I searched for previous posts about Skype and the last was in 2010 so I am bringing up the subject again.
There are many uses for Skype in ringing mobiles and landlines at a cost but that is not what I am in interested in, I would like to be able to talk to other Grey Nomads face to face if they are on line at the same time as I am. Or by prior arrangement at any given time and this is cost free.
My Skype name is yeoeleven and I would like to be added to any GN's Skype contact list and take my chances that we would be online simultaneously or by a PM arrangement.
I have just deleted my Facebook account from lack of use that leaves the blog and this forum as my online activity so to have a chat now and again with GNs will add another facet to my nomadic lifestyle and may also prove interesting to the GNs.
Skype is a great way to communicate on line especially for Nomads. Maybe we could ask Cindy to add a box to our private details page for a skype address or just encourage others to add it to their details.
I have just registered for Skype, but have to get a camera, have one on my laptop but not on this main PC. I do have the ear phones though.
I had trouble registering for Skype, with bigpond, gmail and hotmail, wouldn't accept my email addresses (all legit) then read a blog which said when filling in your email address make sure you don't automatically hit the spacebar after your email address (ie; no spaces) and it will accept them.
Did this an now registered ok! Will have a play with it when I return from down south, off on Sunday for a few weeks.....
-- Edited by Duh on Friday 17th of August 2012 09:28:43 PM
You do need a lot of Ggs to use it. I used to have it when I had a small allowance. It all got used up in a couple of calls a week. Its a while ago now but if I remember rightly each call was taking about 100mb. I may have had only about 1 or 2Ggs at the time. I know I was always running out. These days we have a lot more Gg allowance. Mine is now 8Ggs.
Don't know if video calls use more mb - but you can always do the typed message thing thru skype - not sure if this makes a difference - but to me it stands to reason that a video call would use more juice - not very technical so not sure of this. The typed message thing is like having a conversation. Facebook also has a messaging system I believe.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
managed it is a good cheap system, seems like if you leave it online then it is continually working so turn on when you have time and off when you have finished.
You can use Skype for typing a message, voice calls (just like talking on the phone) or with video added as well. Text and voice use far less mbs than video calls. If you just stick to voice calls you can still have the contact without to much expense. As an extra added bonus you can buy skype credits that will enable you to call landlines or mobiles at a much cheaper rate. Hope this helps someone.
A voice call on skype will use 0.18mb for 1 min - 10.8mb for an hour and 46.8mb for video call ( 4 times as much). Below is a chart to tell you how many kb in mb and how many mb in a gb. So 10.8 mb out of you 1 GB is not very much for an hour call. I checked this all out with my IT guy at work and from google search hope this helps. Skype really is a great way to communicate for very little cost, providing you can get good internet coverage at both ends. I can call an associate in the USA and talk uninterupted for ages but trying to call my partner in Mackay is almost impossible. Grrrrrhh....
your research into the capacity needed for Skype calls is very valuable and now will be happy to use voice calls in the main and pop a little video to visualize the person I am talking to.
If the caller is using video does that impact on my usage? Can the video be left on being only used by the other party?
Glad that info was of some help. If someone calls you and they have their video on then you will be able to see them. You are however still downloading video and using your internet usage but I am not sure at what rate or cost. I would assume the worst and go with "video calls cost about 4 times more than just voice calls." At that rate I would be happy with just voice calls to save my internet usage.
i thought using skype pc to pc was free (except data download when on mobile net)
You are right milo the cost we were discussing was the capacity usage, especially for those who use expensive wireless connections. I have 2.5GB per month and that would get gobbled up quickly if I use a video connection for all my Skype discussions
On Tuesday 9 October, Skype, the popular internet voice and video service, issued a security notice confirming malicious activity targeting its users.
Dorkbot is a type of malware that is currently spreading via Skype instant messages. Users may receive a message asking lol is this your new profile pic?, along with a link. Do not click this link.
If the link is clicked, the malware infects your computer. It may also cause your computer to become part of what is known as a botnet. A botnet is a group of compromised (infected by malware) computers that are used by criminals to carry out attacks on other computer systems.
Dorkbot variants may also attempt to steal user name and password details for other services you use. Botnets are controlled remotely and can be instructed to perform further malicious acts via the internet.
Skype users should update their Skype software to the latest version in order to ensure the security features are up to date. Users should also ensure their anti-virus software is up to date.
More information
Skype's security blog is available at: http://blogs.skype.com/security/
Anti virus vendor Trend Micro also offers useful insight: http://countermeasures.trendmicro.eu/skype-worm-spreading-fast/
I searched for previous posts about Skype and the last was in 2010 so I am bringing up the subject again.
There are many uses for Skype in ringing mobiles and landlines at a cost but that is not what I am in interested in, I would like to be able to talk to other Grey Nomads face to face if they are on line at the same time as I am. Or by prior arrangement at any given time and this is cost free.
My Skype name is yeoeleven and I would like to be added to any GN's Skype contact list and take my chances that we would be online simultaneously or by a PM arrangement.
I have just deleted my Facebook account from lack of use that leaves the blog and this forum as my online activity so to have a chat now and again with GNs will add another facet to my nomadic lifestyle and may also prove interesting to the GNs.
John
Hi John.
I just aded you to my Skype friends. I use nick "esperio" on Skype.