shamefull story but it happens.

GO SKYPE!!!!!!!!


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cf...jectid=10409722

I am having problems on NTL UK with Skype .Drop calls & microphone stops woking.And will only ok if I recall the person,or they call me.I have tried 4 different computers,Same result.
This has only starting to happen in the last 5 weeks.

That does not surprise me with New Zealand Telecom.

Most people pay about NZ$40 for a Telecom landline connecttion to their house (as I do). Then the internet (Broadband) costs on top of that can add up to $30 - $60+ for a landline internet connection per month.

I changed from my Telecom broadband service ($60) a few months ago to the Vodafone Mobile Connect internet service. I now have a Vodafone wireless broadband card in my laptop that works where ever a mobile phone signal can be found (97% of New Zealand coverage broadband and/or dial up) all for NZ$49 per month.

I can text to any mobile phone from my laptop with the Vodafone Mobile Connect for 17cents per message, plus receive text messages etc.

Using Skype on my laptop, I can call any New Zealand landline phone for 2 Euros per minute (under 4 cents NZ) where Vodafone charges 89 cents per minute from mobile to landline rate. I can also Skype Out to other major countries for an excellent rate.

I don't own a mobile phone, I have my laptop with me at work and at home if I need Skype Out etc.

My understanding is that if I have already paid for my home landline monthly phone costs and internet service costs (to Telecom, Vodafone or any other service), then why should Telecom restrict what I have paid for? Does Telecom restrict (controls) the services of competitive internet providers?

In mid 1997, the NZ Government de-regulated the monolpoly control of (Telecom) phone market. Within the next financial year, Telecom had 26 new phone competitors and Telecom's profit INCREASED from about 400 million to 600 million even after the phone rates dropped to well below half cost. The second year Telecom phone rates dropped even much further (I mean calls to the south island from $1.00 per minute became 10 cents per minute 2 years after 1997!) nationally and internationally etc. to a reported profit of 800 million for Telecom.

More people were using the phone services as they became so cheap since 1997 even with competitors and drastically reduced phone rates Telecom's annual profits DOUBLED.

I believe more people using services like Skype won't effect Telecom New Zealand's profit, as in the 1990's competitor's certainly did not harm Telecom?

Cheers,

Steve.

Hi Steve

Ive just installed the Vodafone VMC software and card. Skype wont connect. Any suggestions or configuration you know about that will enable the connection. The NZ Vodafone website says VOIP is not supported and MAY be blocked at any time. See link here

http://vodafonenz.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/vod...amp;p_topview=1

wow ugly URL hope that worked.

Any advice appreciated.

thanks Batch

I just "upgraded" my Telecom services from 3Gbyte to 6Gbyte under their special free upgrade called "Go 6GB promo" - which means I commit to 12 months for this program or pay a penalty. I used to use Skype video just fine - slow at times - but it worked. Now whenever I use it, the people I talk to just see me pixelated and/or connections break off. I can see them just fine, so upload speed is the problem. I wonder why skype no longer works. Is this the same issue as reported in this forum several years ago?

Here is the reply I received from Telecom:

"The upload speed is limited to 128 kpbs for Go plan. I apologise that I cannot change the upload rate for this plan. Next broadband plan is Explorer, the upload speed is Maximum speed for this plan. Maximum speed means the connection speed will be as fast as the phone line allows. The connection may not reach maximum speeds for a number of reasons outlined below.

I am not sure if you can change your broadband plan at this stage. If you wish to change to another plan, I think you will need to send an email to streetfighter@telecom.co.nz to see if you will need to pay early termination fee for changing to another plan."

Here is an update about Telecom NZ. I am impressed with their customer service and technical support. I sent an email complaint about my poor skype upload performance. They replied on line within a day with suggestions to upgrade. however I ran www.speedtest.com and pointed out the upload speed was 25kbs not 125 they had sold me. After a few more email exchanges, they made changes to my service, assured me this was not targeting skype, and my upload speed I can now measure is what is advertised in their GO plan.

Hi Ian
I talk openly to Telecom NZ in Auckland about my Telecom broadband, home phone and mobile phone with 1GB mobile data and Skype I use on all of these services.

Telecom do not admit working against Skype being used, but I guess as long as I pay for Telecom services they seem to not be concerned about Skype.

I have even discussed may ways of getting the best internet at home and on my mobile recently to use Skype and Telecom shops have been most helpful.

Not too many in the Telecom know much about how to use Skype on the internet of mobile phone anyway. One person in a Telecom shop a month ago says he heard and thinks Skype will not work on a Mobile Phone data connection.

To my knowledge, Skype will not work on a 2G mobile and only will work in a 3G area (mainly most populated areas like the cities), but the new June 2009 3G nation wide roll out should cover that 3G issue.

I have found that Skype on the mobile requires a wired headset plugged into my mobile (as Skype suggest) to get the best result. I guess the usual mobile built in mic and speakers don't work the best yet. The result I found was better sound and signal quality than my normal mobile voice connection.

I am using a HTC Apache mobile phone.

I am keen to see the new Nokia N97 when it is released through Telecom (if they offer it) after June 2009 with Skype built into the phone. Either the Nokia or the Skype for Windows Mobile with Bluetooth support.

I also imported a Vosky Call Centre gateway from the U.S. and use Telecom $10 per month "Freedom" to get toll free calls between my home phone and mobile and the Vosky gateway connects my home phone (and mobile) to my PC for toll free landline SkypeIn and OUT calling from my mobile via the home phone.

Regards,

Steve.

Completely unrelated of course, but I would question the nice cheery voice from the yellow group that announces the FREE connection being made to a number when copied and pasted from whitepages. Which curiously only appears with those copied and pasted manual dials.

But then no one likes linux.

Read between those lines to find the answer you want...