Does anyone use Skype + ipod touch as their main phone?

[DoNoHarm]

I'm thinking of getting rid of my cell phone (keeping it in my glove box and using it only for emergencies with a pay as you go plan) and using skype as my main phone. I will also have skype on my ipod touch and since i'm around hotspots at home/work/coffee, it can access the internet to make and accept calls using my skype number...

It's something like 6 bucks a month for a real number, unlimited calls to the USA and Canada, unlimited calls to Skype users, and voice mail (with a sexy British-accented secretary).

I know it's theoretically possible, but does anyone actually DO it? Also, if you have skype running at your home computer AND the ipod touch, does it ring at both places?

At $6 per month compared to $90 with AT&T, this should pay for itself (the 32GB ipod touch) within 3.2 months.

[skypark]

I use my Ipod Touch with skype as a phone, the price is right, only 0.065 per min. no monthly fee.
Got to love it !!

[DoNoHarm]

i can't believe so few people do this!

[daniel000]

but you do need a wifi connection, this could get annoying if you are unable to connect

[kAoTiX]

but you do need a wifi connection, this could get annoying if you are unable to connect

Could be a problem but if you're only using it when you are at home or at work where you have a Wi-Fi connection I don't see anything wrong with it.
I've tried it out before on my iPhone and it worked really well, you just have to watch out using a public hotspot as the connection speeds aren't always that fast and can cause seriously annoying delays when talking.

[pilotrtc]

I don't think Skype and an iPod Touch will replace the functionality of that cell phone in your glove compartment. You said you only use it for emergencies. Well, I bet there would not be a WiFi signal anywhere near where an emergency occurs.

[greygray]

No. Call quality is way better on my 3GS than Skype on my iPt.

[TraceyS/FL]

I couldn't.... i'm so NOT near wifi when i need a phone. I wouldn't have the MRI for my DD scheduled for tomorrow morning if i hadn't taken that call driving down the turnpike.

So for me, it wouldn't work.

[steve1711]

Use mine all the time when travelling in Europe and Far East. Call quality is excellent with Skype and calls to UK landline are very cheap - much less than using my mobile phone.

Free Wifi is available all over the place - McDonalds have it Worldwide.

Still use a mobile phone at home though - but have free calls on it in UK

[pukifloyd]

I use skype with my nokia phone and its really cheap...for 3$ a month(i don't have a number...people call on my prepaid number and i return their calls with skype...) its steal...specially for a student...Whenever I have emergencies and i am not near a hotspot i use my prepaid phone or my mother's phone(if she is with me)...its really really cheap
i love skype!

[TraceyS/FL]

Free Wifi is available all over the place - McDonalds have it Worldwide.


For the record - McD's ain't free in all places in the states. In fact, i have only encountered one place that it was free in all of central florida so far. And i'm NEVER at that end of Orlando.

But the 3 in my area i'm regularly near are paid AT&T/Boingo hotspots.

http://mobile.boingo.com/

http://www.wififreespot.com/
http://v4.jiwire.com/search-hotspot-locations.htm

ANYWAY.....

[DoNoHarm]

yeah i found it so strange how difficult it was to find a wifi hotspot in germany. when I asked a local cafe owner, he said that they had been waiting two months for the phone company to install wifi. And I thought Pacific Bell was bad....

[SnowLeopard2008]

No... here's why:

1. Need both WiFi and Skype credits to call from iPod to Cell.
2. Can't receive calls unless you are connected to WiFi.
3. You pay for both WiFi access and Skype credits in the worst case scenario.

[Jimmy James]

I use it in addition to, not in replacement of, my primary phone.

One big downside; you can't turn off the screen while on a call. I usually turn down the brightness beforehand to save battery life. But battery life still takes a big hit because of this disadvantage.

