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    Free VoIP Showdown: Google Voice vs. Skype 5 Beta Discussion

    Discussion in 'Notebook News and Reviews' started by Dustin Sklavos, Oct 5, 2010.

  1. Dustin Sklavos

    Dustin Sklavos Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Today we tackle two free VoIP services -- Google Voice and Skype 5 beta -- in a comparison review. Find out which online phone replacement packs the biggest bang for zero bucks.

    Read the full content of this Article: Free VoIP Showdown: Google Voice vs. Skype 5 Beta

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    Last edited by a moderator: May 7, 2015
    Dustin Sklavos, Oct 5, 2010
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  2. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    It might be my location but when I used both, Google Voice had horrible audio quality compared to Skype when calling to the States. I also like how computer to computer has video on Skype, which is a nice addition if the other user is by the computer.
     
    sgogeta4, Oct 6, 2010
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  3. f4ding

    f4ding Laptop Owner

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    And correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Skype is based in the UK? If all these go have to go through some server, and their server is in the UK, I would expect things to be a bit worse for Skype and better for Google here in the US.
     
    f4ding, Oct 7, 2010
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  4. MaxGeek

    MaxGeek Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm sure they have more than one server...
     
    MaxGeek, Oct 12, 2010
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  5. highlandsun

    highlandsun Notebook Evangelist

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    Skype's network is actually P2P based; if you leave it running on your PC long enough and you have decent network bandwidth your PC will start to be used to route other peoples' calls too. Of course they don't widely advertise this fact, which is one of the reasons I really hate them...
     
    highlandsun, Oct 13, 2010
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  6. highlandsun

    highlandsun Notebook Evangelist

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    The biggest problem I have with Google Voice is that they don't provide a regular inbound SIP gateway; unless you were lucky enough to set up a Gizmo5 account before Google bought them you have no regular access to SIP. They've totally lobotomized they technology the acquired with Gizmo5.
     
    highlandsun, Oct 13, 2010
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  7. unreal25

    unreal25 Capt. Obvious

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    I use both and prefer Google Voice/Google Video chat. Skype often reduces my video quality when I talk to folks back home, and it's really annoying (since I use an HD camera), and the voice is often very choppy. Not always, but often, and its kind of random.

    Btw excellent review, as usual from NBR. Keep it up.
     
    unreal25, Oct 16, 2010
    #7