PC to PC telephone calls

[Guest]

Hi guys I found this interesting link

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bi ... 1346,38052,

Also had some tips on making cheap calls abroad.

Piglet

[iane]

Piglet

The service offered by Skype has recently been a topic on the site - as usual a range of views running from sceptical to enthusiastic.

I run Skype (along with other comms software) to help me work here (I work 40% in UK and 60% here) and I can say it works great - I talk to people in the office in the UK about 2 hrs per day for free - there is even now an option to make calls to landlines in nearly all of europe and also N America and Chile??. European and N American calls cost 0.017/minute from PC to phone (has to be prepaid) (can sound like Norman Collier sometimes but at about 6% of the normal PT cost who cares ???).

I recommend it - is Vale de Telha enabled for broadband though ???

[Guest]

Hi Iane

I was told VDT is on broadband last July/Aug. I sincerely hope so, as do not really wish to go down the satelite option.

Yes, I remember seeing the post a while back, did not understand all the techincal jargon, but when I saw this on Martins money tips just thought I would add it in case shedded any new light on the subject.

To be perfectly honest, I am a total feather brain when it comes to PC's I have the patience of a gnat and the PC logic to match

I am going to have to get someone to install the broadband and set it all up as I did in the UK as I will desparately need this. So again if anyone knows a PC doctor who makes house calls. Grateful of contact details for future ref.

(this could be a good business ideas ) I know we use someone like this in the UK and everytime there is a problem I call him and he comes out. He is semi retired runs a small PC business,

I also need very cheap calls back to UK, as I make about 100 per day + I cannot use Pc so will have to use landlines CPS or something similar. Its just finding one.

Out of interest if I have something set up on my PC for broadband in the UK, then add Portuguese broadband to the same PC (this is womens logic at work here, mind) , assuming of course a UK Pc will work in Portugal, something to with power hmm, Will I have to install whatever on the PC twice and if so how will it differenciate? If you follow my drift here.

Yes, yes, I know I am thick so please you guys out there who are bored and feeeling mischievious only sensible replies, I beg you this is really important to me, the ability to run my UK business whilst staying in Portugal for several months at a time.

Many thanks
Piglet

[digger]

Steve is very helpful and good at this sort of thing
look at this (again?):
viewtopic.php?t=3407

petermeacham thinks Skype is not such a good idea

So that's a very big 'No thankyou' then. If something seems to good to be true, then in nearly all cases is

boa sorte

[Guest]

Hi Digger,

Thanks for response. I do remember the conversation and this final post below, which made it a definate "no no with this provider" as it is not a home PC. I agreed with Peters comments at the time. I did not know if the link I added was from a different source. Maybe not, probably all works on the same principle then. Just a thought

"From time-to-time your computer may become a Supernode. A Supernode is a computer running Skype Software that has been automatically elevated to act as a hub. Supernodes may assist in helping other users to communicate or use the Skype software efficiently. This may include the ability for your computer to help anonymously and securely facilitate communications between other users of the Skype Software who, due to network and firewall constraints, cannot establish direct connections."

I would not be able to use this method for business calls anyway, as clarity is essential not to mention the secuirty of information. So it is conventional landline for me. Just a matter of which call provider due to the volume of calls

Many thanks
Piglet

[petermeachem]

I did a search on google for 'skype supernode'. http://golem.ph.utexas.edu/~distler/blo ... 00435.html and http://www.macforumz.com/System-Skype-f ... 33395.html
I didn't realise that skype is from the same people who produced kazaa, something I'm not keen on.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/22 ... sus_skype/ Read the last para on the 2nd page

[Guest]

Peter, many thanks for the link

Quite worrying. Will definitately be by passing this form of communication.

I ahve been searching the internet and found a carrier for landline calls called Worldcom.
Going to research further. Have a business section so get better rates.

Anyone used them?

[Pavlov's dogs]

I have been using skype for a few months now, and it is saving me at least 50 euros per month, and that is aoverthe cost of worldcom "cheap" calls. I have pretty rgular security on my PC (Norton stuff), and havehad no security issues. If you have ineffective security and go online a lot, then you are porbably going to get something nasty.

Howevert, tt would appear from the many posts he has made, that Petermeachem will find something negative to say about anything. Just have a look at his posts if you think this is an unfair comment.

[SunSeaker]

If you want to make VOIP calls then I the best way is to get a telephone adaptor like the Cisco ATA186 or similar. Simplistically, it plugs into your home network (we have a 4 port ADSL router). You then plug an ordinary phone line into the ATA.

You can then subscribe to one of many service propviders, I use www.dualtalk.com as their prices are good and have been providing a reliable service for the last couple of years I have been using them.

You can then make calls to other landlines from your normal handset. If your friends or family also have an ATA then you can call each other directly free of charge.

[John Burgess]

Just tried Pc call and was suprised how good it was