Verizon wireless - Your next phone a Netgear?

Author

Your next phone a Netgear?

Larry

2006-07-16, 10:33 pm

Just found this info about Netgear's new Skype DIRECT phone....
Skype internal, wifi transceiver, no computer necessary....

http://tinyurl.com/9p2uy

http://tinyurl.com/c83cx

Kids cellphone bills driving you to poorhouse?
This may be your answer...
Skype Out after Jan 1, 2007 is 7 hours for $10...period.
2.1 US cents per minute (0.017 Euro) to most developed countries.
Free US/Canada until 2007 No monthly charges, taxes, fees, and....
No funny business.

Skype In so phones can call in is $38/YEAR! Comes with call forwarding,
free voicemail, great features. Offline or out of range of a wifi? Call
forward to your cellphone. Works great. $38/YEAR....no other charges, no
cellphone funny business. Forwarded calls from my Skype In number to the
Alltel V60i work great! Even Skype-to-Skype, computer to computer calls,
get forwarded!

Skype-to-Skype calls, from this new phone hooked to any wifi, are FREE...
Anywhere on the planet! The kids can talk forever!

Unlimited Nights and Weekends my XXX.....(c;
Nice day in Guam. Just got off Skype with a Navy friend.....free.

Ange1o DePa1ma

2006-07-16, 10:33 pm

"Larry" <noone@home.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9802E97A197A
1noonehomecom@208.49.80.253...
> Just found this info about Netgear's new Skype DIRECT phone....
> Skype internal, wifi transceiver, no computer necessary....
>
> http://tinyurl.com/9p2uy
>
> http://tinyurl.com/c83cx
>
> Kids cellphone bills driving you to poorhouse?
> This may be your answer...
> Skype Out after Jan 1, 2007 is 7 hours for $10...period.
> 2.1 US cents per minute (0.017 Euro) to most developed countries.
> Free US/Canada until 2007 No monthly charges, taxes, fees, and....
> No funny business.
>
> Skype In so phones can call in is $38/YEAR! Comes with call forwarding,
> free voicemail, great features. Offline or out of range of a wifi? Call
> forward to your cellphone. Works great. $38/YEAR....no other charges, no
> cellphone funny business. Forwarded calls from my Skype In number to the
> Alltel V60i work great! Even Skype-to-Skype, computer to computer calls,
> get forwarded!
>
> Skype-to-Skype calls, from this new phone hooked to any wifi, are FREE...
> Anywhere on the planet! The kids can talk forever!
>
> Unlimited Nights and Weekends my XXX.....(c;
> Nice day in Guam. Just got off Skype with a Navy friend.....free.

Only problem is you need an internet connection. Great at home or at a
hotspot, but not so hot otherwise.

Larry

2006-07-16, 10:33 pm

"Ange1o DePa1ma" < angelodpnospam@nospa
m.gmail.com> wrote in
news:yAKdnWrjyvYlnCb
ZUSdV9g@ptd.net:

> Only problem is you need an internet connection. Great at home or at a
> hotspot, but not so hot otherwise.
>
>

I have Skype In forwarding to my cellphone any Skype calls, including
Skype-to-Skype across the planet for those periods in between wifi spots.

But, excluding the travel where the cellphone is (still) king, the Skype
Phone beats them all at home, work, a hotel, an airport just before a
flight, many cities that have free wifi now, many restaurants, even
McDonald's!

A kid at university has wifi for Skype about anywhere on the campus, too,
saving Dad thousands in cellphone bills.....Precharged like a prepaid
cellphone on outgoing calls to telephones, there are no surprises like when
those $800 cellphone bills come rolling in. After the free 2006 promo, 7
hours on Skype Out to a US/Canadian/European/Japanese and many other
landline phones is $10, flat. No monthly fees, no tax, no funny business.
If the kid calls his computer-savvy friends on Skype-to-Skype, dad's cost
is ZERO!

There's LOTS of applications Skype and the other VoIP carriers are going to
bust wide open. It will be interesting to see if the landline and
cellphone monopolies can put a stop to it. Skype is in Luxembourg for a
reason...(c;

Ange1o DePa1ma

2006-07-17, 10:33 am

"Larry" <noone@home.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9802EF5088D3
Anoonehomecom@208.49.80.253...
> "Ange1o DePa1ma" < angelodpnospam@nospa
m.gmail.com> wrote in
> news:yAKdnWrjyvYlnCb
ZUSdV9g@ptd.net:
>
>
> I have Skype In forwarding to my cellphone any Skype calls, including
> Skype-to-Skype across the planet for those periods in between wifi spots.

Larry, this sounds like a fun science experiment, but it's totally
impractical. Plus most Americans don't have a whole lot of friends overseas,
or on Skype.

> But, excluding the travel where the cellphone is (still) king, the Skype
> Phone beats them all at home, work, a hotel, an airport just before a
> flight, many cities that have free wifi now, many restaurants, even
> McDonald's!

Not all these places have hotspots. You have to pay to use McDonald's. $3
for 2 hours. That makes Verizon sound cheap.

> A kid at university has wifi for Skype about anywhere on the campus, too,
> saving Dad thousands in cellphone bills.....Precharged like a prepaid
> cellphone on outgoing calls to telephones, there are no surprises like
> when
> those $800 cellphone bills come rolling in. After the free 2006 promo, 7
> hours on Skype Out to a US/Canadian/European/Japanese and many other
> landline phones is $10, flat. No monthly fees, no tax, no funny business.
> If the kid calls his computer-savvy friends on Skype-to-Skype, dad's cost
> is ZERO!

Again, I don't know that all universities are completely covered with
wireless access. Besides, kids are in college to learn, not gab.

What is this infatuation with running one's mouth 24 hours a day?? Yikes.

> There's LOTS of applications Skype and the other VoIP carriers are going
> to
> bust wide open. It will be interesting to see if the landline and
> cellphone monopolies can put a stop to it. Skype is in Luxembourg for a
> reason...(c;

Here I agree with you. Eventually many of the services that wireless phone
companies block or hamstring will be available for the price of "minutes."

