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ElanaAhova

Join Date 09/2008

+105

voice talking over internet without a phone number

Does anyone have any experience with using the web to talk (audio) to someone over the web. Situation: I live in USA, friend is in Britian. Both have PC, web. I have cell phone, no land line. Can anyone point me in the right direction to setting this up? i'm very hesitant to go to sites i don't know for 'programs.' as i don't want my PC to get sick.

Thank you all.

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I talk daily using Yahoo messenger and almost any other messenger has voice chat. Voice quality is better than my landline or cell phone. I have also tried Skype, AIM and MS Messenger, all work with Win7 64 bit. All you need is a webcam,microphone or headset. Setting it up is reasonably simple.

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' Skype ' A solution sure and with no problem at all which in showed its ability for a long time: www.skype.com

I agree with Wizard1956

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ElanaAhova

Join Date 09/2008

+105

Thanks wizzy an B2r. I will check them out. Any problem using wine xp? I will find out!

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ventrilo and mumble are also nice for chatting with large groups of people w/out giving out any personal information (usually ideal for gaming.. but it works just the same for personal use and is free).

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All of the above.

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Quoting Wizard1956,

reply 1

Almost all the instant messengers work for voice-chat now, and Steam has it too if you already have that program. I would shy away from MS Messenger though. That POS has become MS's dumping ground for all their crap on the market, errr I mean their attempt to offer all their valuable "extras" in a streamlined, read forced, integrated offering.

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I tried Skype and did not like it as much as TeamSpeak although I am not sure about the server side. TeamSpeak does require one side to setup a server that all parties can connect to using IP and I recommend using a simple password to keep out the trolls on any voice over IP (VOIP).

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I would shy away from MS Messenger though. That POS has become MS's dumping ground for all their crap on the market,

+1 It didn't take me long to uninstall it.

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ElanaAhova

Join Date 09/2008

+105

I'm new to all this. I will try team speak first, as that seems like the simplest to install. My PC becomes the server, and anyone trying to access it needs a password. So I feel it might be safer from 'PC infections. Thank you all for the suggestions, cautions, etc, Esp about MS messenger -

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Although used mostly for gaming, TeamSpeak is also pretty good, especially for groups of people, the quality of the new version is superb compared to the previous version. But Skype is good as well.

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If you want to run the TeamSpaek server, thats a separate install. Also if you use a router you will use your internal IP to connect where others will connect with the external IP which you can easily find by googling whatsmyip.

Post back if you need more help.

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I'd vote Skype my number 1. I regularly use it to talk to friends up to 8800 miles away with no issues whatsoever. Easy to setup and use, drag and drop more people into conversations easily, show desktop, webcams, whatever. It just works. I just don't recommend trying to send files through it unless they are very small.

Use to use Yahoo IM before and while it was ok, any lengthy conversation would seem to always get dropped at some point and you'd have to call back/reestablish.The file sending was about the only thing better than skype with it(though still kinda slow).

I'm fairly new Teamspeak. While it seemed to work ok it is a little more involved setting up and just felt kind of clunky to me.

Ventrillo for me was a shortlived experience. Felt slightly similar to Teamspeak, but I could never get the thing working right. I could get on and hear people but others couldn't hear me even after fiddling with it so i gave up with the above, better options available.

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i highly recommend skype for 1 on 1 calls. easy to set up and use. no need for any kinds of configuration. all you need is a mic headset. it has alot of other useful feature as well. you can play some simple games over it(beat my brother at chess once on it lol), you can share files across it, although i recommend only very small files as its fairly slow.

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ElanaAhova

Join Date 09/2008

+105

You all have been wonderful. The advice and sharing your experience is very helpful. i did download team speak, and got lost in the set up. I am looking for one-on one, so Skype it is!

I don't have a router - but i am hoping to get into some multi-player games later. Then i would need team speak? thnak you all....

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ElanaAhova

Join Date 09/2008

+105

I just went to skype, and they want a phone number. Am i in the right place?

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yeah, team speak.

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Your aim is to set up a one-on-one chat similar to a phone call, with limited experience. That is what skype is designed to do; you will need to register, but after that, the rest should be dead simple.

The number skype asks for, I believe, is in case you want others to be able to call with a landline to reach you on skype. This is not necessary for your use as described, and you should be able to ignore that. It will also offer you various subscriptions (voicemail etc). Ignore those as well, unless you find that is something you'll want. The basic skype service - calls from PC A to PC B - is free.

It will say you have a free call you can make, but don't be confused - that is a free call to a land phone. All PC-to-PC conversations are 100% free. (Aside from the internet connection).

Skype has become a little bloated, but it's still one of, if not the, best VOIP program for one-on-one or (very) small group conversations.

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