Skype

I don't know how many of you have heard of Skype, but allow me to highly recommend it.

Skype is a free software that allows you to make "phone calls" from your computer. The software is free and, as long as you're talking to someone else on Skype, so are the calls. In fact, from now until the end of the year, if you're a US Skyper you can call anywhere in the US or Canada for free. That means to regular phones, not just other Skype users.

I finally broke down and spent the bucks on a headset/microphone unit. (A Logitech Stereo USB Headset 250 to be precise.) I downloaded the program and it worked right from the get-go, even thought I'm still on Windows 98.

I just got it yesterday and I used it to call my mom in Boise, Idaho and we had a nice long chat. She's not on Skype but it worked well.

I also talked with VintageFL a bit and a very talented jazz player from Oklahoma named Ukuleleo. You can find him on YouTube. Check him out.

Today I talked on a conference call with Craig Robertson in Boston, Massachusetts, Nipper over in Somerset in the UK and Dominator somewhere in SoCal.

Better yet, I'm having a bit of confusion with Musician's Friend regarding a ukulele case. Basically, they sent me the wrong size and when I called before they said they'd send me a return label and nothing has shown up after a few weeks wait.

I have a pay-as-you-go cell phone and was dreading listening to my dimes ticking away as I navigated their little dial menu. But it suddenly occurred to me I should maybe try Skype (and hope for reasonable web conditions and good sound).

Worked like a champ and didn't cost me a pfennig nor farthing.

Gotta love it.

Anybody else who reads this on Skype?