Frankster

2006-07-17, 12:33 pm

> Skype is in Luxembourg for a reason...(c;

Yes! I know this (overseas) technique is used a lot. :)

-Frank

Larry

2006-07-17, 10:33 pm

"Ange1o DePa1ma" < angelodpnospam@nospa
m.gmail.com> wrote in
news:nUudnVyC_7AHGib
ZUSdV9g@ptd.net:

> Here I agree with you. Eventually many of the services that wireless
> phone companies block or hamstring will be available for the price of
> "minutes."
>
>

I thought Skype was a toy, too, until I got my Swiss friend Werner on it
and we spread it to his friends back in Thun, CH. One of them called me on
Skype, today, while I was out working. Skype forwarded to my cellphone
from his internet connection. The call cost only minutes on the cellphone,
of course.

I didn't know McD wanted money to use their VoIP. Cancel that from my
post...(c; There are just TOO many wide open wifis to wardrive to actually
pay for it. I ate lunch at a marina deli, today, in the nice weather. The
marina had wifi and so did a bunch of nearby offices NetStumbler found
open....(c;

But, you know, arming a teen with a Skype Phone, especially the new direct-
to-wifi Skype phone from Netgear could sure reduce a lot of cellphone bills
across the planet....not a toy or "science project" at all!

Quick

2006-07-17, 10:33 pm

Larry wrote:
> The marina had wifi and so did a bunch of nearby offices
> NetStumbler found open....(c;

It doesn't surprise me that you would see nothing wrong
with using any open wifi.

-Quick

Steve Sobol

2006-07-17, 10:33 pm

Larry wrote:

> I thought Skype was a toy, too, until I got my Swiss friend Werner on it
> and we spread it to his friends back in Thun, CH. One of them called me on
> Skype, today, while I was out working. Skype forwarded to my cellphone
> from his internet connection. The call cost only minutes on the cellphone,
> of course.

Skype isn't a toy. VoIP in general is quite useful. Have you ever checked out
http://www.asteriskpbx.com ? (I'm probably preaching to the choir here.)

> I didn't know McD wanted money to use their VoIP. Cancel that from my
> post...(c; There are just TOO many wide open wifis to wardrive to actually
> pay for it. I ate lunch at a marina deli, today, in the nice weather. The
> marina had wifi and so did a bunch of nearby offices NetStumbler found
> open....(c;

McDonalds uses WayPort. Starbucks uses T-Mobile Hotspot. Barnes & Noble uses SBC.

What is cool is that the bigger providers offer roaming now, so if you need
access somewhere where your hotspot company doesn't have it, you may still be
able to get it anyhow, without having to enter a credit card.

--
Steve Sobol, Professional Geek ** Java/VB/VC/PHP/Perl ** Linux/*BSD/Windows
Apple Valley, California PGP:0xE3AE35ED

It's all fun and games until someone starts a bonfire in the living room.

Garner Miller

2006-07-17, 10:33 pm

In article < e9hcte$2ku$1@jamieba
illie.com>,
Steve Sobol <sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote:

> What is cool is that the bigger providers offer roaming now, so if you need
> access somewhere where your hotspot company doesn't have it, you may still be
> able to get it anyhow, without having to enter a credit card.

I spend a lot of time in airports, so I'm giving Boingo a try for a
couple of months. $22 a month, and so far, it's worked in every airport
I've been in, save Cincinnati, which is a T-Mobile hotspot.

Ange1o DePa1ma

2006-07-18, 4:33 am

"Larry" <noone@home.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9803B76D0749
7noonehomecom@208.49.80.253...
> "Ange1o DePa1ma" < angelodpnospam@nospa
m.gmail.com> wrote in
> news:nUudnVyC_7AHGib
ZUSdV9g@ptd.net:
>
>
> I thought Skype was a toy, too, until I got my Swiss friend Werner on it
> and we spread it to his friends back in Thun, CH. One of them called me
> on
> Skype, today, while I was out working. Skype forwarded to my cellphone
> from his internet connection. The call cost only minutes on the
> cellphone,
> of course.

Skype is not a toy. I take a biweekly chess lesson from an Israeli player,
and we use skype to chat (while playing on an internet chess server). Skype
is wonderful, but it suffers from relative lack of coverage and the need to
be at a computer or within range of a wireless network. Yeah, you can talk
to someone in China for free if they're members of Skype, but you can't talk
to your next door neighbor unless you're both hooked up.

> I didn't know McD wanted money to use their VoIP. Cancel that from my
> post...(c; There are just TOO many wide open wifis to wardrive to
> actually
> pay for it. I ate lunch at a marina deli, today, in the nice weather.
> The
> marina had wifi and so did a bunch of nearby offices NetStumbler found
> open....(c;
>
> But, you know, arming a teen with a Skype Phone, especially the new
> direct-
> to-wifi Skype phone from Netgear could sure reduce a lot of cellphone
> bills
> across the planet....not a toy or "science project" at all!

I have 2 teenagers. One of them talks too goddamned much on her cell phone.
The "reduce cellphone bill" argument doesn't cut it with me. She has a
cellphone *exclusively* for my convenience, so I don't waste time waiting
for her when picking her up from her various activities. Of course she can
use it for fun, too. But if she goes over her minutes she gets a warning. If
she goes over again I run her phone over with my Camry.

Angelo

Steve Sobol

2006-07-18, 4:33 am

Garner Miller wrote:
> In article < e9hcte$2ku$1@jamieba
illie.com>,
> Steve Sobol <sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote:
>
>
> I spend a lot of time in airports, so I'm giving Boingo a try for a
> couple of months. $22 a month, and so far, it's worked in every airport
> I've been in, save Cincinnati, which is a T-Mobile hotspot.

