Has anyone tried Skype on a BlackBerry 8830? How is the quality with the non-3G connection speed?
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Has anyone tried Skype on a BlackBerry 8830? How is the quality with the non-3G connection speed?
As far as I know there is currently not a way to do true Skype on a Blackberry. There are a couple of services that go through Skype and then call back on the cell, or use a redirector PC. Not a native Skype client though.
IM+ has a script for Skype - anyone try that? Anything that is cheaper than regular calls would be great. I also have EQO, but I haven't tried it.
IM+ requires that you get called back through skypeout on your mobile number. You pay for mobile airtime plus skypout minutes for any calls you place or make using IM+. In my opinion, this would only be a cost savings if I were calling China or something. I haven't looked into EQO.
Skype is VOIP and IM. Orignally just computer to computer free calling. Now, like most other computer based VOIP services, you can call to/from regular phones too (for a small fee). For example, my daughter is studying in Germany this year. We got her a local US phone number on Skype for about $50 per year. We can call her locally and she can answer on her computer. Pretty cool.
There are also native Skype clients for Windows Mobile phones, so you can actually take computer to computer calls for free. So far there isn't anything native like that available for the BB and you still have to use cell phone minutes plus Skype or EQO minutes to use the service, so it's really only a savings for international calling.
So, if I'm in Aruba and use Skype to call the USA (landline or cell phone), what exactly happens?
Well, you would probably pay roaming charges because your were in Aruba, for one.
Switching your scenerio around, if you were in the US and tried to call Aruba using IM+ for Skype it would use your Skype Out minutes to place a call from within the US to Aruba using Skype minutes at whatever they charge for that (much less than normal). The person answering on the other end is told to wait. Then it would call you back on your cell phone number and connect the two calls. From that point on you would be paying for normal local airtime charges on your cell, plus whatever Skype Out costs you to call Aruba. This is probably about 50%-75% cheaper than just calling Aruba from your cell or landline (not including the cell airtime you are burning).
Okay, that clears it up a lot.
I just want to make sure I understand with a situation:
I am in Aurba on vacation, where it costs ~$2.50/minute with Verizon
I call my house in NJ through IM+ for Skype
Skype charges me for making the call (a minute or whatever)
The person on the other end is told to wait
Then the person calls me (but they don't pay) and it uses my Skype minutes to call Aruba from the US
Is that correct?
I think you basically have the idea. For the duration of the call you will pay for the Skype Out minutes plus your Aruba roaming charge to receive a call. I think Skype has a calculator on their web site that shows you what their calling rates are from one place to another. They are usually about 1/2 of the cheapest you could get from a landline carrier. You have to pre-pay for Skype out minutes on their web site.
Just to be clear on one other point. The person that you call actually receives a call from the IM+ system that asks them to wait while the call is completed. It then dials your mobile phone and connects the two calls together. They are called and then you are called and then "conferenced" so to speak. They pay nothing.
If I have to pay for the Aruba roaming charge ($2.50), then won't it be the same? It's obvious to the person on the other end that I'm not using a normal phone, right?
That's why it makes much more sense when you are calling from your home area to an international number, rather than the other way around.
Ah, got it, thanks!
Yes, and if you are able to get get free incoming calls connected from the front desk of your hotel, put the your hotel phone number in as your number into your IM+ skype client, then the person you're calling will be connected to the front desk. They then need to tell the front desk your room number, and voila, you are connected completely through skype without paying for incoming roam on your BB.
I did this on my last trip in paris, london, and barcelona with much success. Some hotels offer the free use of a local cell phone, and in many countries local incoming calls are free, so you can receive your end of the skype call that way without using your blackberry as well.
That's great! So I would only have to pay Skype costs and no roaming incoming call charges, correct?
you may want to try iSkoot for Skype
How does this work compared to the other programs mentioned? It calls the iSkoot service (long distance call?) and then no other fees besides the skype out cost to the country?