Are you on Skype?

: Image via Wikipedia

I have a client who lives in Spain and travels frequently to India and Paraguay. We chat all the time for free. In addition, we tend to chat versus phone calls – one of us has a very thick accent (guess it depends on perspective) and we seem to communicate better via chat. I can’t imagine what the long distance fees would be on a tradition land line.

Further, it provides a transcript of all of our conversations. Frequently, I will go back to the chat to verify what the client said or wanted.

In addition, we occasionally use the video function when we need a face to face. The same as an in person meeting, hardly – but consider the cost. If you work from home, be careful what shows up in your background. Kinda hard to be a big shot power exec when My Little Pony is looming in the background.

Skype also gives us unlimited calling within the US and Canada for about $3 a month.

Of course, there are limitations to the service. Currently, Skype doesn’t offer caller ID in the US, so many folks don’t answer the phone because they don’t see the number. Call quality seems to be a function of the headsets I use.

If your phone bills are over $50, a VOIP alternative like Skype might provide some relief.