As a T-Mobile cellular customer I get their Hotspot service -- well, I *can*
get it -- for $20/month instead of $30/month. I can roam on certain other
networks. One of them was the WiFi network at Minneapolis-St. Paul
International Airport, where I was stuck waiting for a plane for a few horus
last month. Roaming fees are generally either per day or per minute depending
on the agreement between your WiFiSP and the roaming provider. The cool thing
is that I can get those fees billed on my T-Mo bill instead of having to pay
with a credit card (although if I go somewhere on a regular basis and the
WiFiSP is someone other than T-Mo, it might make sense to give them money on
a regular basis too).

--
Steve Sobol, Professional Geek ** Java/VB/VC/PHP/Perl ** Linux/*BSD/Windows
Apple Valley, California PGP:0xE3AE35ED

It's all fun and games until someone starts a bonfire in the living room.

Larry

2006-07-18, 7:33 am

"Ange1o DePa1ma" < angelodpnospam@nospa
m.gmail.com> wrote in
news:JPudndRtLdGe7iH
ZUSdV9g@ptd.net:

> Skype is not a toy. I take a biweekly chess lesson from an Israeli
> player, and we use skype to chat (while playing on an internet chess
> server). Skype is wonderful, but it suffers from relative lack of
> coverage and the need to be at a computer or within range of a
> wireless network. Yeah, you can talk to someone in China for free if
> they're members of Skype, but you can't talk to your next door
> neighbor unless you're both hooked up.
>
You need to get Skype In, then your Israeli buddy can call your CELL for
free, or any other Skyper on the planet for that matter. You don't need
to be tied to the computer, which is the point of the new Netgear Skpye
Phone coming out. It doesn't need your computer at all. Forward Skype
In to your cell and the forwarding is automatic. You show up on your
contact list as "forwarding", a yellow instead of green icon, so they
know you're not on the computer and can make the decision to call or not.
Works great, here.
>
> I have 2 teenagers. One of them talks too goddamned much on her cell
> phone. The "reduce cellphone bill" argument doesn't cut it with me.
> She has a cellphone *exclusively* for my convenience, so I don't waste
> time waiting for her when picking her up from her various activities.
> Of course she can use it for fun, too. But if she goes over her
> minutes she gets a warning. If she goes over again I run her phone
> over with my Camry.
>
Hm...Alltel has a kiddie phone for her. It has 4 buttons on the front of
it YOU program for up to 4 numbers, ONLY. She can call any of the 4
numbers, but not the problem phone number that's making the trouble. Put
911 into one of them, your cell and home numbers....reducing the
cellphone calling to near zero. Let her call her friend on Skype-to-
Skype. They all have computers, right?...(c;

DevilsPGD

2006-07-18, 10:33 am

In message < JPudndRtLdGe7iHZUSdV
9g@ptd.net> "Ange1o DePa1ma"
< angelodpnospam@nospa
m.gmail.com> wrote:

>Skype is not a toy. I take a biweekly chess lesson from an Israeli player,
>and we use skype to chat (while playing on an internet chess server). Skype
>is wonderful, but it suffers from relative lack of coverage and the need to
>be at a computer or within range of a wireless network. Yeah, you can talk
>to someone in China for free if they're members of Skype, but you can't talk
>to your next door neighbor unless you're both hooked up.

Skype-in and skype-out reduce the need for "both hooked up" -- This is
what changed Skype from a toy to being a real player in the VoIP market.

--
Is there another word for synonym?

Ange1o DePa1ma

2006-07-18, 10:33 am

"Larry" <noone@home.com> wrote in message
news:Xns980454F186B8
noonehomecom@208.49.80.253...
> "Ange1o DePa1ma" < angelodpnospam@nospa
m.gmail.com> wrote in
> news:JPudndRtLdGe7iH
ZUSdV9g@ptd.net:
>
> You need to get Skype In, then your Israeli buddy can call your CELL for
> free, or any other Skyper on the planet for that matter. You don't need
> to be tied to the computer, which is the point of the new Netgear Skpye
> Phone coming out. It doesn't need your computer at all. Forward Skype
> In to your cell and the forwarding is automatic. You show up on your
> contact list as "forwarding", a yellow instead of green icon, so they
> know you're not on the computer and can make the decision to call or not.
> Works great, here.

Wow! Can you provide a link that explains this? The phone, the plan, etc.
I'm definitely interested, although I probably wouldn't use it. I already
have Skype in and Skype out, just for emergencies when my Lingo service is
out. Plus my VOIP already gives me the countries I want for free. I really
don't make or receive too many non-business overseas calls. Plus I'd prefer
*not* to use my cell phone if at all possible -- I've lost enough brain
cells already.

> Hm...Alltel has a kiddie phone for her. It has 4 buttons on the front of
> it YOU program for up to 4 numbers, ONLY. She can call any of the 4
> numbers, but not the problem phone number that's making the trouble. Put
> 911 into one of them, your cell and home numbers....reducing the
> cellphone calling to near zero. Let her call her friend on Skype-to-
> Skype. They all have computers, right?...(c;

Hey, I'm not Atilla the Hun :) I don't mind if she has fun with the phone,
she just can't go over about 400 minutes or so because we only have a 700
minute family plan. So far she understands that.

Ange1o DePa1ma

2006-07-18, 10:33 am

"Larry" <noone@home.com> wrote in message
news:Xns980454F186B8
noonehomecom@208.49.80.253...
> "Ange1o DePa1ma" < angelodpnospam@nospa
m.gmail.com> wrote in
> news:JPudndRtLdGe7iH
ZUSdV9g@ptd.net:
>
> You need to get Skype In, then your Israeli buddy can call your CELL for
> free, or any other Skyper on the planet for that matter. You don't need
> to be tied to the computer, which is the point of the new Netgear Skpye
> Phone coming out. It doesn't need your computer at all. Forward Skype
> In to your cell and the forwarding is automatic. You show up on your
> contact list as "forwarding", a yellow instead of green icon, so they
> know you're not on the computer and can make the decision to call or not.
> Works great, here.
> Hm...Alltel has a kiddie phone for her. It has 4 buttons on the front of
> it YOU program for up to 4 numbers, ONLY. She can call any of the 4
> numbers, but not the problem phone number that's making the trouble. Put
> 911 into one of them, your cell and home numbers....reducing the
> cellphone calling to near zero. Let her call her friend on Skype-to-
> Skype. They all have computers, right?...(c;

Hold on just a second...are you telling me I can use this netgear phone to
forward calls from Skype, using Skype In, for *free* from Skype users and
for nominal $$ from non-Skypers? Can I use it to forward calls from my VOIP
as well? This is starting to get interesting. Can I buy 4 netgear phones,
get 4 Skype accounts, and replace my Verizon plan entirely???? This is
starting to get interesting.

