Skype and KnoxBloggers

[CaptQuirk]

In our discussions of modifications we could make to KnoxBloggers to
facilitate more participation while requiring less time, we have
decided to try doing monthly meetings via <a
href="http://www.skype.com/help/guides/skypecasts.html">Skypecasts</a>
and in-person meetings less frequently. At the moment we are
considering doing those in-person meetings on a quarterly basis.

In order to participate in a Skypecast as the link above explains,
you'll need to download Skype, which is free and available for all
platforms.

There is a brief window of opportunity (until January 30 or 31st)
during which you can choose, though you don't have to, to pay $14.95
for a <strong>year's worth</strong> of unlimited calls from your Skype
installation to any land line or cell phone in the U. S. or Canada.
After January 31st, that price goes up to $29.95, which is still a
bargain, and something I've already opted to do (back in December).
The quality of calls to a land line is amazingly good, in my
experience.

There is only one downside to the calls to land lines and that is that
you can't place calls to land lines in your own area code, at least as
far as I can tell. The reason is that Skype automatically prepends a 1
to the number you enter, so that screws up calls to your own area code,
an it doesn't work unless you specify an area code. Maybe one of you
will discover a way around that that I'm not aware of, but I think that
is a limitation.

In order to use Skype you'll need a headset and mic. I use a
Plantronics headset.

One other component is very helpful. It is a Y-Adapter such as the one
pictured here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/perrynelson/3044864/

Note the text below that picture for an explanation of why that is
useful.

Post any questions you may have and we'll try to answer them.

[CaptQuirk]

Rats! I see you can't post HTML to these groups. <sigh>

[michae...@gmail.com]

I'm up on skype now as "michaelneel"

why don't you call me sometime? =p

[CaptQuirk]

Well, we've proved we can communicate with each other via Skype, so all
that remains if for other members to grab Skype and join the
conversation. Welcome aboard Skype.

On Jan 25, 8:34 pm, "michael.n...@gmail.com" <michael.n...@gmail.com>
wrote:

[CaptQuirk]

This is a heads up to those of you who want to take advantage of the
50% discount on using Skype to call land lines and cell phones for the
coming year. Today is the last day when you can get that discount.
See this link for more information ...

http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/

It is NOT necessary to purchase that service to participate in our
upcoming Skypecasts of our discussions, but it is necessary that you
download and install Skype to do so. Skype, once again, is FREE for
computer-to-computer conversations with other Skype users anywhere in
the world.

On Jan 25, 3:41 pm, "CaptQuirk" <willi...@gmail.com> wrote:

[michae...@gmail.com]

I've jumped on now, and will soon have a skype out account and a skype
in account (a phone number people can dial to call my skype account).
Not a bad deal, the in number is $38 a year and it gives me a number I
can give away without fretting cell minutes.

[CaptQuirk]

Please let us know how the SkypeIn number works when you've had a
chance to test it out. Although I've used Skype for quite some time,
the only additional service I've paid for is the one that permits me
to make calls from my computer to land lines and cell phones in the U.
S. and Canada.

Also while I've writing let me suggest that we need to run a
SkypeCasting test for about 15 to 30 minutes. I'm open to doing this
some time this next week (but not on Super Bowl Sunday). I know you
have Skype and I believe Daryl does, but I haven't heard from any
other members about whether they've yet installed it.

Thanks.

On Jan 31, 9:48 pm, "michael.n...@gmail.com" <michael.n...@gmail.com>
wrote: