<p>It seems too good to be true. I am logged in and ready to talk to daughter studying in Rome when she wakes up tommorrow. Any thing I should know?</p>
<p>it’s not a dream. got microphones and stable internet access? you’re in.</p>
<p>Skype is awesome. I have been working with it for three years now, and, it has never, ever failed me. I honestly don’t know how I ever functioned without it. Now, I have Skype-in numbers, voicemail that forwards to my blackberry, etc. </p>
<p>I haven’t used a landline phone since I started using Skype, and, finally had the landlines disconnected about a year ago when it became clear we’d moved on from using them…</p>
<p>Edited to add: there is a very active, interesting forum on Skype - just go to the home page and you’ll find it, and, if you just zoom through it like any other forum you’ll find lots of interesting tips. Also, the only problem I have EVER had with Skype is that every once in a while UAE figures out some way to block it, but, a couple of days later Skype finds its way around Intelistat or whatever the monopoly phone company over there is called…</p>
<p>I use to talk to my sister in Germany. It’s great and she can see me too. Highly recommend.</p>
<p>I use ichat or skype and can see my friends as well as talk with them. When my son was home at Christmas he set up one of my friends who now can talk with her grandkids and see them as they talk. Best part, if you have the internet connection anyway, it is free.</p>
<p>Oh, and you can transmit files via Skype too, MUCH faster than email…</p>
<p>Skype is a great deal. We also used with two daughters that studied in Rome for a semester. Occasional disconnections, but nothing major. You likely know this, but Skype to Skype is free if your daughter has a laptop or computer. Ours did not take laptops, so we would call the hotel directly at a set time each week or so. Very inexpensive and we loved it!</p>
<p>i used skype before and google talk. which ones better? i havent used skype in quite some time</p>
<p>Today my daughter showed me the very high styled skirt she bought in London (heavily discounted she assured me) where is studying for a semester on Skype. We debated what shoes did the skirt justice. She modeled it all. This was especially gratifying because she doesn’t usually let me see her, and I was able to see her dorm room plus here the magnificent English accent of the very male visitor at the door. Fun.</p>
<p>Cool stuff.</p>
<p>The skirt was incredible. And she was thrilled I liked it because it was a bit too high styled for the girl she went shopping with, also an American. But D lives in NYC when she’s here, so high style is her middle name.</p>
<p>On the son front, he skype-chatted with me, his father and his girlfriend all at the same time while watching the same downloaded show as his girlfriend. For him, we wrote.</p>
<p>He did say, “Technology is amazing.”</p>
<p>And yes, it’s free.</p>
<p>Another parent who thinks Skype is incredible - my older son is in Rome this semester. And I know he thinks it is great for keeping in touch with friends back home and those studying elsewhere in Europe.</p>
<p>When we lived in Zurich last year, my husband moved into our apartment about 6 weeks before I followed with the kids, after the school year ended. He was able to give us a tour of the apartment using Skype (I guess he walked around with the laptop!), so we knew exactly what our apartment looked like before arriving! Very cool and free to boot! It is amazing to think that in real time we could look at each other across the Atlantic Ocean.</p>
<p>We used Skype exclusively while living there, only occasionally getting disconnected (that was usually while calling Italy, for some reason). If you aren’t calling computer to computer, make sure you keep checking the amount of money left in your account!</p>
<p>I called my D on Saturday, on her cell phone. She said “I can’t talk now. I’m talking to my friends in Germany on Skype.” With her Mac, which has a built-in microphone and camera, it is very simple. Her friends gathered at one person’s house so they could all talk to her together.</p>
<p>I’ve used Skype, and thought it was great. A warning, especially if you are using a computer with relatively little RAM - it is an incredible memory hog. And on my old computer, it started automatically when I started the computer. I would say that if you are not using it at any given moment, make sure that the application is not running.</p>
<p>Along the lines of warnings – it hasn’t worked well with wireless for us. We have to make sure it’s actually “plugged in” to the modem. (I’m sure there’s a techie term for that; just can’t come up with it at the moment.)</p>
<p>Our wireless connection is fine. Just of off the computer? ha with D.</p>
<p>We had an excellent experience using skype from my old-fashioned desk-top to her mac in australia. It saved us tons of money, and we never had any problems with it for the 7 or so months she was gone.</p>
<p>We didn’t have the benefit of the camera, but just as a way to keep in touch, it was perfect. It also has an instant messaging feature we used as well. </p>
<p>I have heard that keeping your computer with skype on all the time can open you up to viruses–don’t know if there’s any truth to that. We never had a problem. However, now that I don’t need it like before, I do keep the program “closed” when I’m online.</p>
<p>“Along the lines of warnings – it hasn’t worked well with wireless for us”</p>
<p>Microwaves can interfere with wireless connections. Make your popcorn before you connect ;)</p>
<p>I am waiting for my daughter to get out of the shower in Madrid to chat with her on Skype. This will be our first Skype phone call other than the test calls while we were all at home. I am looking forward to it!!</p>
<p>Go for it. It’s a blast.</p>
<p>We had our conversation; all was well! Of course, I had to take my laptop up to my bedroom as the dog decided it was time to bark!</p>
<p>My daughter sounds great. We chatted for about 10 minutes before she said she had to go as a friend was calling. I don’t know if the friend was calling her cell or on skype. Does skype have call waiting or do you know if someone else is trying to call you?</p>