Skype me baby. Riiiiight there.

July 4, 2008 5:08 PM

Cheapest and easiest overall way to use skype, what is it? Details inside.

I've got the adapter that lets me use a regular phone with skype. It's fine, but it requires my full size computer running all the time to use it. That stinks. I could pickup one of the linksys standalone skype phones, but they're like $150+ and they're one trick ponies. Is there something easier?

I've got a MotoQ, which doesn't do Wifi and we're a good year out of 3G wireless speeds in this here podunk town. I'm a long way away from being out of contract, so a phone upgrade is going to be expeeeeeensive. (I think I could get an HTC for like $220 right now...)

I thought about something like an EEEpc, but that's still kinda large. I'd sorta like to be able to carry it with me, although it's not required.

What about a pocketpc? Are there any cheapish ones that you like that can run skype AND wifi?

I've got the Q, so I don't really really need the PDA, but it seems like if I'm paying the money I might as well have the functionality. I could, I suppose, drop the data plan from the Q and save my employer $25/month, as my workplace and home are wi-fi'd, although lots of places aren't and I needs my emails.

So tell me how I can most effectively make use of my subscription! Homebrews and hacks are welcome.

posted by TomMelee to technology (6 comments total)

I should point out that my work uses USCellular and my GF's phone is now ATT. I REALLY don't want to pay for a data plan for her phone, she doesn't use any gadgetry, but she uses Skype often to call her parents out of state. We don't have ATT 3g here either.
posted by TomMelee at 5:13 PM on July 4, 2008

You can get an Ipod touch and run Skype
posted by Geppp at 5:26 PM on July 4, 2008

Depends on your definition of cheap. Nokia's N800, N770, and N810 all can run Skype (I think). They use wifi
posted by majikstreet at 5:30 PM on July 4, 2008

I'm not sure what kind of complaint it is that a telephone is a one-trick pony... we're talking about phone calls over the internet. You're asking essentially for a computer powerful enough to handle that, miniaturized to the size of a regular phone, for less than $150, that does more than just make phone calls.

Try this SIP adaptor.

And this VOIP termination provider instead of Skype's stupid proprietary protocol. You can also get a DID (incoming phone number) through them. In the end I suspect it would cost you less than Skype. It's a penny a minute anywhere in the US. I use them with my own Asterisk server and a DID to call my girlfriend in Australia. It's like running my own phone card company just for me.
posted by autojack at 11:40 PM on July 4, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

note to above: the Ipod touch does not run Skype(tm) jailbroken or not.

I actually use skype in/out on a Nokia N800 as my only phone. so i can say this, it works... more or less. and it is quite portable. i wouldn't recommend anyone use it as their only phone, but i don't really like being called and don't get many calls so it works out ok for me...anyway.

the nokia N series are interesting devices, if you are used to tinkering with linux machines no problem should be too surprising. there are a lot of third party applications but a lot of them are fairly rudimentary. the main applications i wanted were: skype on wifi, imap email and webmail, pdf/*djvu !* viewing all of which it does. and you can even get a terminal window... nothing works perfectly and the N800 feels a bit slow but not unusably so. plus it (and the N810) have a removable SD card slot. (but don't expect to watch movies on it)

one of the problems with VOIP/wifi is that many wireless access points, especially public ones, don't play nice with SIP. I think the Skype black magic protocol is probably a plus. generally, my experience has been that if i can get an ip address, skype will connect calls.

bottomline: Nokia N8XX are definitely not slick totally consumer friendly machines (see Apple) but basically work with a lot of quirks.

Skype on Nokia basically works with a lot of quirks and some annoying bugs.
posted by geos at 1:01 AM on July 5, 2008

Skype Mobile and SIP-enabler fring work great on my HTC Titan ("Sprint Mogul") on the Sprint network for $30/month with unlimited internet @ 2 Mbps with voice included. Combine with Google's GrandCentral and Gizmo for unlimited calls and visual voicemail. You can also do video VOIP with Microsoft Portrait.
posted by meehawl at 2:44 PM on July 5, 2008