skype and bandwidth

I have a question about Skype. I am not yet a user but am considering it.

I know it is peer-to-peer: Does it use bandwidth even when the
application is closed or only when it is running? I know that if I have
the application running but am not currently using it then it could
route other people's calls, but am I correct in believing that all
skype-related network activity *must* cease when I exit the application?

Furthermore, if I were to purchase one of the "skype phones" that plug
directly into my router (e.g. Philips VOIP841), are they "always on"?
In other words, will Skype be sending traffic over my internet
connection continuously? Am I correct in assuming that unplugging the
phone from my router would be the only surefire way to prevent that
traffic? (aside from vigilant firewalling techniques that seem like
they don't always work and are, frankly, more than I care to deal with)

Thanks for any help you can provide.

-Casey

"Casey" <no@way.com> wrote in message
news:q9mdncTR_6gApGHbnZ2dnUVZ_gydnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> I have a question about Skype. I am not yet a user but am considering it.
>
> I know it is peer-to-peer: Does it use bandwidth even when the
> application is closed or only when it is running? I know that if I have
> the application running but am not currently using it then it could
> route other people's calls, but am I correct in believing that all
> skype-related network activity *must* cease when I exit the application?

Yes

Thanks, Ray. Any idea about the phone questions?

Furthermore, if I were to purchase one of the "skype phones" that plug
directly into my router (e.g. Philips VOIP841), are they "always on"? In
other words, will Skype be sending traffic over my internet connection
continuously? Am I correct in assuming that unplugging the phone from
my router would be the only surefire way to prevent that traffic?
(aside from vigilant firewalling techniques that seem like they don't
always work and are, frankly, more than I care to deal with)

Thanks,

-Casey

Ray wrote:
> "Casey" <no@way.com> wrote in message
> news:q9mdncTR_6gApGHbnZ2dnUVZ_gydnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> I have a question about Skype. I am not yet a user but am considering it.
>>
>> I know it is peer-to-peer: Does it use bandwidth even when the
>> application is closed or only when it is running? I know that if I have
>> the application running but am not currently using it then it could
>> route other people's calls, but am I correct in believing that all
>> skype-related network activity *must* cease when I exit the application?
>
> Yes
>
>
>

"Casey" <no@way.com> wrote in message
news:FPmdnfYA9sUJ1mHbnZ2dnUVZ_uHinZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Thanks, Ray. Any idea about the phone questions?
>
> Furthermore, if I were to purchase one of the "skype phones" that plug
> directly into my router (e.g. Philips VOIP841), are they "always on"? In
> other words, will Skype be sending traffic over my internet connection
> continuously? Am I correct in assuming that unplugging the phone from
> my router would be the only surefire way to prevent that traffic?
> (aside from vigilant firewalling techniques that seem like they don't
> always work and are, frankly, more than I care to deal with)

I am not sure about that one Casey. To be really honest, I run Skype on my
server and all the in/out data is monitored 24/7 and I never see any
activity from Skype unless I am actually actively using the program, ie
making a call / receiving a call, or sending chat messages from the
keyboard.

Casey wrote:
> I have a question about Skype. I am not yet a user but am
> considering it.
>
> I know it is peer-to-peer: Does it use bandwidth even when the
> application is closed or only when it is running? I know that if I
> have the application running but am not currently using it then it
> could route other people's calls, but am I correct in believing that
> all skype-related network activity *must* cease when I exit the
> application?
>
> Furthermore, if I were to purchase one of the "skype phones" that plug
> directly into my router (e.g. Philips VOIP841), are they "always on"?
> In other words, will Skype be sending traffic over my internet
> connection continuously? Am I correct in assuming that unplugging the
> phone from my router would be the only surefire way to prevent that
> traffic? (aside from vigilant firewalling techniques that seem like
> they don't always work and are, frankly, more than I care to deal
> with)
>
> Thanks for any help you can provide.
>
> -Casey


Not thought about a SIP based VoIP provider and a SIP ATA?

