Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 22:04, by Richard
Technology is a grand, but there's still “no free lunch"......unless you do your homework, or at least in next day's class.
Teri “instant messaged” me to “Skype” her. Skype is a relatively new free internet call service that taps the VOIP protocol. I thought what a fabulous idea....a free phone call to France. It doesn't get any better than that!!!!
After trying in vain to locate a headset with a microphone, I realized the only thing to do was utilize an older laptop which happened to have a built in microphone.
After 15 minutes of shuffling laptops...batteries, power supplies and installing Skype, I was finally able to connect with Teri and Kristen....what a thrill.
Here's the catch. Teri has a 3 hour internet card that cost 15 Euros (maybe $20USD). Now that's about 11 cents per minute to talk. Not such a deal for a "free" call.
So my lately technologically challenged mind thought..."hey why are we doing this?" We already have VOIP service as part of our business phone service. Why use Teri’s precious internet time when I can call on a real phone for what turned out to be 4 cents per minute. So I got off Skype and called them in Paris on a real phone. Which by the way was much easier and I should have done in the first place. Well we all live and learn.
I have always said if one learns nothing in a day, the day was wasted.
Enjoy the trip to Versailles Teri and Kristen!!!!!!!
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