Skype — for headsets only?

Russell Shaw argues that headsets are the primary turf of Skype, and while devices are cool, they won't give us a big uplift.

> Skype grew up in the headset world. Skype grew big in the headset world. And maybe I am on a curmudgeon streak, but I wonder how many prospective custoers- even current Skype users- would pull out of their two-year cell contracts to mobil-ize their Skype.

I have no idea about the uplift. There may be some projections, but I haven't seen those. But sometimes, it's also worth to improve the experience of old-timers. I know several people at Skype who have been calling with Skype and headsets for longer than you can shake a stick at. But now they have these cool cordless/wifi/whatever Skype phones and they happily switch to using these, because they can walk around in the room when calling and it's much better experience. (Provided that you don't need to use some program while calling -- if you do, headset is still the way to go.)

I myself have a choice at home with my lengthy calls. I don't have any of the new devices yet, I can either use Skype and headset and be glued to my computer, or I can use my mobile and incur one hell of a charge for myself and the other party (if he or she is roaming in a foreign country, for example). So I don't really see how the "people have cell phones so they won't want a device for Skype" applies.

It's about expanding choice. More choice for devices is a good thing because different people have different preferences and requirements.

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For me, I just got sick of my mobile charges. I dropped my service, got the SMC WiFi phone and never looked back. I have WiFi at home, work, family's & friend's homes, virtually 90% of where I go has open WiFi. So I can't have a conversation (right now) while I am driving, I'll the the voicemail, I'll call you back (just give it a few yrs until we have wifi spread city wide on a larger scale, i know they have this in some cities already, just not much here in the US). To me it's not the end of the world and like the fact that my life, at least in this respect, has slowed down a little.

I think my perfect solution would be to have a mobilephone with wifi and skype. Then I only need one device for everything. I need my mobilephone (for local cals/sms it's cheeper), so it would be best to have skype on that so you don't end up with two devices. Anyhow, a cordless headsett of some sort is a must. Wandering arround wile you talk is bliss!

I changed my cell to a pre-pay and keep it for use if I am going somewhere without wifi. Otherwise for the past few months I have been using Skype as my main phone using a Sony Mylo. I have an iMac which I use on occasion without a headset if I am calling a restaurant or business number that I have just looked up online. I think the only complaint so far is that the time between rings before Skype transfers the call to voice mail is short. So it can sometimes difficult for me to answer an incoming call unless I have the Mylo in my pocket.

Hi,
why headset only? Do I missunderstand? I have a chaep mic on the desk and some computerspeakers in the room. I uselly make skypeout-calls and it works great.
Greetings from Sweden

I agree to all above, so why is Skype ruling out a client for Symbian, thus forcing us to keep our Windows Mobile devices?? OK re the lack of flat rate data plans from most mobile operators but WiFi is there and spreading. I would love to get the Nokia N95 or similar as a light weight replacement to my HTC Universal, but I must have Skype!

For the time being i really would like a
cordless headset like mijansen!

i use a prepaid cell phone as my house phone...lol i only pay for 300 day time minutes.... i have family in alabama (usa) and we talk daily....i got some of them to get this "skye program" it saves us all a lot of money!...... no commplaints

I totally agree with Russel Shaw when talking about pulling out a two-year cell contract to mobil-ize their Skype. In Europe that is simply no option yet. Although WIFI maybe around (not free and many different operators) it is practically not an option. Maybe I can call at home, on stations or cafe's (need to buy tickets for WIFI all the time) but not in between locations. Secondly you need UMTS or HSDPA to make Skype calls and at least a 400 mhz PDA.

So I'm not sure what all other people are talking about when saying they pulled out their mobile contract? Come on, really? I also checked out some services like iSkoot but in most practical cases calls are more expensive.

Don't understand me wrong, I would love to have a solution where we could re-route calls and make them cheaper. I have several prospects that want to have this but till now nothing really works.

So IMO, it is still to early to use such a solution.

Skype — for headsets only?

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