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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Crystal Voice says ADIOS !
I just received a notice from Crystal Voice Live saying that their service will terminate on 01 Aug 07.
Having tried both Crystal Voice and Skype, I felt Crystal Voice was the better of the two, but that's life.
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losfrailes
Senior Nomad
Posts: 577
Registered: 11-16-2004
Location: Ejido San Lucas near Santa Rosalia
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Mood: Good!
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Well that is a shame. You must use up your minutes by 1 Aug or lose them. Any subscription fees were posted as plus minutes and they will not refund
any amounts.
Call generously.
Here is the scoop. http://www.crystalvoicelive.com/
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
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Vonage is in trouble too. A federal court ruled they violated Verizon patents.
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 13109
Registered: 10-3-2003
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Skype is the only way to go.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
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Alternatives
Once Crystal Voice disappears, the alternatives seem to be either Skype or Google Talk.
During the time period I had both Crystal Voice and Skype working on my Hughesnet (Direcway) system, I found that the CV connection quality was
consistently superior and, as a result, I allowed the Skype account with a credit balance to lapse. Of course, it's possible that the overall quality
has improved since then. It appears that I'll find out.
Until now, I hadn't heard anything of Google Talk. Has anyone had any experience with that service ? Good or Bad ?
Changes, Changes.
This comes on the heels of my having to change out both of my U.S. TDMA accounts because ATT is discontinuing TDMA service to expand their GSM net.
In those cases, I was able to pick up a couple of Refurb CDMA phones on E-Bay and establish two Prepaid accounts. In the past, I had avoided the
Verizon network because of the problems in Baja, but having bought a Telcel GSM Prepaid, that's no longer a factor.
"The Times They Are a Changin" (too much).
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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I have had Skype and Crystal Voice and with Hughes net system and the sending of voice is the pits with skype. Crystal voice sends and receives very
well but they are going south. Have not had a chance to try google talk as of yet but will have to try it. There was a guy in San Lucas who used
some other program that I think was set up through MSN and he reported very good results. Maybe Los Frailes can shed some light on this program.
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beercan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 4-3-2005
Location: North of da Bear
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Mood: happy to be in Baja
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I have used Netzero
For over 1&1/2 years and am happy with it !
I have tried Yahoo voice and it seems to be comparable .
* libs, all about choice until you choose different
* B. Hussein Obama - an Empty Suit for Empty Minds.
* Annoy a liberal - Work hard and be happy!
* Arguing facts & truth to libs is like bringing a warm smile to a gun fight.
* Lets win the War on Terror
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Interesting !
Awhile back, I had heard that Crystal Voice was being bought out by NetZero and when I later went to the Crystal Voice website, I saw that they were
accepting no new customers and referring everyone to NetZero. However, when I went to the NetZero site (at that time), I found that they were not at
present offering the service.
Although Crystal Voice is now recommending either Google of Skype, as a result of Bob's note, I went to the NetZero site and see that they are
offering a variety of plans, one of which is a pay-as-you-go, but without a monthly charge.
http://www.netzero.net/voip
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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Glad this was brought up.
Does Skype not work to call cell phones? I've tried a few time and seem to get a "busy circut" signal. Am I just trying at the wrong time?
Mean people suck!
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losfrailes
Senior Nomad
Posts: 577
Registered: 11-16-2004
Location: Ejido San Lucas near Santa Rosalia
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Mood: Good!
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Probably won't work on cell phones. It is, after all, VOIP. Voice over Internet Protocol. I hazard a guess that the cell service is not Internet
related.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Debra
Glad this was brought up.
Does Skype not work to call cell phones? I've tried a few time and seem to get a "busy circut" signal. Am I just trying at the wrong time?
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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Checking the new NetZero sight, they offer connection to cell phones by voip.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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cell phones work with vonage internet
i would talk to susan on the way to work on the cell phone
land lines are better but when you
re a "goundpounder" you take what you get
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losfrailes
Senior Nomad
Posts: 577
Registered: 11-16-2004
Location: Ejido San Lucas near Santa Rosalia
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Mood: Good!
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My bad. You can call cellphones, I just do not think that you can originate the call via cell.
Please correct my thinking!
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wornout
Senior Nomad
Posts: 595
Registered: 10-24-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja California
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Mood: No Bad Days
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| Quote: | Originally posted by losfrailes
My bad. You can call cellphones, I just do not think that you can originate the call via cell.
Please correct my thinking! |
You are correct, but, you can buy a 'SKYPE' phone that will work whenever you are in a 'Wi-Fi' area. No Computer Needed.
This Space Available, E-Mail Me If Interested.
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chuckmccullough
Junior Nomad
Posts: 55
Registered: 9-1-2004
Location: Hemt, CA
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You should try Yahoo Voice. PC to PC is free, PC to is very low cost and works well. Phone to PC is less than $2.50 per month. This is all part of
Yahoo Messanger. I've used it for about 1 year and I'm very happy.
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
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I am rather pleased with Gizmo. A FREE US call in number is good. Quality to land lines in the old country is about the same as Skype. But I am able
to connect to some numbers with it that I cannot with Skype.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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A lot depends on whether you are using a land line like Prodigy or using satellite like Hughes net or Starband. Skype has always worked well for
downloads on the computer or receiving, but with satellite, it leaves a lot to be desired for uploads or sending. I can hear my phone calls very well
but those on the receiving end of my phone calls could not always hear me and of course it is worse when the bandwith on the satellite is crowded.
Crystal voice took care of that problem and I was very happy with satellite usage, but that one is in the tank.
Now both Netzero and Yahoo are being recommended but is anyone using it specifically with Hughes net or Direcway satellite and if so how is it
working.
I know Bob and Susan are very happy with Vonage but they are subscribing and are happy since they can recieve phonecalls which go to voicemail if
the computer is not on.
I would like to get away from the subscription idea and just pay by the minute for the phone calls I make, which so far looks like Skype and
Netzero.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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oh it's not perfect by a long run but...
we get a so california phone number that rings...
calls out are cruddy
calls in are great for us but sometimes cruddy for the caller
wayne...we need a FASTER upload!!!
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bajadock
Super Nomad
Posts: 1219
Registered: 12-20-2006
Location: Punta sur de \'Nada
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This thread is one of the many reasons I enjoy BN! So many experiences are willingly shared for those of us who are newer. I'm a 6 month old. There
have been a few other posts on this topic, as communications can be tricky/expensive in Baja.
MSN, Yahoo, Google and Skype are great alternatives to land-line phones.
I use Yahoo Messenger for calls to US/Canada at $.01/minute anytime via internet. Quality in/out is great with an inexpensive headset/mic. There
was no setup fee.
Just got a San Diego area code phone# via Yahoo. You can choose an area code from just about any city in US. Free voice mail also comes with this
service. Getting the US# costs $30/year, but, my friends and family can catch me without cost to them.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Vonage ??
Today's news included the resignation of Vonage's Chief Exec and noted that the "Troubled" network would be announcing a Major (numbers unspecified)
Layoff soon.
Speaking of NetZero, I do have a friend who is using it via HughesNet and is satisfied with the service.
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