VoIP closes the communication gap - even in war zone

By Susan Young, The Oakland Tribune

OAKLAND, Calif.

Last fall, Sgt. 1st Class Toby Nunn stood by his wife, Regan, as she gave birth to their daughter at Alta Bates hospital in Berkeley, Calif.

Too quickly, he returned to his unit in Iraq, dodging IED explosions as his unit transported supplies in the war zone. Until a few years ago, Nunn would have had little contact with his newborn, or his 4-year-old son or even his wife once he returned to the war. He would have missed out on his daughter's first giggle, missed the subtle changes as she grew from newborn to infant to toddler.

But technology has allowed him to have a virtual home life through a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) program on his computer. Simply stated, Nunn now speaks in real time to his family through the Internet using both voice and video.

The kicker is that he does it for a few bucks through a software program known as Skype. All he needs is a computer with a microphone and a Web cam. Skype needs to be connected to a computer to work, but a laptop and wireless allow more mobility.

"We could never afford the service fees with any other program," said Nunn, of Oakland, Calif. "I can speak to my family using Yahoo messenger or g-mail, but having the video with Skype makes all the difference in the world. For just a few dollars, I can see my sweet little daughter on the video camera and not feel as if I'm missing out on everything that's going on with her and my family back at home."

Skype has been around since 2003 and was purchased by eBay in 2005. The service is becoming so popular that even Oprah Winfrey touts it on her show. Skype-to-Skype calls are free, but there is a fee for international calls and to landline and cell phones.

Phone services from cable companies and other VoIP such as Vonage also offer unlimited calling plans, but the prices are considerably higher and are add-ons to basic calling plans.

Other companies offering similar services include tokbox (www.tokbox.com), which also offers free calling. Still, Skype is the best-known VoIP company in the world and certainly the most affordable.

"Skype's one of the most recognized out there," said PC World editor Ed Albro. "I'm sure you could find something else that might be comparable, but there's a higher likelihood that your family and friends will know the company and have easy access to it. When other companies come out with equipment to use with it like handsets and Wi-Fi, you know they will always support Skype because of the high profile of the company."

Of course, having instant contact with parents or old friends might allow for a little too much personal information. You can tell the folks you've been keeping your room clean and haven't been staying out late, but with video a picture is worth a thousand lies.

"That's where a good green screen comes into play," joked Albro. "Maybe that's the next extra for Skype: a background that shows a great apartment or the ability to PhotoShop yourself looking even better."

Skype reports that in the first quarter of this year, subscribers called 1.7 billion minutes, compared to 14.2 billion minutes called in the free service. Free beats fee every time, but Albro said the company seems to have a business plan that makes it all work out.

"You'll also notice they aren't big on customer service. You call a company like AT&T, and you'll get a response, perhaps not as quickly as we'd like, but there is a feeling someone is out there listening to you," Albro said. "With Skype, you're pretty much on your own."

Piedmont native Jason Phillips said that's fine with him. He'd rather have the cheap deal. His family hooked up with Skype about four years ago when his sister went to college in Brazil.

"The last thing you want to do when you are in college is spend your cell phone minutes if you don't need to," Phillips said. "Instead, you use your cell when you are out and use Skype at home for free."

Phillips, who attends college in Arizona, has two businesses. One is a Web design and development company currently under construction; the other sells rugby apparel (www.ruckoffrugby.com).

Skype allows him to cut the costs for his businesses.

"Skype eliminates any communications costs associated with the company," Phillips said. "The great thing about the Internet is that you can build a good business and not be out a lot of money. You can look as good as any other professional company."

Skype is a frequent subject in his business classes because "it's such a good alternative that more people should be taking advantage of," Phillips said.

Alameda, Calif., resident Riki Juster said the real draw for Skype is the low-cost international connection.

Juster learned about Skype through word-of-mouth. Her family lives in Israel and she generally talks at least once a week to her parents. She started using it more after her brother became a dad about a year ago.

"It's so wonderful to see my nephew on the screen, to see how he's growing," Juster said. "You can connect with your family in a way that just wasn't possible a few years ago."

As Nunn said, it's not easy to explain to a 4-year-old that you won't be able to see them for 18 months. With Skype, Nunn at least gets regular face time.

"A year to me is just a year, but to a little guy that's a quarter of his lifetime," Nunn said. "With Skype, you don't have to rely on your imagination. You can see their faces and know exactly what they are thinking."