Mutlley

2006-07-18, 3:33 pm

Larry <noone@home.com> wrote:

>"Ange1o DePa1ma" < angelodpnospam@nospa
m.gmail.com> wrote in
> news:JPudndRtLdGe7iH
ZUSdV9g@ptd.net:
>
>You need to get Skype In, then your Israeli buddy can call your CELL for
>free, or any other Skyper on the planet for that matter.

Are you sure. I thought "free" Skype in calls only applied to Skype
users in the US??

Larry

2006-07-18, 10:33 pm

"Ange1o DePa1ma" < angelodpnospam@nospa
m.gmail.com> wrote in
news:pA2dnf_-k8rKbyHZUSdV9g@ptd.net:

> Wow! Can you provide a link that explains this? The phone, the plan,
> etc. I'm definitely interested, although I probably wouldn't use it. I
> already have Skype in and Skype out, just for emergencies when my
> Lingo service is out. Plus my VOIP already gives me the countries I
> want for free. I really don't make or receive too many non-business
> overseas calls. Plus I'd prefer *not* to use my cell phone if at all
> possible -- I've lost enough brain cells already.
>
>

If you haven't downloaded a new version of Skype, lately, do so tonight.
It changes quite a bit, recently, with all this hooked up.

Click TOOLS then OPTIONS then CALL FORWARDING on your new version. Check
the box "Forward calls when I'm not on Skype" and note it says it will
charge you "normal rates", which until Jan 1, 2007 for US and Canadian
residents at home, is free. Forwarded calls haven't cost me, yet. There
is a link here, too, "Learn more about call forwarding".

Click to send unanswered calls to your Skype voicemail, if you like. It
will forward to the phone number(s) you entered if you are offline and
will forward to Skype voicemail if you're online but busy or do not
disturb, etc. Incoming Skype-to-Skype calls also forward to Voicemail
when you are on Skype Out, I've found.

This may be different if your version is old. If you're already a Skype
In and Skype Out customer, you already have these features if you upgrade
your software.

I posted two tinyurl links to the new Netgear phone information. It's
not out, yet. I bought the Linksys Skype phone, which still requires its
base station be USB interfaced with the computer program. It frees me to
wander the house/yard and a few houses up the street...instead of having
to monitor the computer for calls to a headphone. I bought it, also,
because it can initiate any Skype call directly from the Linksys handset.
This new Netgear will obsolete the Linksys offering, completely.... It
also works from my fav hotspot restaurants and electronic stores with
wifi I can get in my car. The computer runs in the car and handles the
calls like at home from the wireless Skype phone. The new Netgear phone
interface directly with any hotspot it finds, so the webpages say.

See my initial thread on this post for the pointers to the Netgear
announcement.

Larry

2006-07-18, 10:33 pm

"Ange1o DePa1ma" < angelodpnospam@nospa
m.gmail.com> wrote in
news:mA- dnZLHmMXsaiHZUSdV9g@
ptd.net:

> Hold on just a second...are you telling me I can use this netgear
> phone to forward calls from Skype, using Skype In, for *free* from
> Skype users and for nominal $$ from non-Skypers? Can I use it to
> forward calls from my VOIP as well? This is starting to get
> interesting. Can I buy 4 netgear phones, get 4 Skype accounts, and
> replace my Verizon plan entirely???? This is starting to get
> interesting.
>
>

The Netgear phone isn't available, yet. However, Skype forwards all your
calls to the top number on your call forwarding list whenever you are
OFFLINE on Skype. Just shut down Skype on your computer to make it
forward. When you go OFFLINE, with call forwarding activated with one or
more numbers in the list, Skype presents your contact list with an orange
forwarding logo on their lists next to your name to show your forwarding
condition. Any Skype-to-Skype or Skype In calls to you are forwarded
starting at the top of the list until it gets an answer and completes the
calls. If noone answers, or no answering machines pickup, of course,
Skype sends the call to Skype Voicemail. Skype calls, here, forward to
my cellphone, or cellphone voicemail if I'm not at the cellphone.
"Normal Rates" for Skype Out apply to the forwarded call, which is free
until 2007.

Your misconception is the Netgear phone, which simply replaces Skype on a
computer with its direct-to-wifi transceiver and Skype in ROM. Call
forwarding and such is a function of Skype's SERVERS, not Skype on your
computer. When the server doesn't get an answer from your Skype, whether
it's computer Skype or the new Netgear Skype, the SERVER does the
forwarding, not your Skype.

You can have as many Skype accounts as you like, as far as I know. I
know someone with 3, himself, his wife and his son. All 3 have Skype Out
and Skype In on 3 different computers on their LAN. Skype even uses
different access ports on the 3 machines through the same IP so there is
no conflict across the WAN-LAN links. Contact Netgear to see if there
may be some kind of channel sharing problem with 4 Netgear phones in the
same location. As the wifi on any LAN supports 256 simultaneous users
(the Netgear phone is just another encrypted data source like another
wifi notebook), no conflict should be forthcoming. You'll probably be
able to assign them different access ports to keep them separate and
simultaneous like running 4 Skypes on 4 computers does, now....

Skype gets better by the week, it seems, now.

