The Great Trip

Holy Skype Batman

For those of you how don't know what Skype is yet, it is a voice communication program for computers. In very simple terms it turns your computer into a very expensive phone that can make very inexpensive, sometimes free, "phone calls". If you have a high-speed internet connection you should really download and install the application. http://www.skype.com/ The application if completely free of cost and free of ad ware, spy ware, underwear and any other malware on the internet so it is safe to download and install (Please see my full disclaimer at http://www.itsnotmyfault-dontblameme.com/). So here is the cool part, if you are a big geek like me, Skype uses the internet to make voice calls of a quality like the first Thomas Edison recording, played back in an echo chamber which are also compared to an average cell phone call, but they are free, well mostly free. If you are using a computer to call another person also using a computer then the call is completely free, after you buy the computer, pay for high-speed internet, purchase a microphone and speakers or headset, and pay your Nephew $40.00 to install, configure the software and teach you how to use the software. So like I said mostly free. All kidding aside it is a very cool service. So how does this apply on a travel blog about a trip around-the-world? I'm glad you asked! Two of the additional features of Skype are SkypeOut (Not to be confused with Seacrest Out) and SkypeIn. Both services bridge the computer to conventional phone gap, working with both mobile and landline services. The SkypeIn service allows you to "rent" a phone number that allows people to call you from their phone to you computer. There is a annual rental fee of around $35.00 US for your phone number. You get to chose what country you want the number from and in the case of the US you can also choose the state and an area code in that state. (Not all area codes are available). In my case I was able to get a number in the 949 area, code the same as my home and cell phones. The SkypeOut service is the companion piece of the service allowing you to call to land-line and mobile phone service around the world at very reasonable per minute rates. The rate to Australia is $0.027 from any where in the world, including the house next door to the number you are calling in Australia.

To tie this all in to how it applies to our trip around-the-world there is one more feature to talk about, call forwarding. For the same SkpyeOut rates I can forward my SkypeIn number to any phone, land-line or mobile, in the world. So picture this, we are in India and I buy a prepaid local cell phone and have my SkypeIn number forwarded to the Indian cell phone. Are you with me so far? Now if my mother-in-law wants to call us she can dial a California local number and it will ring my cell phone in India. The cost to me we be about $.018 per minute plus cell time, another few cents, cool right. Considering that a call to my global cell phone would be $2.99 a minute or a SAT phone for about $1.79 per minute. This should be a huge savings over the course of 18 months of travel.

Communicating back to the home front won't be quite so convenient but it will be just as inexpensive. To call back home we will need to find an Internet Cafe with WiFi support for my laptop. Then we will use SkypeOut to dial home. When this option is available to use we will be able to call home for just a few cents per minute.

So if you have Skype or are now going to go download the application, give us a ring. Our Skype address is "thegreattrippers" if you are a friend of family and would like the SkypeIn phone number, just send me an email and I will be happy to provide it to you.

Cheers

posted by Rion and Anissa @ 11:29 AM