What Skype Says About Using Skype on Smart Phones, especially Verizon

We understand that you are unable to establish Skype calls using your Skype mobile on Verizon Wireless. We appreciate the chance to assist you with this

As for your concern, please be informed that it is not currently possible to call domestic US phones using your Skype mobile on Verizon Wireless. On Android devices: you cannot use Skype mobile on your Verizon Wireless Android phone while connected to a WiFi network. If you attempt to use Skype mobile while you are connected to a WiFi network you will be notified that Skype mobile requires you to switch to the Verizon Wireless data network and should either disable WiFi or Exit. You may want to verify this information by visiting this link:
Can I use Skype mobile on my Verizon Wireless phone while I am connected to a WiFi network?.

You can dial US domestic numbers from Skype mobileT, and these will automatically be carried as a normal Verizon Wireless call, using your plan minutes. This way you can continue to benefit from your existing Verizon Wireless calling plan. The application will alert you when this is happening, but if you often call US numbers from within the application, you can choose not to see the message every time by checking the 'Do not show this message again' box.

We appreciate your feedback regarding this matter and will definitely look into it.

However, implementing changes can take time, which means that the suggestions you make today might not be available in the near future
Please be patient while we work to make Skype even better.

Do you have a weak Verizon Signal? Verizon and Skype

There's been an ongoing problem in our communities.  Because the developer company uses Verizon, Verizon has worked with the developer to make its signal strong and available throughout all the communities.  As a general statement, the Verizon signal is better than any other provider.  However, our mountainous terrain does mean some locations don't get the signal.  Verizon offers, sometimes at a cost of around $250 and sometimes free ?, a signal extender.  That's the background for this blog entry.

Some technical and political background:

- As far as I know, any Verizon extender uses bluetooth to communicate to your phone.  (The extender then passes your signal through the internet to a Verizon "server." 

Because the phone uses bluetooth, you have to be close to the extender to start a call- within 15 ft or so- then you can go further away.   Depending on obstructions and electrical "noise" you might get 30 ft away, more or less. 

- I've found the 3G signal seems to work OK no matter where you are in the Valley.  Has anybody had any other experience?  That would suggest a 3G solution.

- Of course, the new smart phones also have wifi capability.  That would suggest a Wifi solution. 

The latter two suggest Skype as an alternative for calling.  Skype uses the internet to make calls.  If you call others that have Skype, the call is free.  Skype has other pay plans, but they are inexpensive. 

So, you would think you could go to the Droid market (or Iphone equivalent) and download the Skype widget.  In fact, all the Skype hype in recent days says just that.  Guess what?  When you try to make a call with the Skype widget, you get a message that says you can't use skype in the US to make calls from a Verizon phone.  You will be switched over to the Verizon network to make the call.  You will be charged Verizon minutes!   You're back to the old non existent or weak signal.

So, I'm leaning on Skype.  First, they have to change the extensive add campaign they've started to say that Verizon customers do not have the capability to use Skype.  But, it would be in both company's best interests to allow Skype use for those in weak signal areas.  Folks, that would be a quick and more than adequate solution to our problem.  I'm going to work on Verizon to change their policy on an "as needed" basis. 

What do you think?  Would you support me by lobbying Verizon?

Fate of OpenOffice

I've recommmended OpenOffice to many of you as a more than reasonable free alternative to MS Office.  Well, there's been some churn in the world of "free" applications and some doubt about future support for OpenOffice.  For a techie-worded update on OpenOffice support status, go to this link.

For those who use Ubuntu as their primary or alternative operating system, you'll see that the current version, 11.04, has LibreOffice installed.  Now you know why.