can Skype be used instead of a land line

[Richard]

has anyone switched to this and is it a viable alternative to paying approx., £15/month for a land line rental?
I am afraid there are so many developments that I cannot work out if I need to get a dedicated (land line replacement) phone, to circumvent the traditional telephone apparatus.
or is it really much better suited to use on a 'smartphone', again to avoid paying charges per month?

[Geoff]

To sustain anything like good quality you would be better off using Skype on a home computer (or device connected to wi-fi). This would require a landline for the broadband connection. While 4G is an option, once you start streaming video you are looking at big bills.

[Richard]

Thanks Geoff !!
That makes sense, I still need a land-line, then I may as well not bother with 'Skype'.
I really don't need to communicate verbally on International calls anyway.

[moonjiver]

This sounds suspiciously like a situation which has been mentioned here by more than one person - they only keep a landline going for the purposes of broadband, but in fact make few landline calls, instead relying on their mobile phone much more!

Me too. I am paying £20 a month for a landline I hardly ever use, only because I am now atlast trying to find a suitable broadband provider. The few calls I do make are mainly in the evening (free for me) - but most basic broadband deals don't offer free evening calls. So if I go for a deal with free anytime calls, I'd be paying out even more per month, for a landline which gets very little usage!

Is there any way round it? Clearly Skype doesn't solve the problem. Mobile broadband is I think a more expensive option for my laptop but then, if I am not paying out for a landline as well, perhaps the overall cost would be cheaper?

[Geoff]

Only if you are a VERY MINIMAL internet user would it be cheaper to opt for mobile internet instead of a fixed line. You can tether an Android phone to your computer and use its' mobile internet connection, but signal will be patchy and slower than proper fixed line broadband. 4G speeds are of course faster but at a price, and still with the problem of patchy service.

[moonjiver]

Thanks Geoff, I rather thought as much. Was hoping mobile broadband might have become more reliable too, but obviously not!

There are of course some landline providers who offer low-usage tarrifs but I doubt very much this applies if broadband is included. I'll resume my scanning of the deals, see what I can come up with.

[moonjiver]

Well, I didn't think I'd be picking up this thread again but life is funny and my situation has suddenly changed!

I am thinking of doing some trading again, I'm quite good at selling, enjoy it very much. Just in a small way to begin with, a friend has offered me a share in an indoor market stall, but if it goes ok I might extend it, move around between different locations. Selling certain kinds of books and decorative stuff, also some of my own seascape photos - already sold a few!

So, would any idle person like to comment on what sort of contact arrangements I should have? In situations like this I have often found the landline indispensible, I know traders who have nothing but a mobile number but I think there are still a significant number of people who are wary of only mobile numbers, and anyway it is cheaper for them to phone a landline - or am I being very old-fashioned?! For myself costs will be a signicant issue and (at present) my evening and weekend calls are free. Or could I still do better finding a good mobile deal with a big call allowance?

Later I might well be thinking about a small website, more of a showcase than very interactive, that will be very much new territory for me!

[Richard]

Well I don't see why you can't just get a Skype number if you want your customers to think they are phoning a Landline number.
As far as I can see you can do away with your landline altogether and use one single Skype account across multiple devices, including your home phone.

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/118991- ... home-phone

[moonjiver]

Thanks Richard. But, as I understand it, I still need a landline in order to set up broadband - I have the landline in place and it seems to make sense to just add broadband to my existing agreement. I don't mind that as long as the landline will actually be used - the problem before was that most of my communications with friends were done by text, mobile call or email!

However, due to these activities I am planning, my own landline calls have suddenly shot up, so now the landline looks financially justifiable!

Also, granny in her armchair may not have a computer, much less a Skype account - both caller and recipient need a Skype account I think. There's also the unreliable call-quality with Skype ..

I probably could find a suitable mobile deal, to allow for a greater volume of outgoing calls. But I have a lot to think about for now and the thought of again negotiating the minefield of mobile contracts fills me with dread.

[Richard]

1. I can make calls to people with a Skype telephone number and I do not have a Skype account.
2. I will consult with a Skype user and clarify the other 'issues'.