Skype - A small business must!

[10 Yetis]

I have just downblasted Skype (I am new to all this!) and it is ace!

Small businesses should sign up (it is free) in order to cut call costs.

(although it was a bit "big brother" ish when it was searching my PC for potential contacts!!) :)

go to http://www.skype.com and have a play.

You see how excited I am, there is no colour in this post!

[billcutter]

Skype is ok if both parties are on Skype.But if their not they charge you dont they Something like £0.017 a call for calls to uk landlines.

Consider www.call1899.com 3p connection to 01/02 numbers then speak for as long as you like for free.Calls to mobiles are also cheaper.

[coxadmin]

I'm also a massive fan of Skype.

Last week I signed up for Skype In, where you get a Skype phone number and all calls on that number come through the PC - just 30 euros for a year and includes voicemail.

I've also put a Skype "call me" button on my website.

The UK landline rate is actually 0.017 EUROS + VAT, which according to http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi works out to be approxiamtely £0.011 + VAT, so it represents good value for money.

[10 Yetis]

Go Lynn!
I am thinking about setting up a "we love skype" site dedicted to geting pictures of people demonstrating their love of it.

I have an IT developer friend who reckons it is all a conspiracy by the USA gov't to make another US company buy them so they can listen in on calls more easily than if an overseas company had bought them.

And yes, he also believes crop circles are the work of aliens. :)

[Stephen]

And yes, he also believes crop circles are the work of aliens
You mean they're not?!

[10 Yetis]

Shhh, the penguins are listening!

[Stephen]

Penguins are aliens? Now you're scaring me!

[Alpha]

I have an IT developer friend who reckons it is all a conspiracy by the USA gov't to make another US company buy them so they can listen in on calls more easily than if an overseas company had bought them.

Are you not aware that Skype was bought out by Ebay about a month ago!!!!

[MarkPearson]

I am about to set up my new business and have a normal BT phone line at home but I use this for my net connection as the business will be mainly online.

I have my mobile phone, but would like a totally new LANDLINE type number for the business.

can SKYPE be this alternative or is it not good enough for an actual business phone line

Are you using it as an addition?

[10 Yetis]

Alan,
<in style of Lou & Andy> Yer I know... hence the American conspiracy theory...

Mark,

I find it of a good quality, in fact it is clearer than my new handheld landline that is pretty rubbish (how is that for a product review)!

[coxadmin]

I'm using Skype as an addition, but ultimately I intend to use my Skype number for the business exclusively.

[MarkPearson]

What is the cost to have a skype number...?

I have a skype account already

What type of number is it 020?

[Stephen]

SkypeIn is 30 euros, and can be 020, 0121, 0161 etc (or similar in other countries).

It can't be used for 999 calls, so shouldn't be a complete replacement for other voice services.

[MarkPearson]

Well that sounds good for me

Our product will be for sale in the UK, Ireland and the whole of Europe...

So would this mean I would need many numbers?

[JoyDivision]

We have used 1899 for a couple of months now, its saved £20 of our phone bill, not a fortune but every little helps as Tesco would say.

[Stephen]

It's an option! It would mean people in a country where you have a SkypeIn number would be able to call you without paying international call rates.

There are some restrictions though - check out their website for more details.

[coxadmin]

One suggestion is that you have different numbers in different countries - however that's 30 euros per number per year.

[TWD-Tony]

This is a spooky coincidence...

I've just taken delivery of my new BT Internet ADSL modem - and it has 2 phone sockets on the back for VoIP!

Just looking at the BT website, the lines are £10/Month rental - I don't know how this compares with Skype and the others??? But I like the idea that the phone plugs into the Modem, instead of into the PC - the modem will always be on - but the PC may not :wink:

[MinuWeb]

you can also setup skype in to divert to a number of your choice, handy when the PC is turned off :D

[billcutter]

I'm also a massive fan of Skype.

Last week I signed up for Skype In, where you get a Skype phone number and all calls on that number come through the PC - just 30 euros for a year and includes voicemail.

I've also put a Skype "call me" button on my website.

The UK landline rate is actually 0.017 EUROS + VAT, which according to http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi works out to be approxiamtely £0.011 + VAT, so it represents good value for money.

Thanks for pointing out my mistake Lynne. Skype outbound calling is still expensive if you are not calling a fellow Skype user.

www.call1899.com charge just 3p connection to 01/02 numbers and then you can speak as long as you like for nowt.So a 10 minute call costs 3p,where as on Skype it would cost approx 11p.

Calls to 0845 numbers cost approx 10p & calls to 0870 numbers cost approx 15p at all times.Much higher then then the dearest landline supplier.

Calls to mobiles cost approx 20p at all times,again much higher then normal landline companies.

Calls to Intl destinations are expensive also, apart from a few destinations.

I cant see how it would cut a sme call costs,as 10 Yetis suggests in his post.

[wilfredw]

One major advantage of Skype especially Skypeout (ability to call landlines or mobiles) is convenience. 1899 and the others do not work overseas. Skype does.

[billcutter]

One major advantage of Skype especially Skypeout (ability to call landlines or mobiles) is convenience. 1899 and the others do not work overseas. Skype does.

Yes i dont deny it has some useful features, but its Skype outbound calls are dear from the UK.

If i was to go the VOIP route i would personally use www.voipfone.co.uk

[MinuWeb]

Thanks for pointing out my mistake Lynne. Skype outbound calling is still expensive if you are not calling a fellow Skype user.

www.call1899.com charge just 3p connection to 01/02 numbers and then you can speak as long as you like for nowt.So a 10 minute call costs 3p,where as on Skype it would cost approx 11p.

Skype is £0.011 which is just over 1p per minute and only varies slightly per country depending on where you are dialling to. This represents very good value for international calls.

[billcutter]

Thanks for pointing out my mistake Lynne. Skype outbound calling is still expensive if you are not calling a fellow Skype user.

www.call1899.com charge just 3p connection to 01/02 numbers and then you can speak as long as you like for nowt.So a 10 minute call costs 3p,where as on Skype it would cost approx 11p.

Skype is £0.011 which is just over 1p per minute and only varies slightly per country depending on where you are dialling to. This represents very good value for international calls.

Yes but this rate only applies to about 20 destinations and mainly to landlines.Have you checked out the rates to some other destinations.

[winton50]

I can tell you that it has cut our phone costs a great deal.

we have a skype phone in each shop and it's now free to call each other. It's like having another line put in but paying no line rental.

The call costs to UK landlines are competitive but when you factor in the lack of a monthly standing charge it becomes cheap.

[billcutter]

I can tell you that it has cut our phone costs a great deal.

we have a skype phone in each shop and it's now free to call each other. It's like having another line put in but paying no line rental.

The call costs to UK landlines are competitive but when you factor in the lack of a monthly standing charge it becomes cheap.

Yes in your case i can see how it is beneficial in your particular case,and any body with multi sites.But there are no monthly charges to use 1899 and you dont need any special phones or broadband to use it.