Using Skype and a webcam

[Chris Lodge]

It amazes me in this politically correct, carbon footprint orientatated technical age that more use is not made of simple cheap video conferencing.

Yesterday, I was due to meet a client at the office but in view of the likelihood of snow (which actually arrived last night), we decided to meet on Skype using webcams and nothing was lost by our being physically 20 miles apart!

[AdamW]

Indeed - something that can be used much more. Although it's great to meet in person it's not always necessary.

[Gerry Brannigan]

Great post Chris,

We use Skype all the time. It is brilliant for conference calls which would normally be an expense.

I would recommend purchasing a skype in number and for only £9.99 you get unlimited land line calls within the UK making it ideal if you travel.

[seanstevens]

Have to agree. I've used Skype a few times in the past to have discussions with some clients and advice sessions. If you can't meet face to face then being able to see reactions when you say something is a must.

[my_powwownow]

Skype's great, but don't be fooled into thinking that all conference call providers are expensive.

I work for a company called Powwownow. We only charge for the cost of a national call. Check out Free Conference Call | Conference Calls | Powwownow if you'd like to know more.

[Chris Lodge]

... but if the prticipant needs o dial an 0844 number, that can be rather expensive I should have thought

[Chris Lodge]

We are certainly using it more and more and it just gets better and better

[matt.chatterley]

On a similar topic (slight deviation), does anyone here have primarily "voip based" phones (actual handsets) - whether running on Skype network or otherwise?

If so, what have your experiences been like - do you consider them a real alternative?

[Chris Lodge]

I have used one via a USB but I have an Acer Aspire laptop these days (with a built in webcam) so I talk directly to the in-built mike.

It seems to work well

[matt.chatterley]

Cheers both. I'm building a picture of how I want our "new" phone system to work later in the year, so just collecting bits of feedback on what other people have. I'm happy to post what we're planning to do if anyone is particularly interested - as well as how we manage to put it together..!

As an aside, I'm trying not to overcomplicate it, as having worked on a development project for a telephony company a few years ago, there is always the tendency to think "And we could just..."!

[Blake]

Yep, that's why I 'm always using Scype at work and even at home communicating with my friends, most of them live so far away that we just can't meet often,so the teqnology allows us see each other almost every day!