Can somebody explain facetime/skype etc...

[Cookies Galore]

I use viber to communicate with my BIL in Qatar.

[swamp]

Dec 6, 2013 11:59:13 GMT -5 Ratchets said:

I'm looking for a phone app that will let you use wi-fi to make a call anywhere in the world for free.  Not video but just audio like a regular phone call.  Or actually, if it had the option to be either video or audio that would be cool.

It's ok if it's an app you have to pay for, like a couple $$ a month or something.

DH and I use facetime on his iphone and my ipad. it's free.

[Abby Normal]

We use Facetime on our Ipods when I travel.  DS loves it because it's video and audio and it makes me seem "not so far away".  DH uses it on his tablet too.

[justme]

Skype has text, video & voice, and voice options. There's also something where you can call actual phone numbers with it (instead of someone else using the Skype program), but it does cost some money and I haven't used it so don't know.

[Deleted]

DH and I use Skype.

It's totally free for basic Skype to Skype account chatting.  You can do either voice or voice+video depending on how good the wi-fi connections are.  Sometimes the connection is too weak for good video chatting.

DH says it works for iphones too, you just download the progam app, and can chat for free as long as it's still from one skype account to another.  He's touching bases with coworkers in OKC and Houston with it too.

If you want to be able to call actual phone numbers or buy a local number in whatever country, it does cost money though.

[Cookies Galore]

Dec 6, 2013 12:33:42 GMT -5 Ratchets said:

Dec 6, 2013 12:00:47 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

I use viber to communicate with my BIL in Qatar.

Hey, where's your BIL at (if you don't mind me asking)?  Al Udeid?

I have no idea! He's been there almost a month and I've never asked his location. I probably should.

[Abby Normal]

Dec 6, 2013 12:32:52 GMT -5 Ratchets said:

With facetime can you choose whether you want it to be audio or video?  (video meaning both audio and video at the smae time obviously)

I've never had to choose- it's automatically auto and video.  Maybe there was something in the initial set up but I don't remember.  I like it because it was free.  DS takes it when he goes to grandmas house for a few days so he can " call me" whenever he wants- with out having to ask her if it's ok to use the phone. 

It's worked well for us.

[HoneyBBQ]

We use Skype.

[Baby Fawkes]

Most of the applications are going to be free if both parties are using the same one. They just send the audio or video over a data connection and almost all of them offer a no-fee option.

I use Skype all the time with my family oversees. I'll typically turn on video when at home, but just use voice when on my phone and outside of home. A couple of nice features about Skype are

a) You can call other normal phones with Skype at fairly competitive rates. I actually have a Microsoft Office 365 subscription that gets me office for 12 months and one of the bonuses that comes with it is 60 minutes free worldwide to any phone number without having to pay (it may not include every country, but it has been every country I've checked so far). A really nice bonus for a few $ a month if you want Office anyway.

b) You can get a Skype phone number as well that is treated as a local phone number for people calling you. This is good if you go overseas and people in the US don't have Skype because they can call you at local rates from a normal phone.

[MarleyKeezy78]

We have Skype and Facetime. My number for Skype cost $60 a year   

[Baby Fawkes]

Dec 6, 2013 13:18:27 GMT -5 Baby Fawkes said:

a) You can call other normal phones with Skype at fairly competitive rates. I actually have a Microsoft Office 365 subscription that gets me office for 12 months and one of the bonuses that comes with it is 60 minutes free worldwide to any phone number every month without having to pay (it may not include every country, but it has been every country I've checked so far). A really nice bonus for a few $ a month if you want Office anyway.

Just re-read my first post. Forgot to mention that the 60 minutes free reloads every month, not just 60 minutes for the entire office subscription.

[Lizard Queen]

I'm a little late to the party. By a coinky-dink I just did a presentation on Skype a couple weeks ago. Used this site for part of it:
www.gcflearnfree.org/skype

[Deleted]

I use google video chat thru my phone or computer. But that requires both of us to be signed in online .
I also use Tango app on iphone and that can be used just like a regular phone call or with video. It just requires the other person to have the same app.

[sarcasticgirl]

Viber!