I don't see it replacing your cellphone in the near future. Wifi is not,
YET, interconnected between hotspots and home wireless routers. But, I
do expect it to happen, soon. There's no reason, as more and more wifi
users come online and IF they get used to the idea of sharing resources
between them without this "you're stealing my service" bullshit, the
technology to do cellular-like handoffs already exists. It's a hotspot
router software issue....The routers need to chat over TCP/IP....like the
big boys do, now. Traffic handling between the routers on broadband will
be easy over the landling/internet link between them.

Until inter-router routing takes place, cellphones will still be king on
the road where Skype is useless. Your Netgear phone won't switch from
this hotspot to the next hotspot and keep the call connected, even if
they overlap.................yet....(c;

Wanna bet they're working on it?

I told my landline company to kiss my XXX after all those years enslaved
to their overpriced wires when cellular got useful. We may, some day in
the near future, be telling our cellphone companies to kiss our asses
when wifi becomes interconnected....Shit happens...(9c:)

Larry

2006-07-18, 10:33 pm

"Ange1o DePa1ma" < angelodpnospam@nospa
m.gmail.com> wrote in news:mA-
dnZLHmMXsaiHZUSdV9g@
ptd.net:

> for *free* from Skype users and
> for nominal $$ from non-Skypers?

Oops....missed this a bit. Any Skype-to-Skype calls from US or Canadian
skypers will forward free to the number of your choice. Overseas Skype-to-
Skype calls might cost you 2.1c/min, but I haven't seen it come off my
Skype Out balance at all. This will go on until 2007. Then, it will cost
you the measily sum of 2.1c/min, in the USA, to forward the call. That's
Skype Out forwarding the call. Skype In calls to your Skype In phone
number forward if you are offline, again, free until 2007 when it will cost
you 2.1c/min off your Skype Out balance. That's $10 for 7 hours....plus
cellphone incoming minutes if you're charged incoming minutes, unlike
Nextel. As far as the cellphone is concerned, the call is from a landline
telephone and is charged the same, of course.

Until 2007, there's no charges, either way......and no funny business at
all with addon fees, taxes and other cellular/landline BS..."admin fees".
If I hadn't called my buddy in Bahrain, I'd still have $10 balance.
Bahrain is about 4 min/$US1 on Skype to a Bahraini landline. It's crystal
clear. Call Bahrain from your cellphone to compare charges....(c;

Is that clearer??

Larry

2006-07-18, 10:33 pm

Mutlley <mutley2000@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:0sfqb2hhgb7bksd
1gurst77eaubn07jfb7@
4ax.com:

> Are you sure. I thought "free" Skype in calls only applied to Skype
> users in the US??
>
>

Hmm...I may not have talked long enough with Fritz who called on Skype-to-
Skype from Switzerland to notice any deduction on the forwarding. It may
have cost me 2.1c/min for him to call my cell....still cheap!

In Switzerland, they charge you like a payphone to call the house across
the street! Lots of houses are bypassing Swiss telephones with Skype.

Have your Israeli call on Skype-to-Skype with it forwarded (your Skype
offline) to your cell to test it and see if your balance drops.

Larry

2006-07-18, 10:33 pm

DevilsPGD < spam_narf_spam@crazy
hat.net> wrote in
news:d1tob2h92rcm6q4
92fs94k2spmsmdar338@
4ax.com:

> Skype-in and skype-out reduce the need for "both hooked up" -- This is
> what changed Skype from a toy to being a real player in the VoIP market.
>
>

The new phone simply eliminates the need for landline and cellular phones
to all SkypePhone users...(c;

$300...ouch. It'll come down...(c;

http://us.accessories.skype.com/dir...l.jsp?prod=3059

I want one....(c;

$300. What's that...about a month's cellular service to a teenage girl?...
(c;

Ange1o DePa1ma

2006-07-18, 10:33 pm

This is all fascinating stuff. I can't wait until they put Verizon, etc. out
of business. I am sure they will find a way. Satellite maybe. I'm an
electronics ignoramus so that probably sounded stupid. But there's got to be
a way.

"Larry" <noone@home.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9804D89C94F4
2noonehomecom@208.49.80.253...
> "Ange1o DePa1ma" < angelodpnospam@nospa
m.gmail.com> wrote in news:mA-
> dnZLHmMXsaiHZUSdV9g@
ptd.net:
>
>
> Oops....missed this a bit. Any Skype-to-Skype calls from US or Canadian
> skypers will forward free to the number of your choice. Overseas
> Skype-to-
> Skype calls might cost you 2.1c/min, but I haven't seen it come off my
> Skype Out balance at all. This will go on until 2007. Then, it will cost
> you the measily sum of 2.1c/min, in the USA, to forward the call. That's
> Skype Out forwarding the call. Skype In calls to your Skype In phone
> number forward if you are offline, again, free until 2007 when it will
> cost
> you 2.1c/min off your Skype Out balance. That's $10 for 7 hours....plus
> cellphone incoming minutes if you're charged incoming minutes, unlike
> Nextel. As far as the cellphone is concerned, the call is from a landline
> telephone and is charged the same, of course.
>
> Until 2007, there's no charges, either way......and no funny business at
> all with addon fees, taxes and other cellular/landline BS..."admin fees".
> If I hadn't called my buddy in Bahrain, I'd still have $10 balance.
> Bahrain is about 4 min/$US1 on Skype to a Bahraini landline. It's crystal
> clear. Call Bahrain from your cellphone to compare charges....(c;
>
> Is that clearer??
>

George

2006-07-19, 7:33 am

Ange1o DePa1ma wrote:
> This is all fascinating stuff. I can't wait until they put Verizon, etc. out
> of business. I am sure they will find a way. Satellite maybe. I'm an
> electronics ignoramus so that probably sounded stupid. But there's got to be
> a way.
>
>

Don't hold your breath. It would take a significant investment by
someone to install/enable continuous radio coverage and seamless roaming
which already exists on cellphone networks.