[03 Hodag]

The Mifi has made me consider using Skype and an iPod Touch to replace my cell. It creates a mobile wifi cloud like a portable wireless router. The Mifi would fill in the gaps when I'm not at home, work, or anywhere else where there's already a wifi connection. So for instance, when i leave home for work I turn on the Mifi while I'm in my car, then turn it off when I get to work where there's wifi. I wouldn't have to get a very expensive plan for the Mifi because most of the time I wouldn't have to use it because most places I'm at have wifi already. Like I said, I'd just use it to fill in the gaps. My iPT is jailbroken so I can always be running skype in the background using Backgrounder. I'm very tempted!

[DoNoHarm]

I use it in addition to, not in replacement of, my primary phone.

One big downside; you can't turn off the screen while on a call. I usually turn down the brightness beforehand to save battery life. But battery life still takes a big hit because of this disadvantage.

wow, that may really suck. I hope the battery lasts all day signed into skype.

[skypilot55]

That's what I did while traveling in Europe this summer. I bought some Skype credits and called back to the states for .03/min. We had free wi-fi and museums, libraries, and the B&B's where we stayed - and the quality was great. It seems like I used it a lot and never had an issue with the battery going dead.

IMHO, it's a great supplement to a cell or traditional phone, but I wouldn't use it as a substitute.

JB

[pilotrtc]

I bought some Skype credits and called back to the states for .03/min.

JB

What headphones/microphone do you use?

[DoNoHarm]

What headphones/microphone do you use?

i think the headphones in the ipod touch have a microphone

[pilotrtc]

Do you mean the 3rd gen? My 2nd gen didn't.

[pukifloyd]

Do you mean the 3rd gen? My 2nd gen didn't.


Yes. Headphones with mics don't come with the 2nd gen but only with the 3rd gen.

[trainguy77]

If you want to go this route I would rather buy either a Belkin WiFi Phone or one of the Belkin desktop skype phones.

[skypilot55]

What headphones/microphone do you use?

I just use the set that came with my BlackBerry. They are nothing special but do the job nicely. My Blackberry doesn't work out of the US, so when I was traveling in Europe, having Skype on the Touch was a great alternative.

JB

[ascendedoshen]

Yup love it!!

[DoNoHarm]

If you want to go this route I would rather buy either a Belkin WiFi Phone or one of the Belkin desktop skype phones.

wow, that's really snazzy. I like the phone. If I do end up not being able to run skype for an entire day on the ipod touch, I'll definately go this route. If I can run the iphone all day long with skype on the ipod touch, however, it would seem that the added web browsing, application, and music functions of the ipod touch would be worth the extra hassle and money though... hmmm...

here's a link for the belkin wifi phone:

http://www.belkin.com/skype/howitworks/

[Sol]

I still have a mobile but it does not leave home. I do not make or get many calls so it suits me to not be contactable at all times. Skype on the iPod Touch is how I return all my calls. As for emergencies, I am not going to let fear motivate me to carry something; there is only so much space in my pockets and if I am running from a tidal wave in December, 2012 then I doubt my mobile would help.

[TraceyS/FL]

I still have a mobile but it does not leave home. I do not make or get many calls so it suits me to not be contactable at all times. Skype on the iPod Touch is how I return all my calls. As for emergencies, I am not going to let fear motivate me to carry something; there is only so much space in my pockets and if I am running from a tidal wave in December, 2012 then I doubt my mobile would help.

I don't equate fear to emergencies.

I have traveled about 8,000 miles since June 18 taking my kids to various doctors and evals (mainly just my middle child). All of those have been out of town - the closest is 45 minutes away (only 22 miles though), the furthest being 137 miles away. That isn't all my driving, just the logged medical related miles.

It's not fear that is making me carry my phone on these outings - it's the knowledge that something WILL happen at some point. And, it's Florida and i'm not standing on the side of the road trying to wave down someone, alligators and bad guys and such. I normally do not have a pocket full of money nor a debit card with any on it (nasty divorce in progress, yes he thinks it is acceptable to let his child head out of town 3 hours away and me to have $10 for gas and food).

But your statement struck me wrong this morning. Carrying a simple electronic device that can help me keep my kids safer isn't fear driven, it's just stacking the odds more in my favor.

