Skype Phone Service in Costa Rica and the U.S. - What I Told My Mom
In discussing details of my move to Costa Rica with my mother, I informed her of my new U.S. based phone number provided by Skype phone service that will follow me to Costa Rica.
My mom had never heard of Skype and had several questions such as; "Is Skype something you can use here in the states?"
The following is my Skype explanation to my mother ... hopefully it will benefit others as well:
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Hi
Mom,
Skype
is a computer based VOIP phone service based on peer-to-peer technology where computer-to-computer calls are FREE world-wide.
With a Skype Pro account;
$3.00/month allows you can make domestic U.S. calls from your computer or Skype
Wi-Fi handheld phone to landlines and cell phones at no additional fees per/minute.
I
have a Skype Pro account with my own U.S. based Skype-In phone number + Skype
Voicemail. This allows any U.S. friends, family or clients to call me in
Costa Rica at no cost while I control where the calls go (ie: directly into my
computer, forwarded to a Costa Rica landline or cell phone and/or into my Skype
Voicemail that I can access from any computer). Being as Skype is
Internet based, it also allows me to maintain and access my contacts from any
computer – which has proved to be extremely useful while traveling.
My
calls from Costa Rica to a U.S. landline or cell phone are a low $0.021/minute. Skype calls from the U.S. to a Costa Rica
landline or cell phone are about $ 0.074/minute – which
is still remarkably low compared to any other options!
Skype
also has a built-in Instant Message feature that will allow for texting instead
of a phone conversation – the younger kids are more into texting than
e-mailing.
One
of my mortgage customers uses Skype to talk with her family in Germany at no
cost. In Costa Rica; Skype is widely used by expats, visitors/vacationers, students,
etc. Every Costa Rica Internet Café I visited in December
offers Skype on each computer.
As
I think I’ve mentioned … since returning to Illinois from Costa Rica, I’ve been making and
receiving most of my domestic U.S. calls on my computer’s headset at no cost
other than my $3/monthly fee. Pretty sweet!
I’m positive you will not have any physical problems using Skype if you get the right headset. I purchased a really fancy headset at Best Buy for less than $40.00. Try it … you’ll like it :o)
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Please let me know if you have any questions or critiques of my Skype summation.
Bill Clanton
Skype-In: +1 (815) 315-0569
Skype ID: BillClanton
Hi Bill...props for a useful and interesting blog. I have been looking to get into skype for awhile, right now just from home in L.A. but it should come in useful on my extended travels. Can you tell me the model or name of the headset you like? Carson
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Skype is great for traveling ... no matter where you are, you can remain in contact as long as you can find Internet access. You mention that you are simply using it from home in LA at this time - for home VOIP service that more resembles real home phone service I much prefer the magicJack.
Both Skype and magicJack have their unique uses for both travel and home usage.
As for the my headset of choice, I have gone through several and for travel with my laptop I'm very happy with my Logitech Premium Notebook Headset. It's compact, yet unfolds to a full size model with a boom mic that offers crystal clear conversations. I purchased mine at Best Buy for $40.00.
!Pura Vida!
-Bill
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