There seems to be an idea that satellites are somehow low cost. It costs
over $100 Million just to put one satellite in orbit. There already are
satellite phones which you can read about here: http://www.iridium.com/
or http://www.globalstarusa.com/en/airtime/voicepricing/

Frankster

2006-07-19, 10:33 am

> $300. What's that...about a month's cellular service to a
> teenage girl?...(c;

I resent that Larry. I know a teenage girl, and I'm no teenage girl! :)
LOL!

-Frank

Ange1o DePa1ma

2006-07-19, 12:33 pm

"George" <george@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
news:RPKdnSImXKx6uSP
ZnZ2dnUVZ_tWdnZ2d@ad
elphia.com...
> Ange1o DePa1ma wrote:
[color=darkred]
> Don't hold your breath. It would take a significant investment by someone
> to install/enable continuous radio coverage and seamless roaming which
> already exists on cellphone networks.
>
> There seems to be an idea that satellites are somehow low cost. It costs
> over $100 Million just to put one satellite in orbit. There already are
> satellite phones which you can read about here: http://www.iridium.com/
> or http://www.globalstarusa.com/en/airtime/voicepricing/

It probably costs several times more to install wireless towers over a
significant chunk of the US.

George

2006-07-19, 3:33 pm

Ange1o DePa1ma wrote:

>
>
>
>
> It probably costs several times more to install wireless towers over a
> significant chunk of the US.
>
>

Since the satelites have to be in low earth orbit to work with handheld
devices it takes a number of satellites to build a system. Iridium has
*66* satellites + spares in its system. Also consider that they need to
be periodically replaced.

Larry

2006-07-19, 10:33 pm

"Ange1o DePa1ma" < angelodpnospam@nospa
m.gmail.com> wrote in
news:Fp-cnTnX--RMOiDZUSdV9g@ptd.net:

> This is all fascinating stuff. I can't wait until they put Verizon,
> etc. out of business. I am sure they will find a way. Satellite maybe.
> I'm an electronics ignoramus so that probably sounded stupid. But
> there's got to be a way.
>
>

Naw, I don't want to see that.....Less arrogant, for sure, and more
competition can't hurt the consumer. There's still a place for Verizon and
the other cellular carriers.

Larry

2006-07-19, 10:33 pm

George <george@nospam.invalid> wrote in news:6_
2dnUheOsGo8CPZnZ2dnU
VZ_rudnZ2d@adelphia.com:

> Since the satelites have to be in low earth orbit to work with handheld
> devices it takes a number of satellites to build a system. Iridium has
> *66* satellites + spares in its system. Also consider that they need to
> be periodically replaced.
>
>

Satphones, just like GPS going the other way, don't work inside. That'll
protect cellular if they provide that service. Amazingly, I haven't seen
the greenies go ballistic on human irradiation by much-more-powerful
satphones. 200mw isn't gonna excite even the closest satellite 200 miles
away....ever.

Larry

2006-07-19, 10:33 pm

"Frankster" <Frank@SPAM2TRASH.com> wrote in
news:EuadnVhsz7YftCP
ZnZ2dnUVZ_tWdnZ2d@gi
ganews.com:

> I resent that Larry. I know a teenage girl, and I'm no teenage girl! :)
> LOL!
>

hee hee....

Kevin Weaver

2006-07-20, 4:33 am

Larry wrote:
> George <george@nospam.invalid> wrote in news:6_
> 2dnUheOsGo8CPZnZ2dnU
VZ_rudnZ2d@adelphia.com:
>
>
> Satphones, just like GPS going the other way, don't work inside. That'll
> protect cellular if they provide that service. Amazingly, I haven't seen
> the greenies go ballistic on human irradiation by much-more-powerful
> satphones. 200mw isn't gonna excite even the closest satellite 200 miles
> away....ever.
>
My Garmin Nuvi GPS Works inside my home.

RNess

2006-07-20, 4:33 am

You do understand that a GPS is a receiver....
and are very sensitive.

A phone is a 'two way' device... big difference!!

"Kevin Weaver" < kevinkeithweaver1@sb
cglobal.net> wrote in message news:44BF0A24.7030603@sbcglobal.net...
> Larry wrote:
> My Garmin Nuvi GPS Works inside my home.
>

Kevin Weaver

2006-07-20, 4:33 am

RNess wrote:
> You do understand that a GPS is a receiver....
> and are very sensitive.
>
> A phone is a 'two way' device... big difference!!
>
>
> "Kevin Weaver" < kevinkeithweaver1@sb
cglobal.net> wrote in message news:44BF0A24.7030603@sbcglobal.net...
>
>
Larry said that GPS does not work inside. I just said that mine does.
Nothing more, Nothing less.

Larry

2006-07-20, 3:33 pm

Kevin Weaver < kevinkeithweaver1@sb
cglobal.net> wrote in
news:44BF0A24.7030603@sbcglobal.net:

> My Garmin Nuvi GPS Works inside my home.
>
>

Your home is a transparent RF structure, probably wood? That would work if
the bird were close enough overhead and the house wasn't in the thick
woods. Pine needles, as most rural cellular customers know, act like
perfect little microwave dummy loads, absorbing any RF that strays by them.
Stand in an open field near a woods and read your signal meter. Walk into
the deep woods and check it. Sap eats RF. Your roof isn't the steel
shield covering WalMart or Best Buy, rendering the satphone, satellite
radios and GPS useless under its shadow.

Oh, sorry. There goes Larry with his RF-based fantasies again....(c;

Larry

2006-07-20, 3:33 pm

Kevin Weaver < kevinkeithweaver1@sb
cglobal.net> wrote in
news:44BF1D08.1060404@sbcglobal.net:

> Larry said that GPS does not work inside. I just said that mine does.
> Nothing more, Nothing less.
>
>

I can get a GPS fix inside some steel-roofed places like restaurants, where
it shouldn't work. I think the GPS sees some reflections from the cars and
other metal objects you can see through the windows out in the parking
lots. That makes sense at 2400 Mhz as the wave is so short, just a few
inches. The fix probably sucks after the reflecting. GPS is made to be
direct.

