Recently, my ISP started offering a VOIP package that's extremely attractive. I am thinking of signing on.

I spent a few hours today shopping for a decent head-set and before I commit to a year long contract with my ISP, I decided to download Skype and Google Talk just to figure my way around this whole Internet Telephony thingy.

So, if you have an account with either service, I am here, logged in and waiting for your call.

I am using my gmail email address with both accounts.

Thanks for the kick in the pants J. I got with Google Talk and it seems to be a nifty little toy! So far, the only person I managed to contact did not have a mic so I could not hear the quality but reports from the other (text) end were very promising.

FWIW, my headset shopping included wandering into the local Radio Shack (while I was supposed to be doing my grocery shopping) and picking up their headset (~$18 USD). When I actually hear a response I'll let you know how they worked out.

Mark

Ok, my take on an international conversation.

Sort of like the old movies when characters are talking on the phone overseas.

Talk, Wait, Listen, Respond, etc. I guess if you remember that things work. But, just like using a messenger (text) client, you can easily step on the conversation. Or maybe like a trunking radio system,

"Hello, are you there?" "over"
"Yes I am here." "over"
"How are you doing?" "over"
"Very well thank you." "over"
"Nice talking to you." "over and out"
Ain't technology grand.

I think it is really (really) cool though. The sound quality is very good. The lag times are not bad but do need to be remembered. Plus it is free!

I am curious to hear from someone here in the states with a fast connection to see if the lag times are short enough to use like a "traditional" telephone.

A historic event for me -- my first ever internet phone call, to a Mr. Mark Roth from Nescopeck, PA, USA happened earlier today.

Considering that my average ping times to any International site is over 3,700 ms these past few days, I think it was not too bad. I mean, it can only get better and I look forward to another phone call when my connection speeds improve.

I am considering getting a sound card just to hook the head-set permanently to it. That's the only thing I need now to get this whole Internet Telephone thingy set up on my pc properly.

Yes, quite cool to be able to voice chat for free to the other side of the planet.


Get a splitter for your outputs and plug both your headset and speakers into it. Then you only need one card. Of course, you will hear everything the speakers do but it may be a better solution. You would also need volume control on the speakers or it could get a bit annoying. Perhaps the USB headsets don't have this problem?

I had a conversation with my brother using Google Talk last night. It was crystal clear and it sounded like full duplex with no lag times. He has a DSL connection and is here in the States. Actually, it sounded better than my cel phone usually does.

Mark

Does anyone use this for anything useful? It seemed to me to be a great system when I first tried it but I find my headset being used for listening to music rather than communicating.

Funny thing technology...

Maybe I just need dorkier friends.

Mark

EDIT: GoogleTalk I mean, not VoIP

As long as you have people you want to talk to, VOIP seem pretty neat. I've started using Gizmo Project and would like it if anyone else used it. My brother still doesn't have a microphone, and I can talk to my wife free via cell (I'm outta town for a while.) Other than that, there's no one to use it with.

From what I've been reading, don't become too reliant on VOIP just yet (as in don't rely on it exclusively). Not only can Internet go down, depending on how it's delivered, but the recent patent fight between Verizon and Vonage means VOIP may change. Of course, right now it's an issue between those two companies but any patent or legal decisions could have far reaching effects on the technology itself.

In regards to the Internet going down, I have Road Runner supplying my cable TV, Internet, and phone. When the cable goes out, I lose everything.