Sorry Welcome haven't tried either although our son has mentioned a few times that we should register for Skype. I guess we're typical baby Boomers, the last in the neighbourhood to try any new hi - tech "gadget" and also because  we don't know anyone else who has Skype to communicate with.  

I actually do use it and find it very helpful....it's free and easily downloaded and no nasty Bugs.....So far......If any members wish to say Hi to me feel free  jimmy1847....I thought they'd be heaps of us using something like this......Thanks for your reply....Bridgee

dave06 wrote:

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I tried skype once but it give me a hell of a rash, took me months to clear it up!!!

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 Gee Dave, since reading about your rash above I've gone itchy ALL over ..... you know ....that natural reaction ..... like when someone mentions nits,  you suddenly start scratching your scalp!!

Yep think you're right Dave it is computer to computer, we have friends here in WA and he talks to his son over east on skype, but if Welcome is using skype maybe he can fill us in with the details, as for  Pal Talk ?? never heard of it........think we need to 'get out a  bit more'

I used to use Pal-Talk...but you need a mic....I gave up and just stick to forums or Windows MSN Messenger


Dave

mate you can chat about anything anytime, there is always someone here to yak to!!

Well i had skype on my puter for a long time and hated it voice breaking up all the time and so i stoped useing but my son who works over seas from time to time used it and he told me why it didnt work for me my puter didnt have bigger enough RAM to run it, had plenty of sheep. we now have an apple laptop because the kids have apples and it has I CHAT which ALLOWS US TO VIDIO CHAT, on our last trip to Western Queensland we were in Barcaldine and clicked onto I CHAT and vidio talk to our son in MUNICH GERMANY at no cost only download time

well it seems this can be a usefull communication tool for those nomads amongst us that have family abroad or even at a distance, if you are interested in this program then it can be downloaded free and safe from here

http://www.skype.com/intl/en/download/skype/windows/

remember this is only for microsoft windows do not download this program for any other operating system

I would like to thank james for bringing this up and allowing us to chat about it, maybe it will save some nomads a few bob, and hopefully allow longer chats as well

I think one would need a set of headphones and a microphone (they come as one lightweight unit nowadays and available very cheaply through any retail store that deals with electronics) but that is a small inconvienience for no cost communication

Dave was that you who called me on skype?

We use My Netphone for all our calls from home, for $9.95 per month we get;
100 free untimed calls to any landline in Australia excluding 1900 numbers.
Cheap mobile rates.
We called son in Thailand on his mobile,18 cents for 20 minutes

You get a little box that plugs into your modem, attach your phone and bingo you are off and running. We have been using for the last couple of years trouble free.

Only reason we have a landline is for the internet.

-- Edited by Gary and Kerry at 09:02, 2008-12-20

I will add a bit here of what I know, and hopefully learn more about this topic.
What I believe is being asked/explored is VOIP (voice over internet proticol), and this is available from most ISP's (not sure about telstra - of course)

I got VOIP for my setup, but as it is satelite, it did not work well enough to use regularly, and in the end I disconnected it. The cost was next to nothing to use, but I had to buy the "box"

Also in Yahoo chat, there is an ability to use this without a "box", just requires a headphone/mic, but the reciever needs to be on your Yahoo list, and be on line when use use it.

I need to sort this, as I refuse to have a landline, and when on the road, a landline will be of no use, and mobiles are expensive to use, so it limits the chat time.

Sooo, from what I have read, I need to check "my netphone, Skype, Paltalk" and check if it will operate through the wireless network - anyone doing this?

Bob the way I see it is that if you have internet, whether it be wireless or connected then it will work, as I keep on saying I do not use this but I have researched it a LITTLE bit, the only FREE one that I would use would be skype, now of course that is the free one, the netphone that gary is using sounds pretty good at $10.00 per month and I guess because you are paying for it then it should be more reliable

I sent an email off to my mate in cairns who is always trying out different things and far more knowledgeble than I and he said pretty much what I thought, skype is the way to go, it can "drop out" but you just ring them back and you are away

if you have skype and someone else has skype then as far as I can see it's a goer just exchange name/numbers and away you go for no cost, it is recommended to have enough ram to cope with the two way traffic a minimum of 2 gig should start you right, it is easily put in by yourself and cheap to buy off the net, find out what sort you have and buy it and whack her in,

With Mynet phone the computer doesn't need to be turned on to make and receive calls, just needs the modem on, this is for the home computer with the box attached, when travelling computer needs to be on
 The number you are calling does not need to be mynet connected.
They also have a free version available but you do need to use a headset and  will need to have coverage. For a 10 minute call you will use 2Mbyte of download, this is what we will be using when we go away next year

Hi

I use Engin for calls. This is $14.95 per month and I get unlimited local and STD calls from it and my computer does not need to be on, just the modem.

you can also get a world plan where you get free calls to 8 countries, and 20 cents untimed to another 13 countries.

Not Bad.

Bob