AJ100

could anyone advise on the best one to use
and are they both totally free for webcam and audio
thanks andy

Vernons

We have just bought a web cam and downloaded Skype off the internet. Tried to use it today to call/see my mum in scotland. It was fantastic as we could talk over the internet for free (well as part of your broadband fee) and she could see us! As you can imagine there was lots of screaming!! It is fantastic and highly recommend it. Good luck

The Murphsters

Yes, both free. I personally prefer Skype, i think the interface is better and very easy to use plus not a bad idea to not rely on Microsoft for everything!!
I also have a Mac and Skype works on that, not sure if MSN does.

You can get some nice wifi Skype phones now that will pick up the nearest open wifi connection and you can call people with no PC needed!! very clever stuff.

JackTheLad

Well you could do both! We use Skype for the phone bit. And we use this phone here,
http://www.btcdirect.com.au/home.php...FR0jTAodDmJ4Ow

which works like a cordless phone, but through the PC.

And then we do video via MSN. The reason for not doing audio via the computer is most of our relatives are old and a bit deaf and it gets annoying shouting at the computer.

JTL

Phoenix

We use Skype and webcam everyday between me in UK and partner in Aus.

No complaints and all free

annqldau

Tend to find everyone wants to use something different, so we have family and friends on skype, others on MSN, more on AOL and a parent that can't move past Yahoo Messenger.

So tend to use whichever one the person on that time wants to use and either chat or type.

Have always been fan of skype but found with our slow internet it drops out quite a bit but we have coughed the $10 for the faster one from next month which will hopefully speed things up a bit.

little bear

i tend to use skype as it is quite easy to set up and use, which is great as i'm not very good at the technical side of things. I spoke to my cousin in NZ last night, my auntie in Bilericay in Essex and type talked to a friend a few miles up the road who hasn't got a webcam yet, i also speak to my friend in Adelaide, the reception is generally pretty good and all of this from our home in Bucks, UK, generally speaking though its whichever you get on best with as my kids all use MSN.

annqldau

We had better Skype in UK as our internet speed was over 2 where here we dropped down to .560 but it's slowly climbing. We had falsely thought that a spread out country would have a cracking communication network. Turned out to be the opposite.

cinderella

We use Skype, always clear talking to OZ and NZ.

themerlin

I find that skype has better sound quality but msn has better video quality so will often run both at the same time.

andrew63

I read on Friday that Skype are introducing a $30 annual charge for US based users.
Bound to be made global.............

Andrew

lucy.summers

This is exactly what we find - we use whichever the other person is happier with. Seems to be my family on Skype adn hubbys family and friends on MSN. Both work really well although I prefer that on Skype you can get a bigger picture without having to fill the whole screen.

themerlin

Thats for Skypeout in the USA, until now you could ring landlines for free in the USA. I think $30 is good for unlimited landline calls.

It dosn't effect the rest of the world.

More Info

annqldau

Our camera seems to be the cause of the drop out at present as if we unplug it we don't have problems. But with yahoo works ok... can't win.

lucy.summers

from what I can gather the 'drops' that occur in skype are mostly due to the broadband connection - MSN etc you can do with dial up (although really slow) but Skype is only supported by broadband.