I hope this information might be useful for all you people trying to keep in touch with Family & Friends.
Yahoo Search Engine, has introduced a Free Voice Chat Service, and if you
have n't already used this method of speaking to your loved ones,give it a try, I can honestly say that it is a really good cheap and cheerful way to keep in touch, and if you have a Web-Cam fitted , you can now not only see your loved ones, but also talk to them
( hands free ) it's fantastic!

Another service is SKYPE much clearer and has video confrancing so the recption is crystal clear, so long as the person at the other end has a computer and uses SKYPE its FREE as well.

David SR

Yes, I agree with David. We use SKYPE to chat with family in the Middle East. Reception is very clear, just need a set of earphones connected to your computer speaker... The computer rings just like a telephone, so it can be a bit strange when the landline rings at the same time! SKYPE also has a messaging service (like MSN Messenger), which is very useful, too.
Carol

Hi Carol&John,

I thought Skype had just been bought by Google and is to be renamed. Is it to remain free?

That is why Yahoo will have brought out competing technology.

Regards,

John.

Hello John,
SKYPE remains the same as it was before Google bought it out, I prefer it ove Yahoo and it runs a lot better with clear speech and video streming, I dont think it will be renamed, but you never know.

David SR

Skype has been bought by Ebay.

There are hundreds of voip services out there. Whilst Skype like others are charging for calls to landlines instead of PC to PC, I doubt they'll start charging for everything.

Google is playing its cards close to its chest on whether or not it will launch a service.

Further to the post by Countryboy, I have been using the skype out service for some time now to call from my PC to those friends/family whom are not connected by PC. This calls their land-line and is a very clear connection through the PC. This does have a charge and the charges are very clearly broken down on their web site. (worth a comparison check) The site also has news about the e-bay acquisition of Skype.

Regards Gary.

EBAY are SKYPE's owners now. Deal cost them US$ 2,600,000,000 !
There was an interesting article in yesterdays Sunday Times (UK) about the founder of Skype, Niklas Zennström 39, who is based in London as is another Swede Sven-Göran Eriksson.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...892317,00.html

(thinks- wonder if there is a Swedish Expats web forum? )