I NEED A PHONE-PATCH!!

Jacob Ekstroem · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 721

Da nada, Amigo! Very Happy

Colin Campbell · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007, 15:36 (GMT) Post subject:

Now if you replace the "phone hybrid" in Jacob's diagram with your PC's cheapy internal sound card and install Skype and pay them $30 for a year of outbound phone calls (US and Canada,) you'll have an inexpensive solution. The only downside is YOU have to call the client unless you pay Skype another $60/year for a real phone number that the client can dial into. Even then though, that's pretty cheap and you could use it to make calls to far away relatives and talk all day for no extra money.

Jacob Ekstroem · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 721

I hear a lot about Skype as a phone patch... but don't it require the client or whoever is in the other end to have Skype aswell?

By the way... we have two consecutive threads about phone patches and Skype - that's confusing! motz

Haneen Arafat · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 122

No, the other caller does not have to have skype--unless you want to transfer a file to them. Supposedly, you can then just drag the file into the contact name and it will transfer, which is kind of a cool feature.

If only one party has Skype, you make the call to connect to any land or cellular phone.

You can also have a Skype feature where you get a phone number for incoming calls, but it's another fee.

Jacob Ekstroem · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 721

Colin Campbell · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007, 17:18 (GMT) Post subject:

I don't know how to combine threads. Erik?

Skype to Skype (PC to PC) is free.
Skype "out" to regular phones is $29 a year unlimited to US and Canada.
Skype "in" where you get your very own phone number so a client can call you from their phone to Skype is $60 a year.

With a good phone hybrid costing $300 up, that's not a bad deal. Plus it probably sounds better.

I'm just doing Skype "out" for now. I just tell the client... "I'll call you." It's so cheap at $29 a year anyway, it's the best long distance plan you'll find.

Erik Sheppard · **Voice Talent** Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1317

Juan Carlos Hernandez · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007, 02:29 (GMT) Post subject:

You guys are the best. After getting Jacob's advice, I was looking for the Hybrid phone and it is expensive for what I need, but the Skype sounds like the best solution, I already have an account with them so it's just a matter of getting the yearly plan.
Thanks Haneen and Collin, for that one, and thanks again everyone for your help!!!

JC