Would anyone use Skype instead of phone/email/fax/pigeon?

[ayqazi]

Hi,

I'm considering allowing people to call me via skype, since I'm getting an account anyway to facilitate me having a 'not mobile' contact number (£44 a year - not bad).

Anyway, I was considering putting up my username itself on my 'contact us' page. Is it worth it? Does anybody use skype here if they have the chance to do so, as opposed to other forms of communication?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Asfand Yar Qazi

[cjd]

Skype's ok but it's a bit of a toy - voice quality can be awful which isn't great for busiess. Why not use a business VoIP service instead?

[benfredriksen]

We have just implemented a VOIP phone system at Pipefix. It is fantastic - good call quality, and very flexible. I work from home, but still have a head office number that looks like I am based in the main office, even though the head office is in another town with a different dialling code. We have opted for a hosted system because we have a number of users with different requirements. I can highly recommend it and would be happy to help if you have further questions.

[ayqazi]

Thanks for all the offers voip people, but I'm not interested in any custom voip solutions. I just want to know if skype is well used, and therefore if it is feasible to have my skype details on my website.

[cjd]

Thanks for all the offers voip people, but I'm not interested in any custom voip solutions. I just want to know if skype is well used, and therefore if it is feasible to have my skype details on my website.

Skype is mostly used by students and families with foreign relatives. They do have some business pretentions but they are a peer to peer network based on PCs - not a business service.

Some businesses add their Skype number on their business cards but I'm not sure how much they are actually used.

Just as a point of information - it is Skype that is 'custom VoIP'; it uses a proprietary protocol which is secret and why most corporates won't allow its use. The real telecom world uses the international VoIP standard, SIP.

[spreadsheetsdirect]

The only people who seem to get in touch with me via the Skype messaging bit are spammers so I basically just have it as appearing offline now.

[dingbat]

There are not enough people out there with skype handsets and using the standard mic and speaker set up isnt good. Maybe handy to use in addition to a landline but certainly not a replacement.

If you're always on the move, then just handing out your MSN email is probably better.

[Daniel Dutton]

I use Skype and haven't really had any problems with it. The quality is great 99% of the time - the only time I had an issue was when I was performing a large upload over my Internet connection at the time.

For me, it was a cost-effective solution as I am often roaming around from place to place to do my work (usually to get away from the kids!). For around £25 a year, I get a proper landline number (01212 888 608) that routes through to my laptop over the Internet. When I'm in my office, I can forward calls to my desk phone for free (quality is near perfect using this service) and I also get voicemail that I can pick up on my laptop. Add to this a tenner for a cheap analogue headset.

Of course, Skype isn't for everyone but the very occasional call quality issue is a good compromise as it allows my clients to contact me on a landline number which is (usually) cheaper than a mobile number and it doesn't cost me anything for voice forwarding (as an 0800, 0870 etc. number would).

Daniel

[ayqazi]

@cjd The point on voip is well taken. I'll definitely consider it when I have my own office and am employing people, and need many phones. But not now.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I think I'll reconsider my original intention to publicise my skype details on my website.

[new2bus]

I use Skype, but a few are now using Gizmo because it is an open standard and you can link into skype for phone calls I believe.

http://www.gizmo5.com/pc/opensky/

OpenSky is a free service provided by Gizmo5 which allows any mobile phone, web browser or IP aware phone network (SIP, asterisk, etc) to communicate with Skype users. OpenSky supports sending text messages and voice calls.

If anyone has used this I will be interested in your comments, because I might just opt for it myself.

[Michelle Carvill]

Hi there
I use skype probably 50% of the time. It's really useful for instant messanger. I'm a consultant and work remotely from my clients for a large part - and so it's a great resource for keeping in touch with the team. And we have regular skype calls (using video). It's really useful. In fact, when we can't use skype it feels rather antiquated reverting to the telephone.

I promote my skype address on my email signatures and very rarely get spammed. I think it's an excellent service - and so far, I haven't paid a penny. If they asked me to pay a subscription at this point to keep it, I would, without even thinking about it. Very useful resource...

[Onehourpa]

I have been using Skype for my business for a while. It's cut down my BT bills dramatically and personally I think it's a great tool. Occasionally there are call quality issues but the majority of the time it's absolutely fine and offers me a flexibility that I could not get with a regular landline. I have a geographic number which I give to all my contacts and they can call me on this regardless of whether they are Skype users themselves or not. For my clients that are Skype users then they can also contact me through the IM facility on Skype and most of them love using this as they can see when I'm online, ask quick questions and get quick answers.

I still have a regular landline number and a business mobile but am using these less and less.

[PointandStare]

Agree with Daniel (and others) we use Skype as our main landline and with the handsets find it's perfect most of the time. Exactly the same as a BT line but a fraction of the cost.
Best thing is that I can take the 'landline' with me wherever I am as well as the free call forwarding, voice mail etc.