(and now i have a newly diagnosed epileptic child, i'd not be excited about needing medical attention on the road i take to her neurologist - there aren't call boxes nor anything for a LONGGGGG stretch)

[Sol]

It's not fear that is making me carry my phone on these outings - it's the knowledge that something WILL happen at some point. And, it's Florida and i'm not standing on the side of the road trying to wave down someone, alligators and bad guys and such.

From your account, it is still fear that motivates you to carry a phone and depend on it for your assurance. Perhaps your fear is relatively justified; after all, by having children with you the chances of an emergency are multiplied. Also if you travel outside of any town a Skype-based solution would be limited and so you would be better off with a cellular-network phone. Personally I am living in different circumstances and a Skype phone suits my telephony needs better than a normal mobile has in the past.

I should also add that fear motivates me to not carry a mobile because I am weary of getting cancer in the balls.

[donlab]

Find a used 3G or 3GS from ebay drop in a prepaid ATT sim and install skype. Use it as Skype phone around Wifi hotspots and you still have prepaid in case of emergencies.

[trainguy77]

Find a used 3G or 3GS from ebay drop in a prepaid ATT sim and install skype. Use it as Skype phone around Wifi hotspots and you still have prepaid in case of emergencies.

In the US do you need an active SIM to call 911?

[DoNoHarm]

In the US do you need an active SIM to call 911?

an interesting question. Also, what if you had a skypeout line. would it just send you to the 911 of whatever area code you have?

[trainguy77]

an interesting question. Also, what if you had a skypeout line. would it just send you to the 911 of whatever area code you have?

In canada here you don't need an active sim or anything. Any cell phone can make a 911 call regardless of the account. Its the law. :D

I don't think skype works with 911.
https://support.skype.com/faq/FA29/Can-I-call-an-emergency-number-e-g-112-211-999-and-911?frompage=category

[Jimmy James]

wow, that may really suck. I hope the battery lasts all day signed into skype.

Not even close.

[dXTC]

In the US do you need an active SIM to call 911?

No. All cell phones in the US, even ones that have no active SIM card installed, can call 911 just as in Canada.

[aaronstephen]

a couple of things.

I have that same belkin wifi phone and the battery lasts about as long as the ipod touch when using skype. you need to plug the phone in frequently to keep it charged throughout the day.

also another neat thing about having a skype number is when you are traveling abroad you can make a local US phone call with your us phone number on skype. I have done this several times in my travels which has allowed me to avoid any international rates.

I personally use my ipod touch with skype for my main phone. but I do have a prepaid phone for emergencies which I rarely ever need. I just give me prepaid number to everyone and call them back with my skype number later. if it is an emergency and that person needs to get a hold of me asap, they know to text the number if I don't pick up. this has cut down on expenses big time. love it.

[DoNoHarm]

a couple of things.

I have that same belkin wifi phone and the battery lasts about as long as the ipod touch when using skype. you need to plug the phone in frequently to keep it charged throughout the day.

also another neat thing about having a skype number is when you are traveling abroad you can make a local US phone call with your us phone number on skype. I have done this several times in my travels which has allowed me to avoid any international rates.

I personally use my ipod touch with skype for my main phone. but I do have a prepaid phone for emergencies which I rarely ever need. I just give me prepaid number to everyone and call them back with my skype number later. if it is an emergency and that person needs to get a hold of me asap, they know to text the number if I don't pick up. this has cut down on expenses big time. love it.

I'm going to try this for a few months and if it works, great. If not, the test will save me enough money to buy the ipod touch within three months (instead of paying AT&T)

[DoNoHarm]

wow, so i've been using it or a week and already i can say that while the concept seems to work fine, the battery life of the ipod touch really isn't up to snuff. It's a brand new unit and I only get like 1 hour of call time at best.

[mustnotsleep]

I was just about to do this as well. I have a 64gb 3g ipod touch and as soon as i can jailbreak it i will use it as my main phone. As you said, it is $65 per year for almost everythng you have from a normal phone. A savings of about 95% from my iphone 3g. I have already set up internet in my car (anywhere in my city) via clear wimax so there are not many places where i am out of wifi anymore. If you wanted to carry around a 3g hotspot, you could theoretically have access to wifi all of the time. The verizon mifi is a good solution for this. The Clear 4g router is a bit too bulky to carry around all the time unless you are a girl and can put it in your purse.

