Tag Archives: skype

May201127

1

5 Great Skype Alternatives

Microsoft’s whopping US$ 8.5 billion purchase of Skype is probably good news for a large pool of video chat users, but there’s undoubtedly those who are worried about the possible implications of the acquisition. While there’s no exact clone of Skype floating around out there, a number of tools would still make great alternatives for those that fall into the latter category:

Viber

Originally an iPhone-only service, Viber (news, site) claimed somewhere around 10 million downloads in early May, 2011 when it opened up a beta for Android. The Android app adds a couple of unique features over the iPhone version, including a full call screen when a Viber call is received, popup text notification that lets users reply without the need to fully open the app, as well as the ability to act as the phone’s default dialer — for both normal calls and VoIP calls.

The VoIP service is free, runs in the background, and doesn’t charge anything to make calls over 3G and WiFi:

 

Just weeks later, the service now claims 15 million downloads. We wonder how many of those are thanks to the Microsoft/Skype deal.

goober Messenger

goober (news, site) is a multi-messenger for both your desktop and mobile device. Free services include calls from goober user to goober user, video calls, call forwarding to a goober user, and receiving calls.

Further, the desktop application integrates popular networks like Facebook and Twitter so you can keep track of all your favorite actions at once:

 

VoxOx

VoxOx (news, site) is like a combination of Skype, Google Voice and TweetDeck with some file sharing capabilities thrown on top. A unified Google Voice-like number will ring all of a user’s connected phones, calls are 1 cent per minute in several countries, and the service also has a mobile app, which was most recently demonstrated here:

 

ooVoo

ooVoo (news, site) lets you video conference with up to six people at once, and is especially neat because it also allows users to send video messages rather than emails if typing just isn’t your thing.

Although currently only available for Windows users, there’s some Mac-friendly software in the works. Further, the company sells several compatible third-party cameras, headsets and speakerphones, and runs its own servers, making an outage less likely.

Google Voice

You had to know this one was coming. Google Voice (news, site) provides free PC-to-PC voice and video calls, free PC-to-phone calls within the U.S. and fairly cheap calls elsewhere. The service also provides a range of other useful features, such as voicemail, SMS, conference calling, call screening and voicemail transcription.

(from cmswire)

Jan201104

0

Your local phone number in NYC, London, and 100 other destinations, forwarded to your Skype, wherever in the world you are, for FREE

Skype has had for a while the SkypeIn service where for $18 for 3 months you can have a DID or a fix phone number forwarded to your skype account. This can be very handy if you have a small business and you want to provide a local number for support, or if you live abroad and want your friends/family to dial a local number to reach you via skype.

Well there is a free alternative to SkypeIn, that in fact has more destinations than skype itself: ring2skype

How is that it is free? Well you don’t actually get a number for yourself. You get a unique extension on a number, so people will call to a local number, and they will be asked for your extension, which will forward your call to your skype. Probably Asterisk…

Give it a try. Now I have a local Spanish number. I don’t know if you can get more than one though.

Jan201103

0

Skype 3.0 for iPhone – with video calling

Happy Holidays season – hohoho.

This season is very special as we are releasing a new version of Skype for iPhone and iPod Touch with video calling. Now you will be able to share all the special moments in video, as they happen, wherever you are.

Download the app straight from iTunes and let us know what you think about it on our forums.

Skype video calling is supported over WiFi and 3G* data connections. You can enjoy video calls with users on all Skype desktop versions and with other Skype for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad users.

You can make video calls in both portrait and landscape mode and use both front and back cameras.

Users on iPhone 4, 3GS and iPod Touch (4th Generation) can enjoy full 2-way video calling. Users with iPod Touch (3rd Generation) and iPads can receive video.

Video calling with Skype requires iOS 4.0 or above to be installed on your device. Skype 3.0 for iPhone will also work on iOs 3.x, but without video support.

