Any Skype users here?

[Al 2]

You could also check out Zello. Its a free phone app that allows you to use your phone as a "CB' or 2 way radio almost anywhere in the world. On the discussion groups, some people like it better than skype. I don't have it on my phone and have not used it but people seem to like the CB part quite a bit also. The CB would be good for contractors , farmers on who ever needs to be regular contact with other staff.
Al

 

[aczlan]

Thanks for all the replies. But, I still don't think my question has been answered.
Let me give an example. Let's say a new customer sees my yellowbook ad which has my current cell phone number listed, and they call that number. Can I have that call forwarded to Skype? Or to Google Voice? This potential new customer would not know that I'm out of the country, and probably would not have Skype.
Or, if they call my cell number, and leave a voicemail, can I retrieve that message in Skype? Or Google Voice? or some other way?

With Google Voice, the answer is yes. The call would be forwarded to Google Voice where (if you didn't pick it up) you could listen to the voicemail online or through the Google Voice app and then call them back from the same site or app.
In my case, it also emails and texts me a machine transcription of the voicemail.

Aaron Z

 

[downsizingnow48]

from skype on your computer, you can activate voice messaging. then it will be active on your cell phone as well. it can be set up to send txt alerts and other stuff. it looks like you can do what you want one way or the other with either google or skype.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I think I've finally found the answer to my question. I found this blog which is a few years old, but it seems to answer my questions.

Step 1: Setup a Skype account

If you’re not already using Skype, you’re stupid. Skype is free, it’s painless, and most people are on it these days. The only real problem with Skype is that you have to be in front of a computer to use it. Fortunately, our little iPhone friends act as computers and with the Skype application for the iPhone, you can talk on your phone like normal, access your contacts and check your Skype voicemail all from within the Skype application. Call quality is based on wifi connectivity but is generally pretty good. And did I mention, free? You can stop here, or you can go on.

Step 2: Subscribe to a Skype Unlimited Country Plan

So maybe you’re family and friends aren’t all on Skype or don’t have awesome Skype applications on their stupid crackberries. The next step is to buy an unlimited Country Plan on Skype. This plan is about $5/month for the US and allows you to call ANY US landline or cell phone (and toll-free) for unlimited minutes. Basically, what that means is that I can use my iPhone through the Skype app to call ANY person I want as long as I’m hooked up to wifi. Awesome. Here is another great place to stop, but you can take it even further.

Step 3: Buy a Skype Online Number

Buy a (now discounted because you just bought an Unlimited Country Plan) Online Number for $20/year which gives your friends and family an actual local number they can call and free voicemail on Skype’s service. For instance. I pay a once a year $20 for a local Oklahoma number that my mom can call anytime she wants and it goes to my voicemail if I’m not within wifi range or it rings right to my iPhone Skype application if I am. If I miss her call, I pick up my iPhone and dial right back to her cell phone. This is a GREAT place to stop if you choose to disconnect your service from AT&T and don’t mind telling all of your friends and family about your NEW number (as it will be the one that shows up when you call them).

Step 4: Forward existing service to Skype Online #

At this point, if you have your AT&T service still active, just enable Call Forwarding by going to Settings -> Phone -> Call Forwarding and have your iPhone number forward to your Skype Online Number. I wanted my friends and family to still be able to reach me on my regular AT&T phone number (which is still active because I’m still on a US plan) but I didn’t want to pay international rates.

Step 5: Activate Google Voice

But of course, I took it a step further. This is where Google Voice comes in (and the trip stops for those of you not from countries where Google Voice is active yet). I got a Google Voice number (for free) and have my Skype Online Number set up as my forwarding number. I set up my iPhone AT&T service to forward to my Google Voice number so all phone traffic goes through my Google Voice. I have been using Google Voice as my work number for a while, so all of my clients and co-workers also call through this number. All people calling my Google Voice # direct are referred immediately to my work voicemail (they are the only people with this number). All people calling via forwarded service from my AT&T number are either sent to Google Voicemail, or forwarded to my Skype Online Number if I am on Skype. The reason I use this is because I like Google’s voicemail system 1000 times better than Skype’s, but it’s not really necessary. If you're not on Google Voice, but want to me, e-mail me as I have about 10 invites left.

Here is a table of how my iPhone service is setup. For simplicity sake, I refer to my 10 year old AT&T cell number as my Oklahoma #, my work Google Voice number as my Long Beach # and my Skype Online Number as my Skype #.



Behavior when I have Skype running on my iPhone within wifi range

Behavior when I am not in wifi range or when Skype is not running

Someone Calls my Oklahoma #

Call is first forwarded to Google Voice, then Skype where I pick it up on my iPhone

Call is forwarded to Google Voice which sends it to my personal voicemail greeting

Someone Calls my Long Beach #

Call is immediately answered by my work voicemail greeting

Nothing

Someone Calls my Skype #

Call rings directly on my iPhone

Call is answered by my Skype personal Voicemai







In Summary

Set up Skype. Buy an online number with Unlimited One Country Calling for $20/year plus $5/month.

Setup your iPhone to forward calls to your Skype # (or Google Voice #).

As long as you are within wifi range, make unlimited calls back home to anyone you like for as long as you like for less than $7/month.

Thank Jesus for Steve Jobs and for the iPhone - if you're into that sort of thing.

Post a comment below and let me know if you have any tips or tricks!

 

[aczlan]

Do you need to call people locally in Australia? If not, install the Google Voice app on your phone and you can make and send calls via Google Voice anywhere you have wifi.
If you need to call people locally (assuming that your phone will take a SIM card), set your phone to foward calls to Google Voice before you leave the US, buy a local prepaid SIM in Australia and use that number over there for calls and for data to make/receive calls via Google voice.

Aaron Z

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Do you need to call people locally in Australia? If not, install the Google Voice app on your phone and you can make and send calls via Google Voice anywhere you have wifi.
If you need to call people locally (assuming that your phone will take a SIM card), set your phone to foward calls to Google Voice before you leave the US, buy a local prepaid SIM in Australia and use that number over there for calls and for data to make/receive calls via Google voice.

Aaron Z

I don't think I'll be calling any phones in Australia, while I'm in Australia. And, I don't think my AT&T iPhone 5S will take a SIM card.

And, I'm not 100% sure that Google Voice will work in Australia. All of their info says it's only available in the USA.

 

[aczlan]

I don't think I'll be calling any phones in Australia, while I'm in Australia. And, I don't think my AT&T iPhone 5S will take a SIM card.

See: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5416414 its a world phone. All you need to do is ask ATT to confirm that its unlocked and buy a local prepaid SIM once you get to Australia.

And, I'm not 100% sure that Google Voice will work in Australia. All of their info says it's only available in the USA.

It will work as long as you set it up from the US before you go. Its not available in Canada, but I have used it from there.

Aaron Z

 

[Complete Turf Care]

See: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5416414 its a world phone. All you need to do is ask ATT to confirm that its unlocked and buy a local prepaid SIM once you get to Australia.


It will work as long as you set it up from the US before you go. Its not available in Canada, but I have used it from there.

Aaron Z

Thanks Aaron. I will look into this more.