[BoroCraig]

Hi All,

When it comes to anything IT ish I have to admit to being a real numpty. I have heard about Skype and that you can use a webcam to view relatives in UK if they obviously have one. Is this true or am I completely on another planet? Could you do this with other providers? Is Skype part of Sky? I am unable to access their website as my company IT system blocks it!!

Basically, I would like my children to be able to now and again see their Grandparents whilst communicating with them as they won't be seeing them for nearly 18 months if our NZ move goes to plan - any help would be greatly appreciated.


Many Thanks,

Craig

[JandM]

That works with Skype. It also works with Windows Live Messenger, and AIM (which can be downloaded free even if you're nothing to do with AOL). All of those work, from my personal knowledge, and it's wonderful. So - yes, really worth your while finding out how to work it.

(This is Granny in England talking, and my son tells us that the children spontaneously say they want us 'on', and he has to get over the concept of us being in bed in the middle of their day! Since they were aware at all, they've been bringing things to the computer to show us, and singing what they've learnt at music group, etc. And when grandson was only just walking, they turned the webcam round so it pointed out of the door, and we were able to 'be there' for his first splosh through puddles in new tiny wellingtons.)

[Croft]

Skype is the largest, best known, but only one of several VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) providers. At it's most basic, you can download from their website, for free, an application which allows to talk with someone else on another computer that also has the same application - all at zero cost, anywhere in the world (nearly, but I'll come to that later).

As the products have become more sophisticated, video has been introduced. As you say, now you can have a video conference with someone running the same application as yourself (for instance Skype). Typically a webcam is as low as £5 in the UK. The person on the other will of course also need one if you want 2-way video. You can use the inbuilt microphone and speakers on your computer but that is less than ideal. Most get a simple headset, though you can get a plug in phone that you just put into the USB port on your computer.

What this all takes is bandwidth. If you're on dial-up don't even bother. Even ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) which is what most domestic broadband customers are on in the UK it can be difficult (you'll find you can hear but they can't hear you because of the low upload speeds).

Depending on the provider you chose, you can pay to have your own phone number (some provide them for free) so that people on land lines or mobiles can phone that number and it will come across on your VoIP application (as long as your computer and your application of course are up and running!!). You can also set up an account and phone land lines or mobiles - this can be far cheaper than conventional phones, especially when dialing abroad, typically you'll be phoning them at a local rate (eg 2p a minute to the UK).

When it's working it's fantastic - can be clearer than a conventional phone line - when it's not its pants. Some countries also block it such as Dubai.

There's lots of information out there on the net - google VoIP for more info. A list of NZ VoIP providers is here - http://voipusers.org.nz/wiki/NZ_VoIP_Providers

As a private consumer only accept something that's free - Skype maybe the best for you.

[Red Devil]

... can highly recommend Skype, we used it whilst living in France last year and is great for communicating with friends and relatives free of charge :)

[JandM]

Croft, thanks very much for all the detailed information.

[CJ22]

It's pretty easy to set up - in fact I used it to talk to my future employer in Auckland. Not as good as face-to-face, but still pretty good. Quality of both audio and video is pretty good, provided you have decent bandwidth.

I've tried a few of the various options, and Skype does seem to be the best of the mainstream options. It's also a great way of generally keeping in touch with people, since it shows when they're online, and allows you to textually 'chat' with them, so does tend to have the effect of keeping people more available to you (time-zone differences notwithstanding).

Plus it's free! Well apart from the hardware and the internet account, of course :)

[BoroCraig]

Wow - thanks very much to everyone, particularly Croft who I think must be the direct opposite to a 'Numpty'!! Have to say though that I still only understand half of what was said but get the general gist.

Thank you also 'Granny' - that is exactly why we want to get something sorted as we feel guilty enough dragging the children away from their Grandparents and hope that this might make it that bit easier for them all.

Thanks again

[Kerry and David]

I am also a Numpty when it comes to computer and IT, however once my Mum who livs in France gave me the details of Skype I managed to download it and install a webcam without any problems.

K x

[shakyle2906]

Highly recommend Skype!

It has solved a lot of issues and heartbreak in this house!

I talk to my dad twice a week on it, with webcam. We use it to phone other family members just as a phone and its so much cheaper, you are talking peanuts really.

Mostly, it has eased the heartache caused between us and parents in law. They were dead against our mover, and it was bitter!! They wer stubborn for best part of 8mths, we left them with a computer that sat in the corner of their room for all that time untouched.

Suddenly, christmas time, they both had the urge (more a reality i think!) that the only way they would see our son and us was to 'pull their finger out' and get it sorted (pls dont think i am blunt!).

They did this, got it sorted and now talk to us 2/3 times a week, see their grandson and are so much happier.

It has turned things around for us bigtime!

Sharon
x

[Smiler]

And when grandson was only just walking, they turned the webcam round so it pointed out of the door, and we were able to 'be there' for his first splosh through puddles in new tiny wellingtons.)

That brought a lump to my throat, how nice that you could share that. :nice1

[Potato]

My ISP cuts the internet speed down to dial-up once we exceed our allowance (a paltry 350MB a day). I once thought it would not be worth using Skype on this speed, but I've tried it 3 times now, back to the UK, and even on the 64kb/s it is workable. Video is a bit jerky, but the voice comes through for sure. I found that quite surprising. On true broadband speeds you shouldn't have issues at all.
I think routers (and maybe ISPs?) prioritise Voice-Over-IP (Skype, basically), which might be helping it.

[Georgebulldog]

What's the difference between SKYPE & the Windows Live messenger version?
We've been using the Windows one as for some reason (someone may be able to say) we could only get SKYPE to work for someone in New Zealand & not for UK calls
So unless SKYPE does more I'll stick with what's working but otherwise I'll try again & get it sorted
Thanks

[gpbenton]

The 'instant messenger' part of skype (also known as skype to skype) has the same functionality as Windows Live messenger and various other instant messenger applications (jabber, aol instant messenger, ichat ...)

You can type, talk with or without video to a single person or a group of people. If you have one that works, there is no big reason to change.

Skype does have the advantage that you can dial phone numbers on old fashioned networks, and get local rates no matter where you are calling from in the world. So you can keep in touch even with the computer deprived.

The quality of the voice transmission seems a little better on Skype, but that may be subjective.

In answer to the first question on the thread, it has nothing to do with Sky TV.

[Georgebulldog]

Thanks Gpbenton, I'll stick with what we have for now

[Asli&Mark]

I much prefer using Skype, as I get to call friends that hasn't got computers or don't have skype. I am sure there would be many others prefer messenger. So you should try both and compare them yourself
Asli

[mesh2008]

hey, I'm a computer engineer so please pm me if you need help.

[James 1077]

We've got a Phillips wireless Skype phone that also doubles up as our normal landline. Absolutely no problems with it and a doddle to set up.

I do have to say that Skype is a absolute godsend as it means that you can call back home for nothing / almost nothing (depending on whether the person you call has Skype).

We haven't tried the webcam out yet as my parents don't have one but they are going shopping for one soon so will be able to see the kids as they grow up.

Definitely recommend Skype and especially with the Phillips phone so that you don't have to be at your computer (or it be on) to call / be called.

[cappuccino]

I used SKYPE yesterday (from NZ) to call a company in the UK (ok the call ended up in India, but hey..). Instead of using their 0870 expensive rate, I found an 0800 number for them on the internet and so the call was completely free!

I find that SKYPE to a landline is much clearer more often than PC to PC