Skype instead of a landline

[dpmiller1986]

Hi,

I will be moving into a new home soon and want to use skype as my home phone. Do I need to also get a BT Landline which costs about £13 or can I just get a Skype Phone and an Online Number

Thanks

Dan

[wd9ewk]

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I will be moving into a new home soon and want to use skype as my home phone. Do I need to also get a BT Landline which costs about £13 or can I just get a Skype Phone and an Online Number

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You could use a Skype Online Number instead of a home telephone, as long as you get a number in an area code that works for you.  Skype doesn't have numbers in all UK areas.  You can get a 50% discount on the online number if you already have a calling subscription for telephones.  You can go with a Skype phone, or use a device like an iPod Touch on a WiFI network in your house as your home telephone (I do that). Once you get an Online Number, you can use that for your Caller ID when ringing telephones from your Skype account. 

Of course, as Skype warns in its literature and around this web site, a Skype account is not able to ring 999 in an emergency.  For that, you would either need to use a landline or mobile phone to reach that emergency number. 

Good luck!

[dpmiller1986]

So what I would need to do is get an online calling number for my area code. Then I could get a Skype Phone and link it to my Broadband? So it would work out cheaper as I wouldnt be paying BT line rental and I assume ppl could call me on that Online Number

Is it easy to set up the online Number in your home?

[wd9ewk]

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So what I would need to do is get an online calling number for my area code. Then I could get a Skype Phone and link it to my Broadband? So it would work out cheaper as I wouldnt be paying BT line rental and I assume ppl could call me on that Online Number

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You don't have to get the Online Number in your area code.  You can get it from whatever area code available from Skype.  I live in Arizona (USA) and have Online Numbers here in Arizona, as well as 3 other places (a London 020 number in your country, as well as numbers in Mexico and Australia). 

If you're already paying for broadband Internet, it could be cheaper to use Skype as a home phone.  The Online Number will let telephone callers reach you.  You are able to call phones either with a Skype subscription or with Skype Credit on your account to pay for each outgoing call.  Skype's UK subscriptions can cover calls either to landlines or both landlines and mobiles.  Calls to special numbers like those in the 0845 and 0870 area codes are not covered by Skype's subscriptions, and would be paid for with Skype Credit at Skype's per-minute rates (plus VAT and a connect fee for each call). 

I have been using Skype as my "home phone" for over 4 years.  Here in the States, where Skype's rates and subscriptions cover calling to both landlines and mobiles without having to pay extra for calling mobile phones, I have saved hundreds - and I get a phone that I can use anywhere I have access to Internet, worldwide.  I can't do that with a traditional home phone.  I also have a mobile phone, so that is my way to call for emergency services if necessary. 

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Is it easy to set up the online Number in your home?

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It depends on the phone you plan to use in your home.  More of those phones are coming on the market, where you don't have to tie the phone to a computer.  The phone (or the base, in the case of a cordless phone) either plugs into your Internet router, or it is a WiFi device that you use on a WiFi network in your house.  I have had some experience with a Skype WiFi phone and a desk phone that plugged into my Internet router in the past.  They both worked pretty well.  The only thing I had to get used to with Skype as my "home phone" is dialing telephone numbers in the international format, even when dialing a local number.  Once I got past that, it worked fine.  Now my "home phone" is the Skype app on my iPod Touch. 

Hope that helps!

[AndrewD-]

The topic and responses suggest a comprehensive guide to this sort of thing would be a good idea (as with many other topics).

It leads to further questions, like

1. Where's the list of Skype area codes for the UK?
2. Can an iPhone 4 be used for Skype on your home wireless network? Which other devices?
3. I've started with the free mth of Skype Premium, but not used it. If I phone someone's conventional landline, what will display as my name/#?
4. If I buy a Skype #, can my calls show as Number Withheld or Private?
5. Can my # be withheld by putting 141 in front, as with conventional landlines & mobiles?
6. With call forwarding and no subscription, is the Skype customer receiving the call charged at PAYG rates? What's the connection charge in UK currency, inc VAT?

Spent ages searching for these things.

[Neil]

1.    Where's the list of Skype area codes for the UK?

the available cities and area codes are shown on a dropdown list during the selection process (but you don't have to complete that process to see the list)

2.    Can an iPhone 4 be used for Skype on your home wireless network? Which other devices?

yes, and many other smartphones, typically Android-based, plus the new BlackBerry

3.    I've started with the free mth of Skype Premium, but not used it. If I phone someone's conventional landline, what will display as my name/#?

nothing will display unless you set up Caller ID to show your Online number or a verified mobile number, and your Skype Name may or may not display, depending on the carrier

4.    If I buy a Skype #, can my calls show as Number Withheld or Private?

see previous answer -- if Caller ID is not configured in Skype then a dummy number may be shown or it may just display private or unknown

5.    Can my # be withheld by putting 141 in front, as with conventional landlines & mobiles?

no, you either configure ougoing Caller ID or you don't -- there is no quick way to switch

6.    With call forwarding and no subscription, is the Skype customer receiving the call charged at PAYG rates?

the receiver of SkypeOut calls never pays -- to make SkypeOut calls to landlines or mobile numbers (including Call Forwarding) you will need Skype Credit to cover the PayG rates or you will need an appropriate subscription

PayG rates for UK destinations can be found here http://www.skype.com/en/rates/

7.   What's the connection charge in UK currency, inc VAT?

Skype lists connection fees EXCLUDING VAT, and for the UK it is 8.9 cents per call for most destinations, 4.9 cents per call for London