pixiesis
Cathlete
I mentioned this briefly on Kathryn's cell phone thread, but I think this deserves its own thread because it is SO FREAKIN' COOL. So my dad just got a skype wifi phone. It works by connecting to any open wifi network. So, you can use it as a home phone with wireless internet, and as a mobile phone when you can pick up a hotspot. Actually, the range is pretty great. We could stay connected to our home wifi from a decent distance-meaning we could use it as a cell phone when we're just running around our little town. Otherwise we'd have to be near an open wifi connection to use it this way.
So my dad just called me from the post-office using the phone. In his tiny, rural town he had several hotspots to choose from. In fact, he could call my sister's skype number in Germany right now for absolutely free.
Skype software is free to download, you don't need a contract (although they do offer a subscription service), and it's free to call other skype numbers. You can put money on your account to call non-skype numbers-and the money goes a really long way. For now I'd still want a cell phone for travel, but eventually I can imagine this replacing cell phones AND home phones, and being so much cheaper. Neat huh?
So my dad just called me from the post-office using the phone. In his tiny, rural town he had several hotspots to choose from. In fact, he could call my sister's skype number in Germany right now for absolutely free.
Skype software is free to download, you don't need a contract (although they do offer a subscription service), and it's free to call other skype numbers. You can put money on your account to call non-skype numbers-and the money goes a really long way. For now I'd still want a cell phone for travel, but eventually I can imagine this replacing cell phones AND home phones, and being so much cheaper. Neat huh?
