Ask NerdGirl: Is Skype Free? The website is gone! I don’t wanna get pulled over!

by n3rdg1rl May 9, 2010 3:15 PM – 8 Comments

Confusing title, I know! But it got your attention, right? The three questions today are about Skype Mobile, finding apps on the Market, and voice dialing!

Nerdgirl,

Greetings from a fellow early PC’er (though with about six years of grey on you). I remember copying BASIC programs out of the manual onto my TI-99, and recording them to a cassette tape.

I also have an Eris (Verizon Network) and love it. My question is about SkypeMobile for the Eris (so, Android 1.5). My brother lives abroad, and we use Skype to talk. I thought SkypeMobile would be great for this, but I was a bit leery of actually activating it when the user agreement popped up on-screen and let me know that the calls wouldn’t be carried over WiFi/Internet, but over the Verizon wireless network, and would thus be subject to potential charges.

Do you know what those charges might be? Or whether SkypeMobile can be configured to just work with my house WiFi? If there are going to be charges for using it on my Eris, I might as well just make a cell call directly.

Thanks,
Evan Macbeth
(aka Paradox13)

I wasn’t one of the lucky ones with a TI-99, but I did have a Commodore PET computer that ran off of cassettes. I loved the days of the “Please flip over disk (cassette) 1 to continue.” Now I’m feeling old!

I read through Skype’s website and I wasn’t really clear on what the terms were either. Why would you use Skype if you’re using Verizon’s network? It sounds like it just allows you to use the cellular network so you don’t have to be on a Wifi network to use Skype, but I wanted to make sure. So, I decided to go to the source.

Well, Evan, I contacted Skype and this is what they said:

“Thank you for contacting Skype Customer Service.

We are glad to hear that you are interested in using Skype mobileT application on your Verizon mobile phone.

Skype-to-Skype calls are free to make and receive, and calling phones abroad uses Skype Credit and/or a subscription, just like it does on your desktop computer. The rates for calling phones abroad are the same as they are on Skype on your computer – check out the rates here:

http://www.skype.com/prices/callrates/#allRatesTab

Or buy a monthly subscription and save even more:

http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/subscriptions

Calls to US numbers will be carried by Verizon Wireless, not Skype, and charged according to your calling plan. (It is not possible to call US mobile/landline numbers via Skype mobileT.)

Here’s an example of how much data a typical person might use:

Tom has 25 Skype contacts and signs in twice a day for a total of 1 hour. He sends and receives about 15 messages a day and makes two Skype calls of about 2 minutes each. Tom would use roughly 1 MB worth of data in one month.

Skype mobile is currently available on BlackBerry and Android phones, which all come with an unlimited data plan, so you should not face additional data charges for using Skype on these devices.

We hope this answer was helpful, should you need more assistance, feel free to contact us again.

Best regards,

Kaarel

Skype Customer Support

Visit www.skype.com for latest news, updates and tips.”

So what I’m thinking all those words were saying was that as long as it’s Skype-to-Skype, there’s no charge. If you’re using Skype and calling a non-Skype number, then you are going to use your Verizon minutes.

I hope that cleared things up a bit.

Hey! Wanted to try Action Complete manager (reviewed by androidtapp recently) but can’t seem to access their website, which is perpetually down. I liked that it would also sync with my Droid. Any suggestions for simple project management alternatives that sync phone and desktop? :-)

Mark

I just went to AppBrain, Mark, and download the app through there. If you don’t use AppBrain, you should be able to get ActionComplete straight from the Market without having to go through their website. I always find that the Market is the first place I look for an app.

Dear Nerdgirl,

I love the idea of a Dear Abby column for Android users. I have a Motorola Droid, and these questions represent my biggest annoyances with this wonderful device.

When, oh when will Android devices get true voice-dial functionality? As a California resident I’m breaking the law every time I try to use the phone in my car. My dumb phones have had this function for 7 years or more. Why is it missing from these advanced smartphones?

My Eris came pre-loaded with Voice Dialer. I am able to say the name of the contact as well as the actual numbers for contacts who haven’t made it into my phonebook yet. I would try that one before you try a paid app, Bob, and see if that has enough functionality for you. You can also try out Choice Dialer for more voice control capabilities (however results on different phones vary).

Tomorrow I’ll be covering recording phone calls and converting files! Keep reading and keep sending your questions to nerdgirl@androidtapp.com!

Tags: Android Advice, Ask NerdGirl, Skype Mobile, Voice Control, Voice Dialer

Categorised in: Android Advice, Ask NerdGirl

8 Comments

By Bob Finn on May 9, 2010 at 1:09 pm:

Thanks for answering my question about voice dialing on the Droid, but I’m afraid I didn’t make my question sufficiently clear. I know all about the native voice dialing on Android phones, but it’s illegal to use it when driving in California (and other hands-free states) because it requires you to touch the phone to initiate a voice dial. Same is true of Choice Dialer and other similar apps. What Android needs, and doesn’t apparently have, is a way to initiate voice dialing from a Bluetooth headset. Why is this common feature missing, or disabled?

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- By n3rdg1rl on May 9, 2010 at 11:42 pm:
  
  Sorry about the mis-understanding, Bob. I’m gonna look into this for you and get back to you with a more solid answer! ^_^
  
  Reply
By Peter Parkes (Skype Blogger) on May 9, 2010 at 4:01 pm:

To clarify:
- calls to US numbers will use your Verizon minutes
- calls to numbers outside of the US will not
- Skype-to-Skype calls will not

Hope that helps!

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- By n3rdg1rl on May 9, 2010 at 11:41 pm:
  
  Thanks, Peter! Big help! ^_^
  
  Reply
By Mike Lewis on May 11, 2010 at 6:12 am:

Heya, just figured I’d throw in my two cents here, as I’m really starting to enjoy your reviews and answers.

I work for Verizon Wireless as an outsourced customer services call center agent.. In other words, *611, you get me.

The biggest point of Skype Mobile is that it uses your data connection for Skype to Skype calls, which, all phones having unlimited data, is the reason they’re free, and doesn’t matter what the destination is, so long as it it using only Skype’s VoIP network… Skype-only calls.

Furthermore, using Skype’s own standards for their PC-based services, you can purchase Skype Credit for calls that will not be Skype on the other end, AND are international calls… It’s really just like using the PC version of it. And often, much cheaper than VZW’s Int’l rates, even with the $3.99 I-Dial feature. You can even configure SM to intercept international calls so you don’t have to pay that rate, even if a call is incoming.

… And yes, the title really DID catch my attention.

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- By n3rdg1rl on May 11, 2010 at 2:26 pm:
  
  Wow! Thanks, Mike! I hope when I dial *611 I DO get you! ^_^
  
  Reply
  - By Mike Lewis on May 12, 2010 at 1:52 pm:
    
    Well, you CAN get me everytime at http:\\twitter.com\incredibleguru …
    
    Reply
By Android Tapp on June 1, 2010 at 12:15 pm:

Huh? Nothing here… maybe

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