FaceTime on iPhone 4

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by tlrowley

saying "this is so cool - I can't believe we can do this!!"

Tracey

Jeez, have they never heard of Skype? I like Apple - I like Apple a lot - but I do get a tad irritated when Apple introduce something that's actually been around for years, and people claim that it's radically new .

[scottjl]

and i was doing it on cuseeme long before skype was around. shrug. to some people, it is new. surprisingly skype is not as popular in the us as it is around the rest of the world. maybe because most of us have had free/cheap long distance calling a while now and haven't needed something like skype to save a bundle of money.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by scottjl

and i was doing it on cuseeme long before skype was around. shrug. to some people, it is new. surprisingly skype is not as popular in the us as it is around the rest of the world. maybe because most of us have had free/cheap long distance calling a while now and haven't needed something like skype to save a bundle of money.

I was just on a U.S. trip with family from abroad and found out that they all use Skype video calls. It was kinda hilarious and sweet, watching my 70-something Dad catch up with his siblings in Hong Kong and Canada over Skype. My Dad's hearing is failing, and his siblings' eyesight is failing. They were on Skype, yelling and squinting at one another.

The old folks all had their Skype set up by their kids or grandkids. I wanna set up my Dad now that I know his siblings are on Skype.

[HarryT]

It's international calls that Skype is superb for, given the price of international phone calls.

[petermillard]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's international calls that Skype is superb for, given the price of international phone calls.

Sure, but it's great for regular calls too - with the added bonus of video. I spend a couple of hours on Skype each week with my elderly parents who live a couple of hundred miles away - next best thing to a visit.

I think if FaceTime becomes more widely adopted (next gen. iPod Touch with built-in cameras, anyone??) then it could easily become 'Skype, but without the computer...'

Pete

[Maggie Leung]

Question for video Skype users: How do you guys receive Skype calls at home? I ask because I've used Skype only at work, where you can hear the calls come in. If you're at home, do you basically stick around the computer so you can hear a call come in, or do you hook it up to a speaker or something so you can wander around the house and still hear? I have netbooks to make and receive calls, but I'd rather not tote one around. I wanna use the video function, or I'd just carry my iPad around.

[Zed370]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's international calls that Skype is superb for, given the price of international phone calls.

Well Skype pay as you go rates isn't that superb as it's more expensive than most VoIP providers out there. In fact when I compared the rates between Onesuite phone card (that I use) and Skype for calling some countries, Skype rates is usually more expensive.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by Zed370

Well Skype pay as you go rates isn't that superb as it's more expensive than most VoIP providers out there. In fact when I compared the rates between Onesuite phone card (that I use) and Skype for calling some countries, Skype rates is usually more expensive.

Harry may have meant when you have a network connection available.
When I travel, I can call home in three ways:
a) On my mobile (expensive)
b) From the hotel phone (expensive)
c) via Skype (free)

[HarryT]

I should have clarified - I was referring to making calls, via broadband, from one Skype account to another. That's always free.

[David Munch]

There are a lot of people here that act like they've never used video calls before?

It's certainly only a gimmick. Its been available almost 10 years in Europe, and no one uses it. Its inconvenient since you have to stare at your cell phone, more expensive, and you don't more out of the conversation anyway (Almost at least).

Most modern phones support video calls, and I don't know of a single person that uses it.

And yes, Facetime for some weird reason is WIFI only. They told 3G would come after 2010.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by David Munch

There are a lot of people here that act like they've never used video calls before?

It's certainly only a gimmick. Its been available almost 10 years in Europe, and no one uses it. Its inconvenient since you have to stare at your cell phone, more expensive, and you don't more out of the conversation anyway (Almost at least).

Most modern phones support video calls, and I don't know of a single person that uses it.

Can't speak for others, but I've been using video calls a lot recently. I'm consulting on designs for products being modeled abroad, and we've been talking and showing samples via video. This type of communication would suck otherwise. Which is easier: describing a design or showing it? I sent some samples initially, for 160 bucks in one small package via Fedex. It arrived two days later. Our Skype calls are free and immediate.

I've also been house hunting for someone abroad. With video, I show the places.

Other people probably have their uses -- some fun, some business.

[Graham]

I think David's talking about nobody using video calls on their mobile phones. I know I've had the capability for years and have never used it. I'm also at a loss as to why FaceTime is getting such attention; it really doesn't seem like it's anything new.

Skype video now, I use every day, several times a day. My family all have webcams, most of my friends have webcams. I travel a lot, regularly abroad, and my laptop has a webcam. It's ubiquitous and free.

Graham

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by Graham

I think David's talking about nobody using video calls on their mobile phones. I know I've had the capability for years and have never used it. I'm also at a loss as to why FaceTime is getting such attention; it really doesn't seem like it's anything new.

Skype video now, I use every day, several times a day. My family all have webcams, most of my friends have webcams. I travel a lot, regularly abroad, and my laptop has a webcam. It's ubiquitous and free.

Graham

Sorry, you're right. I use phone video for random things (like when my toddler nephew does something cute and I don't have a video camera right there). Poor quality, but handy, and I can easily send and say, "Look, how cute."

I also use phone video when shopping sometimes. Like I've shopped for home-office furniture and I've shot pieces I'm considering, to show my husband. I prefer video to photos for that, because I can just walk around a piece quickly. Video quality is less important for that.

[bixas]

badgoodDeb i think you shoud buy iphone 4 ! it will best choice.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by bixas

badgoodDeb i think you shoud buy iphone 4 ! it will best choice.

badgoodDeb already has an iPhone 4. Hence this thread.

Graham