Skype 2 (beta) User reviews

By Stephanie Bruzzese, CNET.com on 29/12/2005

More Skype reviews , RRP: TBA

The good:

  • Still free to download
  • Easy to install and set up
  • Calls to other Skype users are free and calls to non-Skype phones are competitively priced
  • Many new features including videoconferencing; toolbars for IE, Firefox and Outlook; contact groups; mood messengers; plus avatars, sounds and ring tones.

The bad:

  • When using SkypeOut and SkypeIn, voice quality is mediocre
  • Voice quality is even worse when uploading files during calls

The bottomline:

Though Skype 2 suffers from middling voice quality when calling landline phones, it's still one of the best free VoIP services around, and its new Skype Video feature makes it even better.

Buying choices:

Users' rating:

8.5/10

Tags:

2 | beta | calls | internet | phone | skype

Eric Lans
06/11/2006, 01:23 AM

rating
7/10

I have an iMac(Intel) with built-in microphone and WebCam (iChat AV).
Works perfectly with Skype for Mac.
Have made SKYPE telephonecalls and videocalls with friends abroad, who have Windows XP plus usb microphone and WebCam on their PC. Fantastic!

Pros: A pleasure to experience video calls
at such a price (free).

Cons: Drop outs now and then. Custoomers need to juggle a while to get their system operating properly : accoustic feedback, from speakers and microphone.

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amiriboverman
02/10/2006, 08:08 PM

rating
8/10

as a mac user I must say that:

the sound quality of iChat with the video quality of Skype would be the best !

Pros: best picture quality in the internet!

Cons: sound quality is better in iChat!

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Lunartemis
15/08/2006, 09:46 PM

rating
6/10

Perfect for irregular phone users

We got rid of our landline since we seemed to be paying $30+ just to have a number and we rarely made any calls, so we decided to have a go with skype to call landlines and mobiles. Depending on the connection, it is as good as normal analogue phone, BUT it can get lots of statics on the other end at times and sometimes drops out.
It will cut your phone bills by up to $50/month if you don't make regular phone calls. But you will get what you pay/don't pay for.

Pros: Very cheap rates to almost anywhere in the world including the mobile within those countries.
No need to worry about massive phone bills at the end of each month

Cons: Sound quality on the landline side can get statics and delay could be annoying at times

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27/04/2006, 01:56 PM

Save a small fortunate

With friends and business contacts in the UK, Skype has slashed my phone bill. I'm not sure by how much exactly but it would be hundreds of dollars. I use it regularly to the UK and the quality is great.

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Deja_vu
11/02/2006, 12:49 PM

I use it to talk to friends in England, and it does the job well

The only drawbacks are that the quality of the video doesn't seem to be quite as good as MSN Messenger, although the ability to go full screen outweighs that.
Also occasionally Skype doesn't register properly when your contacts are online, which can be a little annoying.

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17/01/2006, 03:51 PM

It is fantastic. We call from Australia to Vietnam with no problems.

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13/01/2006, 12:00 PM

it was ok but ok isn't enough

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myaroo
04/01/2006, 05:19 AM

to many drop outs not as good as messenger programmes with video

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