donny

Personally, and despite all the hype, I recommend avoiding Skype like the plague. They use a closed protocol that doesn't play friendly with the other VOIP services. You have already noticed that Skype's charges to landlines aren't all that great, the real kicker is that you miss out on the major advantage of VOIP: being able to phone other VOIP users on other VOIP systems for free. That may seem to be a secondary consideration right now but just wait for the network effect to kick in; at some point over the next couple of years, most businesses internationally will be using VOIP and listing SIP numbers. That isn't optimism, it already makes solid financial sense for organisations of a certain size and developments like better commodity hardware and Open Source software like Asterisk is opening it up to ever smaller organisations. Many of the landline numbers you see today merely mask and route to SIP numbers. There's undoubtedly a tipping point on the way when the number of people with VOIP will persuade organisations to list their SIP numbers alongside their regular numbers. At that point, the argument for VOIP in the home will become "spend $60 on a small box you can stick your existing phone into and every number becomes a toll-free number". Skype users can only talk to other Skype users or, by paying the comparatively high Skype-Out rates, regular landline and mobile phones. Skype only looks good when you compare it against the traditional telecoms companies. A half-rotted dolphin would look good compared against the traditional telecos. Skype got the hype because the guys who launched it had some sort of connection with popular P2P app Kazaa. By the time Kazaa was sued into bankruptcy, it's technology had already been superceded by a less proprietory technology, BitTorrent. It's worth noting that Skype saves the Skype corporation a few cents by using your computer to process other peoples calls, even when you are not making a call yourself. P2P makes sense for getting your hands on pirated music but not, IMHO, for VOIP. I don't see any good arguments for Skype. A question for those of you currently using VOIP in different countries: is there a big difference in quality in different countries? How is Pattaya? And does the quality of the actual broadband service make a big difference? I get what has been said about VOIP requiring not that much bandwidth but I suspect that high-contention rates of most consumer broadband products has got to hurt and I've heard that Pattaya's broadband sucks like a wind tunnel in reverse.

That's very interesting - I've been investigating VOIP, seems like the ideal thing for running a business while living in different countries. My eventual aim would be to have freephone numbers for clients in North America, the UK and Australia, all routed to wherever I happen to be (ideally living like a lord in LOS!). Specifically, I was looking at getting a Sipura 2000 or 3000 ATA (for the uniniated, that's Analog Telephone Adaptor - a small box with one socket you use to connect it to your network, another for any regular phone). I've already bought an awesome Panasonic DECT phone/ ans machine and a Plantronics DECT over-the-ear headset for keeping me wireless and hands-free while I talk. What VOIP provider are you using Bill? The market doesn't seem quite consumer-ready yet but I've been looking at Broadvoice in the US and Gossiptel in the UK. Both offer pretty competitive packages that allow you to make an unlimited number of international calls for a set monthly amount. There does, however, seem to be a certain amount of disastisfaction out there regarding ANY provider. How are you finding yours?

Agreed, it doesn't make sense to waste your vacation online but quite a lot of us need to keep an eye on our work/businesses. To my mind, the ideal working situation is one in which you're being paid to be available IF a problem crops up. If you do have to spend a few hours fire-fighting, it would be far nicer to do this in your room. I've used quite a few different 'Net cafes in Pattaya and, true, they are cheap enough, but can be quite grotty/uncomfortable/noisy. What if you are focused on something important and closing time hits? What if the owner, posessed of that wonderful Thai immunity to noise, has a small yappy dog? Or small yappy children? Or a small yappy Arab sets up an Internet phone call right next to you? Also, how many people really spend only 30mins/30bt online? I think you'll find that the time burns away more rapidly than you think. The 150B at the Pinewood works out at about 2.5 hours at a cafe. Quite apart from the business aspect, it can be quite an enjoyable way to while away a few hours, better than Thai television anyway and downright useful if you're planning an interesting night in Pattaya. If I owned a hotel in Thailand, I wouldn't hesitate to set up a wireless network and sell access to my guests.

I'll second MM's Pinewood Residence suggestion, stayed there in January, nice place, very friendly staff, good location although a wee bit hard to find the first time you go. They also have what seems to be very secure parking if you have a motorbike, the security hut is right next to the bikes.

Boo Hoo, I'm going home with my my tail between my legs (well, er, not my tail so much as my battered and much overused member) but my rather excellent landlady is hooking me up with a comfortable private car to the airport for 900B plus tolls, usually you'd only get some crappy taxi for that amount. I'm thinking that a 100B tip would be appropriate, so, the overall cost inc. 200B for tolls should be around 1200B. If anyone wants to share the ride, let me know. I can be flexible with regard to leaving an hour or so earlier if necessary. As a guide, my flight is the 23:25 KLM 0878 to Amsterdam, so, I'm aiming to check in nice and early at 22:00, giving me two hours to get from Pattaya to the Airport, should be plenty. Donnacha

Hi, flying in just after midday on the 12th of January, would be fun to share a taxi or limo to Pattaya with some fellow boardies. Looking forward to seeing everyone in the FLB, Donny