Skype

OK, so we're pretty settled in here in BA ... and we're finding that our cell phones don't work as far as I can figure out to call to the US (and that was expected) but there's luckily a great option that, in the spirit of the Internet, makes the hard easy and puts the power back in your hands and out of the hands of the evil telephone companies. I'm talking about VOIP or Voice Over IP.

We're using a service called SKYPE ... and if you're hip to Skype ... my login/contact is "smokesong" and Erica's is "shady6fo" and we'll talk to you soon! If you're not sure what I'm talkin' about, read on.

SKYPE is a VOIP service and what voice over IP basically does is record your voice and send it over the internet and vice versa ... in real time ... like you're talking on a regular phone. Only ... it's your computer. To do this, you need audio on your computer as well as a microphone. Video works as well if you have a webcam. And if you and your talking partner have decent internet connections, it works just like a phone and is pretty damn cool. To download, go to www.skype.com.

Talking to your friends over Skype ... computer to computer (and they make hardware for your computer like a USB phone handset or a headset if you'd like one of those) ... is FREE. As in, we can log in and talk all night for nuffin'. It also allows you to send instant messages via text and leave voicemail and text mail.

Skype also allows you (if you have the appropriate account settings) to call from your computer to a land/cell line (a real phone) ... as well as for you to call us on a special number that will ring on the computer here. That number is: (541) 255-3703.

So people with regular phones can call us on that number and it will be transmitted over the internet and ring on the computer here (only works when the computer is on, but you can leave voicemail). We can also use the computer to call people on their regular phones. Caller ID will be a wierd number so look for those.

Kewl, eh?

OK, so if you have a computer with speakers and a mic (built into most laptops) or a headset, get a free Skype account and call us and email us your account name/contact name. Or send us a text/IM. Or if you're not into that much tech, call us at (541) 255-3703 and we'll pick up if we can or call you back.

Usually you set Skype to just log in when your computer is on ... and through there you can check which of your friends are online and ring them up or send texts.

You can also get us on our traditional emails (erica@thegrove411.net and info@thegrove411.net) as well as AIM (lexington541 is my login) and MySpace (/thegrovebend)

Currently we've got pretty good internet at our apartment so we should be easily reachable. Drop us a line w/ any dirt or goings on!

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