As to the battery not lasting long enough, I'd suggest buying some battery on-the-go charging devices. I have one by 3g juice for $55 that basically acts as a second battery. They are very small and you can use the device while it is charging easily. You could theoretically buy a few of those and then multiply the 1hr battery life proportionally.

[Chozo]

The only problem with doing this is that you can't call 911 for emergencies.

Trust me, you're going to have to call 911 at least once in your life for your sake or to help others and you don't want to be stuck with a phone that can't dial out for help when you do.

[trainguy77]

The only problem with doing this is that you can't call 911 for emergencies.

Trust me, you're going to have to call 911 at least once in your life for your sake or to help others and you don't want to be stuck with a phone that can't dial out for help when you do.

As I mentioned before, in Canada atleast if you have a cell phone with no money on it. 911 will still work. So you can have a old phone that is used for 911 only. I am not certain on other countries though.

[mustnotsleep]

that is a minor concern. you would have to be completely out of wifi range and still need to dial 911. if i am at home, school, work, car i have internet and can make the call. if i am walking from the car to the home, i do not have internet, but this is obviously a miniscule portion of my day.

the alternatives are to grab another prepaid phone for like 10c/min for emergencies, or to get an unlocked iphone and drop in a prepaid sim card there. make most of your calls via wifi, but having the unlocked iphone you would be able to receive calls anywhere via cell phone and also be able to do the outgoing 911 calls.

i have a 3g iphone in addition to my 64gb touch but it is significantly slower so i am trying to get my ipod up and running as the main phone. i was considering buying an unlocked iphone from hong kong when they drop in june, but if i can do this all from a touch, i would rather do that. both for the challenge and the rebellious nature to apple's totalitarian authority.

[Chozo]

As I mentioned before, in Canada atleast if you have a cell phone with no money on it. 911 will still work. So you can have a old phone that is used for 911 only. I am not certain on other countries though.


Yes, this is true but Skype does NOT make emergency calls and to carry another phone for the sake of 911 is now self-defeating, isn't it?

that is a minor concern. you would have to be completely out of wifi range and still need to dial 911. if i am at home, school, work, car i have internet and can make the call. if i am walking from the car to the home, i do not have internet, but this is obviously a miniscule portion of my day.

May I ask how you have internet in your car?

[iThinkergoiMac]

I've thought about it, but very quickly decided it's not worth it because the iPod Touch can't "ring" unless I leave it on Skype *all* the time... but what's the point of having the Touch if I can't use it on anything else? Yes, there are the notifications, but unless I'm using the Touch when the notification comes up, I'm not going to know it rang.

That and the lack of 911 and the fact that I don't have WiFi wherever I go mean that there's no way I'm using my Touch instead of my cell.

[mustnotsleep]

the ipod touch can receive calls if you have it jailbroken and run the app in the background. i am waiting before i can do this to start ramping up the usage on skype.

i have wifi in my car because i have clear 4g wimax mobile router that allows a few people to connect within 30 feet of the device. it is plugged into cigarette lighter, so whenever car is on, i have internet (in certain cities).

[mustnotsleep]

when you were out of range of one of the main hotspots, all incoming calls would go to voicemail. at the moment skype also cannot receive incoming texts so this is unfortunate. an ipod touch with skype gives you about 80% of the features of a cell phone at 5% of the cost.

using unlocked iphone with prepaid sim is the better plan, as you get the additional features such as receiving calls/texts when out of wifi range. it would only cost a few dollars more and then you wouldnt even need to buy a number from skype (saving $30/year). being on an iphone, the battery would do far better when using it as a phone as you wouldnt need to make all calls via speaker. i like the idea of being able to make calls from an ipod touch, but it is definitely inferior to an unlocked iphone.

skype unlim calling is $36 a year. texts cost $0.10 and calls are 10c/min on t-mobile prepaid. $50 for the entire year would get you far more than what at&t offers you for $1200/year.