skype phone

Was given one at Christmas

pmj...

What make (& Model) of Skype Phone is it?

What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a phone as opposed to
headphones with mike attached?

pmj...

That depends on what sort it is.

One thing that springs to mind is I can type and talk at the same time
with headphones
So ........

BoyPete...

Well, as far as I know, when Skype first started, the only was was either
speakers and mike, or a headset. Surely, using a headset gives you the

pmj...

Yep, but there have been loads of other Products come out since
those (long ago, far off!) days!
:-)

freedom to 'do other stuff' withyour hands on the computer. Using a handset

pmj...

Yep!

But on the other hand(!)...

Using a "Phone" type thing is (possibly?0 more "normal" for many
ordinary people?
These Skype Phone type things are aimed at people who don't
necessarily always want to be at (or using) their PC when they are
making a Call.

takes one hand away.........can't see the sense in that. :)

BunnyHare...

Yes, my thoughts exactly Pete which is why I was querying whether it
would really be any use to me. Having said that I set it up and have
been using it to talk to Noreen. Had the handset laid on the desk

pmj...

Like one of those "HansFree" type Phones?

beside the keyboard so my hands were free to type. Noreen thinks it is

pmj...

But wouldn't that mean it will pick up the Sound of your Typing?
& also various other extraneous noises in the room?

Generally, Phones always work best when the Microphone is
(relatively) close to the Mouth.
But not so close (or in direct line) that it picks up the Breathing
sounds.

Also, many people find it disconcerting to have a phone Conversation
with someone who is using a Speaker phone!!!

clearer than it was with the headset

pmj...

I reckon all you really need is a better [*1] Microphone/Headset
type thing!

[*1]
By "better", in this case, I mean more suited to (designed for)
Voice/Telephone use than the one you have at the mo.

BoyPete...

You could hear Noreen with the handset on the desk? She best be careful what
she says then........we can all hear! lol

BunnyHare...

Hee hee - better tell her that

JoeH...

Oh you can easily get round that one Barb

Smokey...

I got one too Barb................I like it, I have used it a couple of
times, not sure how it sounds at *their* end, but my end is ok.

I calculated that ringing a mobile costs about 8p a minute

BunnyHare...

Ah so I was missing something here. Sounds as if I can use it as a
normal phone then, buying credit from Skype I assume, not just for times
when I talk to folk on Skype?

Smokey...

Yes just buy some credit and use it as a normal phone

Rabbit...

According to the Skype web site it's 0.236 Euros per minute to a UK mobile
which ATM = 0.162687 GBP

Smokey...

I'll recaculate that one then.................but I think it was more than
that !! I'll keep a check

Ali...

Sandra's figure is in pounds (=16.2 pence), yours was in pence.
Confuzzling, innit?

LOL

pmj...

Well, you can also do that with a Wireless (Bluetooth?) type
(Handsfree) Headset - if you haven't got any Bluetooth already in
your PC, you can get a Bluetooth USB Dongle thingy for it.

But the general idea of a Skype Phone (Handset type thing) is that
it's more like an (ordinary) Phone to use, than the DialPad of a
"SoftPhone", which is what you get with the Skype PC (or Apple Mac
or Linux) Application.

Don't forget that Skype is trying to get people to use the Skype
System (either the Skype Application or a Skype Phone) to call other
people who only have ordinary (Landline &/or Mobile) *Phone* Numbers
(that's POTS - "Plain Old Standard Telephone" Numbers- & not just other
Skype Users.

You can purchase SkypeOut Credits, which let you call any POTS Number,
anywhere in the world, at a "Global" (for which read relatively cheap)
Rate...

& also they are trying to encourage people (Skype Users) to purchase
"SkypeIn" Number(s)...
- which lets other (POTS) Users call your Skype UserName by letting
them Call (using a POTS Phone - LandLine or Mobile - a *Number*,
rather than them having to Sign Up with Skype & having to use their
Skype to do it.

They Call a (Geographic) *Number*, which you can choose & which can
be a Number in any one of several Countries, so they can call it at
*their* Local Rates, where ever they are in the World (or Country).

That way, people who don't have Skype can be part of (use) the Skype
System.

Also, when you purchase a SkypeIn Number, that includes Skype
VoiceMail,so that you can be left a VoiceMail, when someone calls you
& you aren't Logged in to Skype. (& you can also leave Voicemails for
people even if they don't have Skype Voicemail.

With SkypeOut Credits, you can also use Skype Call Forwarding (Call
Diversion), so that you can (for example) have any Incoming (Skype)
Calls Forwarded to any Phone Number, LandLine or Mobile, anywhere.

All of that works equally well, using the Skype PC (or Apple Mac or
Linux) Application, or a "SkypePhone" type thing.

But depending on the make & Model of SkypePhone that you have,
they also include various other features as well.

Have a look at Sites such as:

& the Skype.com WebSite
& the Skype Blogs...

For some other ideas about what can be done with Skype.