Full release notes for Skype 3.0.0 for iPhone:

New Features:
* Video calling

Known issues:

Category Description Workaround
Video calling When receiving a video call on iPhone from Skype 2.8 for Mac user, the only options presented to the iPhone user are Accept and Decline.  The incoming call will appear as an audio-only call. \\ Once the call is established, the iPhone user can click “Video call” to start video.
Calling iPhone 3G running iOS 3.1.2 will briefly go offline after the other person ends a Skype call. Online status is automatically restored after a brief period.
Calling When an iPhone (iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch 4th Gen) calls a device without a camera, the audio is routed through the loudspeaker.  However, the speaker button is not highlighted. Toggle the Speaker button.
Video calling If you place a Skype call on hold while using the back camera, resuming the call will switch to the front camera. Press the camera button to select back camera.
Video calling Starting video while on hold during a Skype call causes the call to fail (cannot resume from hold). Take the Skype call off hold before starting video.
Calling Ringing sound plays through the earpiece instead of the loudspeaker after call has been answered the first time. Restart Skype application.
Calling Skype running on iPhone 3GS with iOS 4.2 does not automatically place a Skype call on hold when an incoming GSM call is received. None available.
Calling When declining an incoming GSM call, the Skype call audio is lost. Place the Skype call on hold and un-hold, to return the Skype call audio.

* – Additional Data charges may apply.

Sep201003

0

Skype introduces 10 way video calling for Windows

The second beta of Skype 5.0 brings a number of changes both outside and in – most importantly, you can now make group video calls with up to 10 people. It also welcomes in a fresh new look, as well as increased stability and better quality when making group video calls.

Make group video calls with up to 10 people

You can now use Skype to make group video calls* with up to 10 people – letting you bring even more of your family, friends or business together, even if you’re cities or continents apart.

Note that everyone in a group video call now needs to be running this version, so if your friends, family or colleagues are using Beta 1, they’ll have to upgrade before you can include them in group video calls.

A refreshed user interface

You’ll notice that the new-look Skype is sleeker, neater and crisper than before, and they’re proud of the work our interface designers have done to refine and mature the interface for this version. They have also added Skype Home, where you can follow your contacts’ mood messages, set your profile picture and mood message, receive account notifications and learn more about using Skype.

Better stability and quality

They have made improvements to call quality when making group video calls, as well as fixed a number of bugs affecting stability, so your calling experience should be smoother than before. This version also includes automatic call recovery, which should help automatically reconnect Skype calls that are interrupted due to network problems. They have also made a number of other housekeeping fixes since the first beta – but please bear in mind that this is still a beta version, and so there may be the odd bug remaining.

* Group video calling is currently available as a free trial. For group video calls, everyone in the group video call will need Skype 5.0 Beta 2 for Windows.

(from skype official blog)

Aug201018

0

FingOut coming soon: calls worldwide to any phone from 1 c/min!

Yes, for the time being beta testing only and only for nokia phones, but Fring has started a well deserved fight with Skype. Petty they don’t have a desktop app…

Here from the official Fring blog:

If you want to be 1st to try the latest and greatest features, keep reading.

fring is hosting an exclusive preview for its new fringOut service (sorry, the preview version 4.4.10 is only available on Nokia, other users stay tuned). fringOut lets you call any landline or mobile in the world for almost free all from your mobile phone.

So, now you can call your friends who are not yet on fring. Call Abbey in Atlanta, Bob in Berlin, Clara in Cambodia or David in Dehli, for ‘almost-free’.

⇒ If you’d like to be the first to try this paid service and start saving, visit our fringOut preview site here and get calling.

As always, chatting, calls and video calls to other fringsters and other internet friends is still completely FREE.

If you have questions about fringOut, you can check out our FAQ, our TOS see ouruser guide or drop us a line.

May201014

0

Get next beta from Skype (windows) with group video calling

Click here to download the latest Skype beta for windows that comes with a free trial of group video calling. Video call up to four of your friends – all at the same time. Everyone on the callwill be able to see and hear each other.

Note: group video calling currently works with Skype 5.0 Beta for Windows only. Everyone on the call needs this version of Skype, otherwise the group video call won’t work.

The question is, who is going to pay for the service once the trial is over? How is it going to be? Everybody in a conference video call should subscribe? If so…

I see the interest for companies, not individuals. People is used to get skype for free, even with video.