Skype over Wi Fi
 

I have been using Skype to make calls on a PDA (O2 XDA11) in the Middle East.
Overseas calls from UAE are hugely expensive. However I found that there are the occasional free Wif Fi spots. By using Skype (free) (skype.com) on my PDA with a Wi Fi card I can call computers with Skype on them. it works a treat and costs ZERO! Skype now has a 'to phone' service -that costs $'s and is variable in quality.

By the way this enables you to beat the hideously expensive calls from the hotel -
1. send SMS to friend to get on computer (cost 35 cents in just about every country)
2. Connect to internet - generally fairly cheap in hotels - sometimes you can find a local connection for free)
3. use Skype to talk

By Wi-Fi-ing your house you can do the same at home.
To take it even further I have radio connection (called Unwired in Australia) for the internet at home.

Can anyone beat that? Love to hear from people testing all these systems out.

With new technology there is always a little window for the smarties. four years ago, with MSN Messenger, for example, you could call any phone or mobile in USA form any country for nix. But they stopped this after two years.


Also don't knock the O2 -its a great machine - who needs a keyboard when you can just write!

Welcome to FT! Couldn't see your first post go unanswered so here goes..I've had mixed results (at best) with Skype. Seems to work fine when calling PC to PC (I use it mostly on my wireless wi-fi network). Last Saturday I called someone and they could hardly hear me - said I kept chopping up. However, I've also made perfect calls on the same home network. I do find Babble slightly better quality and their calls are cheaper 1p sterling instead of 1.7p per minute.

I'm a big fan of voip generally so I'll keep trying out the companies.

I've got an XDA II - what wireless card do you use? Personally I've never tried wi-fi with it - may be I should!

I can't beat that, but I'll say that I've been quite pleased with Skype (computer-to-computer) and SkypeOut (computer-to-phone).

I use it via WiFi+DSL in San Francisco, WiFi+cable modem in Honolulu, fat pipe to Internet/Internet2 at the office, and with T-Mobile WiFi from the United Red Carpet Clubs in SFO, HNL, PDX, and elsewhere. Most of my calls are to Sydney, Honolulu, San Francisco, Portland, Chicago, and Paris. There are occasional choppy bits, but I can muddle through those, and for the most part, the sound quality for computer-to-computer connections is better than calling on my mobile. And computer-to-phone calling is no worse than Vonage, of which I'm also a big fan.

-jr

XDA rules: Wi fi card for O2
 

I've got an XDA II - what wireless card do you use? Personally I've never tried wi-fi with it - may be I should![/QUOTE]

thanks for the reply

I use a SanDisk. Works a treat.
As you are an XDA11 user - A few tricks I've tried.

1. I recorded a bird sound (a Koel) out side my house. I use that as the 'ring' on my XDA11 - that way it doesn't disturb people as they think it just a bird - but impresses friends immensely.
2. Also I use the video to show people (when I travel, particularly in way out places such as Al Ain ) where I live - which is picturesque Bondi beach.
3. Also if I see a book or something I want to remember - I just take a photo of it.
4. But as importantly, I have used it to settle disputes. I rented a car and had a quote given by email. When I went to pick it up, they gave me a higher quote. it was settled immediately by showing them the email on the XDA11. No argument - nothing like a visual statement!

There are lots more.

Out of interest - do you know how to rotate the video images? It is annoying as I often take video and would like to put it into Powerpoint to show the folks at home where I have been.

I've been using Skype over WiFi for quite a while for PC to PC calls. It does work great and the UAE is a great place to bypass the local carrier and save lots of money. Note that UAE ISP's generally block VPN's if you need to use those. I use the Vonage Softphone for PC over WiFi (or whatever) to PSTN calls.