Skpe via mobile

[JSJ]

Just wondering if anyone can share some advice on using skype to skype via mobile. I'm looking to buy 2 Samsung skype 3 phones (one for myself and the other for my two young sons.. they are temporarily residing with their father interstate). How does the skype connection actually work via mobile? You obviously need to be connected to a network.. however, would I have to buy pre-paid every month even though skype to skype calls are free? I use skype through my pc at home and the quality is absolutely fabulous.. so much so that I have dumped voip and have convinced my family to connect to skype for the convenience of free contact. What is the quality like over mobile to mobile though? And will the quality still come down to the network coverage? Last but not least.. Will the skype calls still cost me in download due to the mobile having to connect to the internet when making calls? Because that seems to defeat the whole 'free call' thing!!

[Mute]

I use Skype a fair bit for work. Can't really give you much advice on costs etc but I'll give it as big thumbs up for quality as well.

Our offices are split between Sydney, London and we also have a contractor working out of the US. We use Skype (PC to PC, PC to mobile) for all our conversations including multiple country conference calls and are delighted with the outcome.

A few of us even have iPhones these days which we have the Skype application on. We *could* use it over 3G but mainly just use it at the office or at home using the wireless network. Basically saves us from having to set in front of the computer for all conversations.

Anyway, hope that helps, I started to ramble a bit....

[sir_rhyso]

I use skype mobile on post-paid 3 plan. It's part of an 'extras' pack which gets me 4000 minutes of skype calls per month, and doesn't count towards mobile internet downloads.
Interface is very similar to what you see on a computer - ie you can see who is online in real time and you also appear online when someone else logs into skype. However, you can only ring skype contacts (not landlines, mobiles, overseas etc). If the skype contact is using skype on their mobile at the same time you are, it works fine and the quality is as good as using a computer (as long as you have good mobile network reception).

The particular application only works while in 3 coverage (ie not while roaming onto regional/rural areas), so I downloaded fring fring.com (http://www.fring.com) (it's free) to work in other areas which does count for monthly downloads while roaming onto Telstra or overseas.
The BEST feature of fring is that you can connect to a wireless network (WLAN) to use skype, if your phone is Wi-fi enabled, instead of your phone network. You can also send skype messages and 'skypeOUT' using your mobile (call people not on skype in Aus or around the world for really cheap rates).
I only needed to take my mobile, instead of my laptop, to ski Japan last season and could still be contacted on skype for free using my lodge's wireless internet connection, and I could call any landline through skypeOUT back in Australia for 10c max. Mobiles were something like 30c / min. Beats international roaming!

[ 18. June 2009, 12:51 PM: Message edited by: sir_rhyso ]

[JSJ]

Thanks heaps for the info guys! smile.gif

[Snow Yeti]

JSJ My friend used to have Skype on 3, was pretty handy as it just uses 3G data. I use skype on my laptop to ring places in Canada (banking etc) and also the 1888 and 1887 numbers (toll free) in North America ...

[24]

what they said, but be aware, skype on mobile can drain the battery pretty bad, as it is running an app and packet data and phone hardware (mike, speaker etc). bring charger!

[Snow Yeti]

3G just uses battery full stop! I turn it off on my phones that don't use net. Makes the battery last 5 times more!

[spaz]

Ha! No wonder my iPhone battery lasts so long in Thredbo, its 3G receiver is to small to a signal.