call, the number I want to call from, the from rings you pick it up and it's calling the other number. Once answered the computer is no longer required.

[graciegirl]

Skype wasn't working yesterday, at least in Austria and our granddaughter who has a special boy over there was most sad. He had been our house guest for the month of December, until Sunday.

I tried to think why Skype was out and I think it must be that people are giving people cameras for Skype and trillions of people are setting up accounts and Skype isn't ready for it yet.

I sure hope they don't begin charging.

It is wonderful.

[Mikitv]

We use SKYPE to see our grand daughter and have been doing it for over a year. Never any cost and we are usually on for a half hour our more each time.

[Mudder]

I use Skype at least once a day. Video and audio are excellent with Comcast. No costs involved, stay on as long as you want. You can have just audio or both audio and video.

[mfp509]

My sister and I tried it once when she was in CT last summer. It was so neat! I'd like to get some of my friends to Skype - it's fun.

[Minnesotalyn]

Thanks for all your posts. I just have a cheap cell right now so I think I'll stick with the video calling now. Some day I'll get a better cell and try too figure the rest out.