iSkoot, yet another way to make Skype calls from your cellphone

Alright, yo, there's yet another new way to make cheap Skype calls with your cellie, but unlike Epyx Mobile and IPdrum this latest one doesn't require you to own two handsets. This one's called iSkoot (guess Lil Jon must have dibs on iSkeet), and basically what it does is forward a Skype call from your PC to your cellphone. You have to install their software, which interfaces with Skype, on your PC and then leave Skype running. When you want to make a call you can't just dial, you actually have to send send a text message to our PC (via iSkoot) with the number or Skype name of the person you want to call (you have to have a SkypeOut account to call regular phone numbers — and to have your PC call your cellphone in the first place), then wait as your PC calls both of you. You're essentially creating a Skype-enabled conference call between you and the person you want to speak with, and while it's not free even if you're just calling other Skype users (it costs money to make SkypeOut calls to your cellphone), the real advantage here is for making international calls, which can be crazy expensive to make from a cellphone.

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Sounds like more hassle than it's worth, IMHO.

[pocket @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I'm sure somewhere in the small print you must sacrafice a small animal and probably make the $9.95 payment in wampum.

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Why does it use skypeout to make the call? Why not use a modem to make calls on your landline? Or use other VOIP stuff?

[Vo Beatdown @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

This would be cool in the sense that you could use your SkypeIn number universally and not publish your cell number, but it's a little convoluted.

Matt: Most modems do not have the capability to convert in real time vocal audio. I have used a single line card with an open source PBX called Asterisk to gateway a VOIP call to a standard phone line, and it works well enough, but this is a pretty involed process.

[km @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

what if this way?
receive skype call:
skype peer called you on skype, but u are away from PC. a software that connect to your ADSL modem, and make call using your telephone line to your mobile.
making call from mobile:
make a call to your house phone, and the software will capture this and prompt a IVS for you to key in the destination num. then you can use skypeout to make call.

[jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

this is pretty interesting, 'cause i use skype all the time with my mother-in-law in taiwan. but that's if i'm at home or next to a pc. but i still don't see the distinct advantage of this when compared to using my cellphone. maybe some of you can enlighten me.

so this is what i do if i need to call asia on my cell phone. i signed up for an account on OneSuite, prepaid $20, and call taiwan for 3 cents a minute. the access number is toll free , and i only pay 3 cents/minute to talk to my mom in taiwan on my cell. what type of advantages does iskoot offer me that i don't have with my cell and prepaid phonecard? i still have to pay for using skypeout, right? and it's about... 3 cents/minute as well, no?