Isaiah Beard

2006-07-20, 10:33 pm

Ange1o DePa1ma wrote:

>
> Again, I don't know that all universities are completely covered with
> wireless access. Besides, kids are in college to learn, not gab.

And the universities that ARE blanketed by WiFi coverage often restrict
them to people affiliated WITH the university. The college local to me
has plenty of WiFi, but you can't get on it unless you have a university
(staff, faculty or student) ID and password. You must log in before it
takes you anywhere BUT that login page.

Oh, and it's not free. Students at most colleges typically pay a
"computer services fee" of some sort. Most of the time it's itemized on
their term bills. That fee covers the semester's use of computer labs,
campus wired internet services, off-campus dialup lines (for those
colleges who still have such a beast) and WiFi.

And, even if he does have such a username and password, does that Skype
phone have a built in display screen and password sot hat one CAN log in
when it's required? Probably not.

Larry seems to think that WiFi hotspots are springing up all over the
place and that internet service is now as abundant as water. Maybe in
his slice of the boonies, there's a lot of stupid people with open,
unsecured hotspots. That's not the case in more educated areas of the
US. There is still no such thing as a free lunch, and many
establishments DO charge or restrict their wifi in one way or another.

And while Larry doesn't have any scruples about using any hotspot that's
open to him, it's still unethical (and in some cases, it's being
codified as illegal) to do so unless the service is specifically
advertised as open and free for anyone to use. Hell, if I knew Larry
lived near my neighborhood, I'd warn people to keep their doors and
windows locked (in case Larry thinks it's okay to walk into unlocked
houses and take the furniture), and to make sure he's not splicing into
their cable, either (after all, it's just sitting there and paid for,
unwatched when no one is home or when everyone is sleeping... right?).

Don't get me wrong, I use Skype myself occasionally, and I think it's a
an interesting idea. But it's NOT my primary means of being in touch,
and probably never will be. I haven't given up my cellphone yet, and
doubt I will for the forseeable future. Unlike Larry, I'm not willing
to entrust my telephone service to the goodwill (or ignorance) of
others. And the fact that Skype has to give away their service through
the end of the year just to attract customers - AND that no competitors
have gone out of business over it - is very telling.

--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

Isaiah Beard

2006-07-20, 10:33 pm

Steve Sobol wrote:

> McDonalds uses WayPort. Starbucks uses T-Mobile Hotspot. Barnes & Noble uses SBC.

And this is the important part... ALL of them charge for access. WiFi
isn't always free. :)

--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

Larry

2006-07-20, 10:33 pm

Isaiah Beard < sacredpoet@sacredpoe
t.com> wrote in
news:12bvtcd4c1jbl7b
@corp.supernews.com:

> Don't get me wrong

My, my, aren't we negative....

Larry

2006-07-20, 10:33 pm

Isaiah Beard < sacredpoet@sacredpoe
t.com> wrote in
news:12bvtfpkki0p9ae
@corp.supernews.com:

> WiFi
> isn't always free. :)
>

No, but cellular is NEVER free....(c;

Steve Sobol

2006-07-20, 10:33 pm

Larry wrote:
> Isaiah Beard < sacredpoet@sacredpoe
t.com> wrote in
> news:12bvtfpkki0p9ae
@corp.supernews.com:
>
>
> No, but cellular is NEVER free....(c;

And wifi is often cheaper than cellular. Not always, but often!

--
Steve Sobol, Professional Geek ** Java/VB/VC/PHP/Perl ** Linux/*BSD/Windows
Apple Valley, California PGP:0xE3AE35ED

It's all fun and games until someone starts a bonfire in the living room.

Peter Pan

2006-07-21, 4:33 am

Steve Sobol wrote:
> Larry wrote:
>
> And wifi is often cheaper than cellular. Not always, but often!

You mean all those posts about calling 911 from a bag phone for free were
LIES!?!?!?!??! Oh no!!!!!!!

DevilsPGD

2006-07-21, 4:33 am

In message < JeOdnWtJtYcJy13ZnZ2d
nUVZ_omdnZ2d@comcast
.com> "Peter Pan"
< PeterPanNOSPAM@Akama
ilNOSPAM.com> wrote:

>Steve Sobol wrote:
>
>You mean all those posts about calling 911 from a bag phone for free were
>LIES!?!?!?!??! Oh no!!!!!!!
>

Hence the "Often" and "Not always" qualifiers.

Show of hands, how many here call 911 on a regular basis? How many call
other numbers?

--
In Jolt We Trust

Peter Pan

2006-07-21, 10:33 am

DevilsPGD wrote:
> In message < JeOdnWtJtYcJy13ZnZ2d
nUVZ_omdnZ2d@comcast
.com> "Peter Pan"
> < PeterPanNOSPAM@Akama
ilNOSPAM.com> wrote:
>
>
> Hence the "Often" and "Not always" qualifiers.
>
> Show of hands, how many here call 911 on a regular basis? How many
> call other numbers?

You may notice that the statement was "No, but cellular is NEVER
free....(c;"... NO qualifiers, just an absolute NEVER statement (the
qualifier was on the WiFi statement, NOT on the cellular statement)
And come to think of it, how bout a show of hands, how many use their
internet phone to call 911? And how many have bag phones on their WiFi? :)

Larry

2006-07-21, 3:33 pm

Steve Sobol <sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote in news:e9pfib$1dg$1
@jamiebaillie.com:

> And wifi is often cheaper than cellular. Not always, but often!
>
>

Sure beats 700 minutes for $60 a month!

--
When you come up to the checkout, ask someone if they saw
the INS agents carrying off 3 people from the store...
See how many illegals you can get to abandon their carts...
moving YOU up in line....(c;

Larry

2006-07-21, 3:33 pm

"Peter Pan" < PeterPanNOSPAM@Akama
ilNOSPAM.com> wrote in
news:UpudnS18pLxUSF3
ZnZ2dnUVZ_v-dnZ2d@comcast.com:

> NO qualifiers

Geez, we ARE draggin' the bottom of the ditch, now....

