Skype is catalyst for Broadband uptake

[Roadrunner]

My word, Skype must be having a very good year!

In recent months, I have been asked by several distant relatives and friends to help them to go online with Skype's videoconferencing facility.

Most of these people did not have any interest in computers before, but after witnessing Skype in action, they call me soon afterwards and ask me to help them to get ADSL installed so they can use it too.

I just love it when someone gets excited about technology who would otherwise not give a hoot about it.

Of course ease of use plays a big role here. I think the Iphone is so successful because of this very reason. Although there are superior phones out there for those of us in the know, most people do not care. As long as they just need to press their finger on one icon to activate the function that they require, they are happy campers.

In the States some stores are even charging their customers $10 to pair a bluetooth phone and headset which is a clear indication that the manufacturers did not think it all the way through.

Anyway, I am going off-topic...

I hope Skype keeps going with the momentum that they seemed to have accumulated.

 

[rpm]

I have had the same experience. We also get many calls of people asking what connection they must get for Skype – they are not concerned about anything else by Skype.

 

[Roadrunner]

I have had the same experience. We also get many calls of people asking what connection they must get for Skype – they are not concerned about anything else by Skype.

Do you also inform them that fixed line (ADSL etc.) is the way to go? You can of course get it to work with wireless as well, but after a lot of experience with both Vodacom and MTN's 3G offerings, I will definitely agree with the saying that goes:

"If you want it stable, go with cable."

 

[kronoSX]

I use fring and skype on 3g,Its great but some times connections to china is a bit delayed in some ways.I find connecting to australia gives best

Or is it our SA 3g
My suppliers/friend in china says that 3g coverage is not great in china.

 

[Yuesay]

I use fring and skype on 3g,Its great but some times connections to china is a bit delayed in some ways.I find connecting to australia gives best

Or is it our SA 3g
My suppliers/friend in china says that 3g coverage is not great in china.

I have several clients using Skype over Vodacom and MTN's 3G networks and they all have issues with it. Fixed line remains the best route to go, especially with time-sensitive apps like Skype Video.

 

[Globetrotter]

I use a few chat messengers but definitely prefer Skype to the rest. The new layout in version 4.x (beta) looks quite different to the previous v3.8x