Notice :: Change in Contact Information
Office Number: 970 672-4401 (New)
Fax Number: 800 927-1894 (New)
Emergency Number: 970 690-1356 (cell - unchanged)
Toll Free Number being discontinued. (See Notes below)
In approximately two weeks (July 31th) we will be switching to Skype full time and our old numbers will be disconnected. Please update your records. Of course if you use Plaxo that will be done automatically for you.
Skype (pronunciation: rhymes with "type") is a free download that enables amazingly clear and effective PC to PC communication. I've been using Skype for about three years now and am continually amazed. In the old days we techies would try out the myriad of telephony applications available on the internet and succeed more in crashing our computers that in any meaningful communication. I expected the same of Skype but got a pleasant surprise and near perfect voice over IP communication (VOIP). Skype lets you make free calls over the internet to anyone else who also has the service. It's free and easy to download and use, and it works with most computers. Skype offers free global telephony and unlimited voice calls with its next-generation peer-to-peer software.
My family and clients who have tried Skype have been equally amazed. The least tech member of my family had no problem in setting it up and giving me a call. There was on client who had trouble with his microphone; resolved by stopping by Radio Shack and picking up the cheapest mic available, a fact that re-states the effectiveness of the software.
If you've never heard of VoIP, get ready to change the way you think about long-distance phone calls. VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a method for taking analog audio signals, like the kind you hear when you talk on the phone, and turning them into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet. How is this useful?VoIP can turn a standard Internet connection into a way to place free phone calls. The practical upshot of this is that by using some of the free VoIP software that is available to make Internet phone calls, you are bypassing the phone company (and its charges) entirely.
Wouldn't it be great if we could use this service for all our calls? Think of the money we could save by saying good bye to traditional phone service. Well, I think it can be done and have been exploring that possibility. What is your average phone bill? Here at FLASH HQ we are paying about 150.00 per month including all charges and taxes. That covers our home line, too free line, fax line, DSL service, DSL modem rental and DSL isp service. In this experiment I will be turning off our traditional phone and filling the service gaps with equivalent internet offerings.
Step 1 :: Phone Number I got to step one when I discovered Skype will rent you a real phone number in your local dialing area for a modest 38.00 per year. Currently that phone number will allow you to make and receive calls free of charge in the US and Canada. A call to Fiji cost me about .06 cents a minute. In my mind I now have my office line handled.
Step 2 :: Voicemail
How would our callers be able to leave messages with no normal phone and answering machine? One of the deciding factors in purchasing the 'Skype Out' number was it inclusion of voice mail. If the call does not get answered the caller is invited to 'please leave a message'. My messages show up in Skype as click to play mp3 files. Very efficient and easy to retrieve.
Step 3 :: Fax
At this time Skype does not offer fax services. Looking around the net I discovered and test drove eFax and RingCentral. We went with RingCentral and paid 99.00 for a years worth of fax service. RingCentral allowed us to choose a toll free fax number. To date I have been very satisfied with it. There is one downside; I can't fax in color as I could from my HP 2610 All In One Printer Copier Fax.
Step 4 :: Home/Office Wired Phones It would be pretty inconvenient to have to run over the the office computer every time a phone call rang in. As it turns out there are a couple solutions. Here at FLASH HQ we chose the D-Link adapter. For 59.00 at Best Buy you can pick up this small gizmo. The D-Link plugs into your computer usb port and your telephone plugs into the D-Link. We use a system of Uniden cordless phones and now all Skype calls ring through to our regular existing phones. Additionally we can pick up the phone and place free calls through Skype.
Notes ::
Internet Access
With DSL soon to be disconnected we opted to switch to cable; and are sooooooo glad we did. There has been noticeable improvements in internet website display and file transfer speeds. Final cost is lower than what was being paid for DSL. We now pay 31.95/month and includes the monthly cable modem rental fee ($3.00).
Making a video call using Skype requires a webcam (in addition to your headset or speakers and microphone).
Conference calling is convenient and simple to initiate.
To include multiple Skype contacts in the same call, simply click the conference button in the Skype window and add the desired parties. Skype can conference up to 5 people in a call on any computer and up to 10 people in one call if the people on the call are using a PC with an Intel Duo Core Processor.
Using Skype to dial an ordinary phone or mobile phone is simple and saves money.
From within Skype calls can be made to ordinary or mobile phone numbers using SkypeOut currently free. Previously charged at approximately $.02 per minute.
File Transfers
Drag and drop image files, Word, Excel, PDF or other files onto your Skype for simple and efficient file transfers. I've been able to transfer large files that would otherwise not be accepted through normal email channels.
Toll Free Discontinued
Looking through our phone records I discovered the people using our toll free line were those generally calling for tech support. I'll keep giving free tech support but will requires those seeking help to pay for the call. Of course if they Skype me it is still free!
Skype Resources
Skype Home :: http://skype.com
Wikipedia on Skype :: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype
O'Reilly Network on Skype :: http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/network/2005/08/04/whatisSkype.html
Skype Journal :: http://www.skypejournal.com/
Skype Blogs :: http://share.skype.com/sites/en/
Final Word
We may run into surprises and there is the possibility FLASH HQ will have to go back to its original phone service provider with tail tucked firmly between legs. For now however a great experiment and adventure begins. Savings should be close to $120.00 per month which helps to offset any trepidation we may be harboring. If all else fails there is always the family cell phones.
