How to keep in touch with others around the globe
... for free!
If you have people in far away places that you'd like to stay in touch with, you should look into Skype. This old mouse used voice telecom with computers back in the day of ICU, and the horrible realities of sending audio across at 1200 and 1400 baud. Most of you don't even know what that is, but rest assured it was pretty awful.
I don't know how long it will be free, but Skype is a delightful program that connects two computers anywhere in the world for a telephone -- voice -- chat. You can also instant message (IM) via Skype, but when that other voice comes across the speakers it's a real thrill.
My daughter has been in Kampala, Uganda, Africa for some time, and believe me it's been tough on Dad. Cell phones are the only real mode of communication in Africa since they just don't have modern-day infrastructure in place. But cell phone conversations between Kampala and Virginia are trying at best. Each session usually ends up with a half-dozen attempts, lost signals and too many "Hello, can you hear me" exchanges.
Skype has changed all that.
Kelly's voice comes in better than any telephone or cell phone and with cable/ethernet it's fast and instant. She has to visit an internet cafe or the nearby restaurant where WiFi is available. (No, they don't have dial-up or internet in residences other than royalty, the government, or the very, very wealthy. Dial-up costs several thousand a month.)
iChat has been wonderful -- particularly when travelling, but it is much more demanding then Skype. With iChat, first you need a video camera, then you need both computers to have very fast lines. Forget it if you're using dial-up -- and even DSL is stretched thin transmitting a video signal. With Skype however, the bandwidth demands are much lower. Voice doesn't carry the heavy baggage that video does. So it stays connected and the sound quality is much better.
Like I said, Kelly's voice booms in over the iMac's superb speakers from half-way around the planet, just as if she were sitting in the room. It's wonderful. Skype has added video chatting, but with iChat, I don't need that feature.
Skype is easy to download, set up and configure for your Mac OS X, Windows, Linux or Pocket PC. If you have a USB phone, you're talking traditionally. (See below) They also offer a "Skype Out" feature that connects you with old fashioned phones. Calling traditional phones isn't free, but it's pretty cheap!. Setup was a snap, I was up and running in less than five minutes. They've even provided a built-in call number for checking and validating your video signal. Some other features, I have yet to try, include call-forwarding ($ for a charge) and voice mail. You can even pop in a picture so the calling party can see you. For Mac users there's a special Bonus Widget - Skype Widget - that lets you dial calls, look up country codes and check calling rates. It's free and you can download it now: Skype.wdgt.zip.
As I said earlier, I have no idea how long this capability will be free. You know that something this good can't be free for long. Sooner or later, someone will come along to captivate it for personal profit. Hopefully not.
Our family is really enjoying Skype... catching up with friends, and getting closer to relatives out on the Left coast. To span distances and touch those you love... for this old mouse, Skype is the only way to go!
See: www.skype.com, and screens and captures for Mac OS X Tiger users.
So, if you'd like to Skype me, just let me know . Until then, happy mousing.
Fred Showker, Editor/Publisher UG Net News
Now there's a USB Phone For Skype OS X users:
Chwang Yi Company has announced their new USBPhone -- the first USB phone handset for Skype users to include full-featured control application software for Mac OS X systems.
While the USBPhone works perfectly with either Mac OS X or Win XP systems, the key value it offers today is to users of OS X 10.3 and 10.4, because of the USBPhone control application that is included. Until now, doing things such as adjusting ringtones, assigning keypad buttons, setting number presets and so forth have not been possible for these Mac users. Now, they are, with this new phone and software.
The USBPhone works with any Mac running OS X 10.3 or higher, or Win XP. The USBPhone includes a CD with the Win XP software. The Mac OS X software is a free download (VP160_V1.0.0.0.dmg) and the phone itself is only $24 including a 1-year in-home-trial purchase price refund guarantee.
Fred Showker is co-editor of "MUG Info Manager," the User Group Network News service, and a founding Apple User Group Advisory Board (UGAB) member. He was an original founder of the User Group Forum on AppleLink Personal Edition which became America Online in 1988 ... read more
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