--
When you come up to the checkout, ask someone if they saw
the INS agents carrying off 3 people from the store...
See how many illegals you can get to abandon their carts...
moving YOU up in line....(c;

Isaiah Beard

2006-07-27, 10:33 pm

Steve Sobol wrote:
>
>
> And wifi is often cheaper than cellular. Not always, but often!

Depends on your usage. If I'm going to use it one day out of the month,
then maybe. If I'm going to use it 4 days out of the month, then EVDO
is on par. Any more than that and EVDO wins out on cost.

--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

Isaiah Beard

2006-07-27, 10:33 pm

DevilsPGD wrote:

>
> Hence the "Often" and "Not always" qualifiers.

For any real amount of use, "often" isn't even a valid qualifier.

> Show of hands, how many here call 911 on a regular basis? How many call
> other numbers?

Show of hands: Who's gonna smile when this guy DOES need to call 911,
and realizes that this one potentially-lifesaving time he needs it, he
can't? :)

--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

Peter Pan

2006-07-27, 10:33 pm

Isaiah Beard wrote:
> DevilsPGD wrote:
>
>
> For any real amount of use, "often" isn't even a valid qualifier.
>
>
>
> Show of hands: Who's gonna smile when this guy DOES need to call 911,
> and realizes that this one potentially-lifesaving time he needs it, he
> can't? :)

Read what was repliued to..."No, but cellular is NEVER free."

While there was a qualifier on the reply "wifi is often cheaper than
cellular", there wasn't one on the original post, so the NEVER still applies
to the response "calling 911 from a bag phone " (a bag phone is absolutely
ONLY cellular, I've never heard of a wifi bagphone)....

Larry

2006-07-27, 10:33 pm

Isaiah Beard < sacredpoet@sacredpoe
t.com> wrote in news:12ciga49t3cspc7

@corp.supernews.com:

> Show of hands: Who's gonna smile when this guy DOES need to call 911,
> and realizes that this one potentially-lifesaving time he needs it, he
> can't? :)
>
>

Just in the interest of "disclosure", what is your interest in the
debunking of using VoIP services, like Skype? Do you feel it's going to
cheat you out of cellular service, somehow? Do you work for cellular in
some way?

I'm trying to get a grasp on why you feel you need to attack anyone
pointing out something alternative to eating up their monthly minutes
chitchatting with their girlfriend. Is it going to "cost" you something
of value? Explain to us the "why" of both these posts. Skype isn't for
911 and it plainly states such on their webpages in many places. Of
course, I could call the cops by simply dialing their number, programmed
into the phone's phone book list. That would work but I'd have to tell
them where I am because even the cops don't get caller ID on
SkypeOut....neither do the toll frees and spammers, a real feature!

As my Skype In number is in a block of numbers used for modem
interconnect, here locally, I've gotten not one single spammer calling
me, at all! The whole block must be locked out of the spammers'
autodialers...(c; Wish I could say the same for the Verizon and Alltel
number blocks they do call on my cellphone.

So, tell us, please, in a "nice, unthreatening way" what YOUR personal
interest is in trashing such cheap VoIP services as Skype, open to all.
Why the hits?

--------

The customers, here in these newsgroups, are interested in way to reduce
their cellular phone bills. I'm one of them, and always have been. None
of us customers throw money through Alltel's front door begging them to
take it just because we all appreciate them allowing us to use their
towers for $3 to $12 an hour, plus taxes and mysterious addon charges for
"administration". I've found a great way to reduce my bill, Skype, and
I'd bet you I'm not a minority of one on here. Skype is over 110,000,000
registered users on the planet, now....headed towards their goal of 200K
by 1997. Here they are giving away service and steadily increasing
revenues, something I've yet to figure out, myself. I AM thankful to
Ebay for buying Skype, infusing it with more cash to increase
infrastructure to even more places.

This weekend, Skype opens up Japan's landlines for free for two whole
days...FREE is good. Let's check what it costs to call Japan on other
services this weekend......just for comparison to their regular 2.3c/min
rate.

Alltel charges $US65c/min
Verizon Wirless charges $US1.49/min
Cingular gets $US3.49 to phones, $US3.62 to mobiles!
T-Mobile charges $US34c/min.
After cruising Sprint/Nextel for 25 webpages, I couldn't find their
international rate chart to Japan. Maybe it doesn't exist or they don't
want you to ask.

Quite a range, isn't it, just to call Japan over the data lines, same as
Skype but not encrypted like Skype is. $3.49 a minute!....reminds me of
my IMTS rates!

Skype to Japan....from your Skype to their Skype - FREE 24/7/365
from your Skype to their landline - $US 2.3c/min
from your Skype to their cellular - $US 15.4c/min

$0.023/min or $3.49/min? It's not about 911 calls.....
I think the answer is fairly obvious unless you just HAVE to call from
your car speeding down the interstate, praying for a stable, usable
signal.

Bell$outh, our landline company, wants $US2.48/min from 2PM to 3AM to
Japan, another ripoff from Ma Bell.

You'd think the goddamned phone companies had to pull wires or coax under
the Pacific to Japan, like the old days.

me@privacy.net

2006-07-27, 10:33 pm

Larry <noone@home.com> wrote:

>So, tell us, please, in a "nice, unthreatening way" what YOUR personal
>interest is in trashing such cheap VoIP services as Skype, open to all.
>Why the hits?

good come back

Quick

2006-07-27, 10:33 pm

me@privacy.net wrote:
> Larry <noone@home.com> wrote:
>
>
> good come back

My guess is that he just got tired of your incessant
babbling about something off topic to what ever thread
you respond to. Probably doesn't have anything against
Skype and probably just wants people to be aware of the
caveats that you always fail to mention. Your assumption
that everybody spends their lives at the mall or cruising
neighborhoods looking for access to steal is annoying as well.
Again, nothing against Skype.

-Quick

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