Can Skype really replace landline in SA - interesting!!

A Skype call to any landline number anywhere in South Africa costs R0.50 versus the Telkom rate of R0.59 for local calls
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According to the latest Telkom pricelist http://www.telkom.co.za/pls/portal/docs/page/contents/common/pricelist/rates/national_rates.htm the cost of a local call is R0.40. There is a minimum charge of R0.59 yes so it would be cheaper for calls lasting less than 1 min. Any call longer than 1 min works out cheaper using Telkom.

I think I will start using Skype as the difference is negligible and Telkom has been taking us for a ride for so long that I will be happy to pay the slight difference just to deny them the cost of my calls. Seeing as I make quite a few international calls it will probably work out cheaper for me. Also because it is also prepaid I wont have any nasty surprises at the end of the month.

Has anybody used them before? Just wondering what the quality is like. Also how much bandwidth does this use? mb/min?

Richard
 
I've used SkypeOut quite a bit and always found that it works very well depending on which country you're dialling. I've always found +27 numbers a bit dodgy via SkypeOut

Another point to ponder: Here is an extract from an article on The Register:

In terms of technology, Skype has a real problem: it relies on "supernodes" - users who have direct Web access to a "real" IP address. The traffic in and out of normal nodes wouldn't be capable of travelling between two subscribers; there are no inbound routes. So the software fakes a session through a supernode.

The problem seems to be: the number of potential supernodes is dropping, and the number of ordinary nodes - behind mapped addresses or firewalls, or both - is going up rapidly.
 
I'm currently in the USA using SkypeOut and it works ok (call quality could be better). Use paypal to pay for it (least problems).

I think SIP is going to be the way forward though, you can do some really cool stuff with SIP / Asterisk. Like true roaming, take calls on mobile, laptop or landline simultaneously.
 
wamatt said:
I'm currently in the USA using SkypeOut and it works ok (call quality could be better). Use paypal to pay for it (least problems).

I think SIP is going to be the way forward though, you can do some really cool stuff with SIP / Asterisk. Like true roaming, take calls on mobile, laptop or landline simultaneously.
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Where are you and what type of connection is it?
 
In Jo'burg it is impossible to use Skype at present. The incoming audio quality is shocking (due to port/packet shaping it seems).
 
Telkom has been activivley blocking any VOIP type ports on their network, I run voicenet, and we have had similar problem until recently where telkom would block all ports or shape them, based on this there shapping mechnasim breaks voip packets or creates packet drops which in affect kills any type of VOIP application, we have resorted to selling 4gb accounts will all of our products and making a local server avalible to conenct to, we then use our own GIB bandwidth out of the country.
 
I've found that trying to purchase skypeout minutes, is an absolute pain.
You have to have the right credit card, or a paypal account.
There must be an easier way.
 
Skype has decided that SA is a risky place to accept credit cards, anyway we have tried to get a local server here from them and even went into a deal where we would accept the cc cards but they eventually said no, there is not enough business in SA was there conclusion
 
Skype Rocks

I use Skype daily however I don't get perfect skypeout results, and skype on my I-mate Jam is poor on wireless.... I think it is because I am using a shared bandwidth..... with not enough upload... how do other people find skypeout is the quality sufficient enough to do a sales call to the UK... Also has anyone tried out Skypein beta yet???
 
arf9999 said:
In Jo'burg it is impossible to use Skype at present. The incoming audio quality is shocking (due to port/packet shaping it seems).
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I use Skype everyday and with conference calls between 3 to 4 people in Jhb and to East London and Capetown ,also to the UK also with conference between 3 people. Sometimes the latency / lag can be a bit of a killer but it usually settles after awhile. Every call usually lasts for 3 hours, this is Pc to Pc. Imagine the cost of that on telkom !!
 
Crash said:
I've found that trying to purchase skypeout minutes, is an absolute pain.
You have to have the right credit card, or a paypal account.
There must be an easier way.
Click to expand...

Paypal is now in SA. www.paypal.co.za - this is the fastest way to get setup. You can't use most SA credit cards with Skype otherwise :(
 
bwana v.3 said:
Where are you and what type of connection is it?
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Moving around, I was in New York now Atlanta. Usually over a VPN on a WiFi connection. I noticed a sometimes the ppl in SA can't here your properly. Its odd because I can hear them fine. May have to do with the asymmetric bandwidth.
 
It does, thats why you require an RPT and stun server to mangle and redirect the packets, something skype does not do ? I dont know why ?
 
I've purchased skypeOut minutes many times with a normal Nedbank Visa Credit card, worked fine every time, when is saw the comments you made about c/cards in SA, i tried my Visa card from FNB, and it also worked fine first time. so perhaps get a Visa?
 
Skype is not all

Hi Skype is not the only Voip system available in South Africa, more serious, more professional systems are available with better quality. Interested email me [email protected]
 
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