[goldlizsts]

I've been using skype for almost 2 years now. Not the phone interface, but the peer to peer facility to talk to a friend in Austalia. Works like a charm (on broadband), no cost.

A friend of mine gave me the hardware sometime ago, a simply plug-in cute little piece, made in Taiwan (still made in China right?, but better quality and anesthetics).  I figured it'd be terrific to do P-to-P with friends at virtually no cost.  Then one would have to coordinate with the other end (friends).  The plan is on the shelf still.

[EchiDna]

....made in Taiwan (still made in China right?, but better quality and anesthetics).  I figured it'd be terrific to do P-to-P with friends at virtually no cost.  Then one would have to coordinate with the other end (friends).  The plan is on the shelf still.

Taiwan AKA chinese Taipei is not china...
anyway, what's stopping you, a quick SMS and you can cheaply coordinate times to speak...

[TheChairGuy]

You know, while I use it all the time when I'm (long) away from home, I rarely every use SKYPE when calling from home.

JohnR and I have been trading mesages for a few days now - I think this is the first time I've called Oz from the US - and while I didn't find John in, the answering message was quite clear on this SKYPE call (0.017 cents per minute  ).  I have broadband cable here in California.

John can let me know how my voice transmission quality was from this end......

I'm not sure if it is true, but someone told me that traditonal phone calls are in mono, but SKYPE (and I assume other VOIP type calls) are stereo...anyone know the truth to that?  A real audiophool should really be calling in stereo, of course 

[JohnR]

Message was loud and clear!

I'm sorry I missed you  We'll try again soon, on Skype (getting there!)

[PhilNYC]

I'm not sure if it is true, but someone told me that traditonal phone calls are in mono, but SKYPE (and I assume other VOIP type calls) are stereo...anyone know the truth to that?  A real audiophool should really be calling in stereo, of course 

I assume you'd need a stereo microphone to do this?

[ctviggen]

For correct implementation, yes.  However, they could create a stereo image from mono.  (Though why one would want voice in stereo is a bit beyond me.  More frequency band, like 8kHz instead of the commonly implemented 4kHz, would be better I think.)

[Rashiki]

I use Skype when I travel on business to call home. A lot of hotels give free internet access and calling from computer to computer is free, so I can talk as long as I want for no charge. I've used Skype from France, Finland and Estonia with no problems.

The only issue I've had with Skype is that there's a bit of a delay, so both people end up talking at the same time. However, once you get used to it, it isn't bad at all. It's also best if both people use headsets, otherwise you can end up hearing your own voice echoing with a delay, and that can be distracting.

I've also got a cell phone with wi-fi and software that works with the Skype network, so if I'm in a hotel with free wi-fi, I can make free calls using my phone. Very cool.

 -Rob

[djklmnop]

Skype now offers Skypecast.  It's a room we can set up and others can join to have a huge conversation.. I've seen rooms up to 44 people.. They're not all chatting at once, but the moderator decides who can come up to talk while the rest listens..  This would be a great way for us to perhaps get together each weekend to talk about audio.  I am sure those who are there listening can learn a great deal.

What do you guys think?  Anyone interested?  I can arrange for such a thing.

Andy