June 13, 2007
Using Skype as my Work Phone
While in Reno, I lamented the fact that I had a LAN line in my house. I was resolute that I would not give phone marketers the opportunity to harass me by avoiding the LAN line altogether in Phoenix. During my first week in my home office, my plan to solely use my cell phone died a horrible death. Even though coverage for at&t seems ubiquitous in the area, calls were dropping faster than leaves into my swimming pool (pool maintenance is a whole separate subject).
I could get VOIP from Cox - the local cable company, but it seemed overly costly. So I turned to Skype. I was able to purchase SkypeIn with a local Phoenix number for $18 for three months. That’s only $6 a month. It includes free voice mail so if I’m not available or can’t answer, it jumps to a message I recorded. In order to make calls out, I purchased SkypeOut Unlimited. It’s $8.85 for three months. I can call anywhere in the US and Canada with unlimited minutes. So basically for $9 a month, I’m getting about $25 in service if I were to go the more traditional route. Skype automatically pauses iTunes when a call comes in and the voice quality is awesome.
I did run out and purchase a USB Plantronics headset for about $20. I’m also thinking about getting a a WiFi enabled handset that doesn’t require a computer to connect. This way, I’m not tied to my computer and can use it from anywhere in the house. So far, I have no complaints. I don’t have to have the computer on or be logged in to let users leave voice mail. Right now, it seems like the optimal solution.
