GazGuzla

If you ask somebody in Massachusetts about Skype, they will likely have no idea what your talking about. After reading about the millions of overseas users making cheap phone calls, I decided to try it. I spent $250 on a Netgear SPH200D, signed up for SkypeIn and SkypeOut. Shortly after installation, my cell phone rang. It was the first sign things were not going well initially. No ring, garbled voice, static, you name it I had it. Two tears later, I have become a big Skype fan. Two things that changed my feelings - the introduction of a $3 a month Skype Pro package, and learning how to optimize the voice quality.

If your new to Skype, and live in the US, here’s what you need to know. This phone is great for people who want a cheap home phone, and have a cell as backup if the Internet goes down, the power goes out, or (more rarely now) something’s up with Skype. 90% of what I thought were Skype problems were really optimization of the phone and my router. You won’t have emergency 911, which you can use your cell for. No reverse 911, which Comcast and Verizon scare you with, but has anyone ever had one of those? Some of the Skype enabled phones have trouble with caller ID. Because Skype is global, you have a country code of +1 and the number. The phones contacts list just has the area code, so there’s a mismatch. The PC app works. For $3 a month, so what. This is a fairly new technology, so things will be added with time.

If you live in the US and you want Skype:

1) Sign up for Skype. You can download Skype software for your PC and Play with it, see how it works. Of course, you can’t start calling without a number, but you can get an idea of how big Skype is globally. Notice the millions of people calling through the system at a given time. Later, after you get set up, you can run on your PC at work, get your calls, and the phone will ring at home at the same time, if you decide not to answer.

2) Buy Skype Credit. Visit the Buy Skype Credit page. This is the way you pay for the phone.

3) Buy Skype Pro, and bundle your SkypeIn phone number with it.

Saves some money that way. Visit the Skype page for additional information. Click here to get your unique SkypeIn number

4) Buy a Dual Mode Skype Phone. Dual phones are NOT USB and don’t need your PC to be on to use, like many of the phones advertised are. A USB phone is to be used with the Skype app installed on your PC. A dual Phone uses your land line and Skype on the same phone. You can use it like that till your setup, then turn your land line off. The one I have the best luck with is the Netgear SPH200D. There are “prettier” ones but they don’t work as well. Costs about $150.

More Skype Phone options can be found Here
5) Optimize phone and Router. See other posts at this site.

Remember, you get what you pay for, and that means support is forums or email. Information about Skype from people that really understand it is limited. I don’t get into the WiFi versions of these phones, because I don’t have anything good to say about them, I don’t think technology is there yet. I had too many connection issues related to 2.4Ggz interference.