I think Skype is an excellent alternative for those of us who are just starting out with our business. You can use it to call directly to your client for both regular calls and video calls. And it's FREE!! I love it. I also use it for my instant messenging most of the time.

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Business Support Associates
http://www.bizsupportassociates.com

Okay, I've downloaded Skype. Not sure what's next though. Am I correct to assume that the person on the other end has to have it as well? Mum was asking me about it today, so that we could talk more often.

And, wouldn't you know it? My headset broke this past weekend.

I like Skype simply because of the conferencing feature. For everything else, I have a dedicated business phone line.

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Winston Stewart
PennWin Administrative Services

I was wondering if anyone has purchased a skype number to use so clients who do not have skype can call you through skype. I am thinking since I plan on marketing locally a phone number would be good but do not want to use my cell phone. I was debating skype vs. magicjack.

I signed up for the free skype program but was wondering if there were any thoughts on the skype phone number option.

Thanks.

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Trish
www.trishh.com

Trish:
My brother has magic jack and I used it while I was visiting this summer. It is very tempermental. (Wish we had spell check! lol) Sometimes it would work than sometimes it would not . It sounded good when I was able to get on it. But it seems it is up to the computer if it works well. I had considered getting it until I used his. I have Skype but I don't have Skype In. After reading all this I may change and get it a try. I also have Grand Central by Google which used to be Google Talk. It gives you a number which you are able to choose and you can have up to five (I believe) phone #'s that you can forward the calls to. It has a voicemail and options to leave custom greetings to a certain # if it should call. I am very happy with it so far.

I think that I will end up going and getting the number through skype so others can call me from a landline through skype. may be the most affordable solution. I see alot of people using skype now so it must work okay for so many people to be on it.

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Trish
www.trishh.com

I did get a number for a few months while I was traveling outside of the country. I let it go once I was back in the states. I believe it was pretty economical. I know I bought $10 worth of Skype credit in February and used it when calling non Skype numbers and I still have almost $5 left. And I have made a lot of calls! You can't beat that.

Okay, sometimes signs will hit you in the face and you just cannot ignore them...but I was really contemplating going ahead full force with skype and getting the number to use on my site and marketing material and then today I was doing some tasks that I needed done and went to the Pennsylvania Department of State to see about getting a copy of my birth certificate and guess what....they are using skype...

Then I had to go to the Allegheny county website to look at the status of some cases and guess what....they are using skype....

I think that it is time for me to sign up for skype....lol

skype is everywhere I look... =-)

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Trish
www.trishh.com

Originally Posted by trishhcom

Okay, sometimes signs will hit you in the face and you just cannot ignore them...but I was really contemplating going ahead full force with skype and getting the number to use on my site and marketing material and then today I was doing some tasks that I needed done and went to the Pennsylvania Department of State to see about getting a copy of my birth certificate and guess what....they are using skype... Then I had to go to the Allegheny county website to look at the status of some cases and guess what....they are using skype.... I think that it is time for me to sign up for skype....lol skype is everywhere I look... =-)

I know this is a bit of an old thread but . . . I use Skype right now for our personal calls - have a lot of long distance calls since we are located way, way out of town. The quality has been good. Since I am just setting up my VA business I may get the a Skype number to use. Thanks for all the comments.

OK . . . so silly me! Econ 101 . . . nothing is "free". I really appreciate this thread. I'll have to start budgeting for Skype's services and try it out sometime.

Frances