You could chop and change providers test out ones that might suit.


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On 2007-09-28, Casey <no@way.com> wrote:
> Thanks, Ray. Any idea about the phone questions?
>
> Furthermore, if I were to purchase one of the "skype phones" that plug
> directly into my router (e.g. Philips VOIP841), are they "always on"? In
> other words, will Skype be sending traffic over my internet connection
> continuously? Am I correct in assuming that unplugging the phone from
> my router would be the only surefire way to prevent that traffic?
> (aside from vigilant firewalling techniques that seem like they don't
> always work and are, frankly, more than I care to deal with)

If your phones, or your computer for that matter, are behind a NAT router
then Skype won't be able to use them for anything other than providing
your service. There might be a tiny trickle of stuff when you aren't
on a call, but only what is necessary to keep the phone or computer
available for incoming calls.

If your phone or computer has a public IP address, however, then all
bets are off.

Dennis Ferguson

Well, I'm still just looking into things, trying to sort through various
options. I'll read about SIP-based...thanks for the suggestion.

>
>
> Not thought about a SIP based VoIP provider and a SIP ATA?
>
> You could chop and change providers test out ones that might suit.
>
>

On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:50:27 -0400, Casey <no@way.com> wrote:

>Well, I'm still just looking into things, trying to sort through various
>options. I'll read about SIP-based...thanks for the suggestion.
The advantage of SIP is that you have literally hundreds of possible
providers. You can have a mix of providers, thereby permitting
different carriers, depending on number type called, and thus reducing
costs. With Skype you are tied into Skype. You pay their prices and
use their system.
Is SIP harder to set up? - well, yes it can be but it is a far
superior system to Skype. If you want to specifically call Skype users
then you'll need to use Skype, but otherwise you'd be far better off
putting your resources into SIP.
With some SIP hardware it is possible to integrate your landline phone
into the system so that all your calls are received/sent from the same
set of handsets and, of course, you don't need to have your computer
switched on.
Hardware examples:-
http://tinyurl.com/yuqsdv
http://www.avm.de/en/Produkte/FRITZBox/index.html

Check out these providers to give you an idea of phone charges to
landlines/mobile:
Good for prices:-
http://voip.co.uk/res_products.html
https://www.vyke.com/merchantsite/ra...butor=VYKECOUK

Good for service features
http://www.voipfone.co.uk/prices.php


With Skype it is possible, as the system is peer-to-peer, to become a
"super node" and thus use a much higher download then you might
expect.
Here is a paper about Skype from Columbia University, New York. If
you search the document you'll see info. re super nodes.
http://tinyurl.com/5hal4
They say:
"Any node with a public IP address having sufficient CPU, memory and
network bandwidth is a candidate to become a super node."




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"Brian A" <no_spam_bca1000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2clpf39frrsdsr1lfc2jhqlps2k1u37ah8@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:50:27 -0400, Casey <no@way.com> wrote:

Has anyone created a list of SIP Providers anywhere? It would be good to
see which other companies offer services like Sipgate. Can anyone come up
with a list of URLs offering the sort of service that Sipgate does. (I know
they have had some problems, but for some time now, my service from Sipgate
has been great here.

Ray

In article <5m4g6aFbme3fU1@mid.individual.net>,
Ray <noemailaddress-here@mail2me.net> wrote:
>
>"Brian A" <no_spam_bca1000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:2clpf39frrsdsr1lfc2jhqlps2k1u37ah8@4ax.com.. .
>> On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:50:27 -0400, Casey <no@way.com> wrote:
>
>Has anyone created a list of SIP Providers anywhere? It would be good to
>see which other companies offer services like Sipgate. Can anyone come up
>with a list of URLs offering the sort of service that Sipgate does. (I know
>they have had some problems, but for some time now, my service from Sipgate
>has been great here.

http://www.google.co.uk/
;-)

A small selection from a recent forray, in alphabetical order:

http://www.gradwell.com/ (maybe more business/power user orientated)
http://www.orbtalk.co.uk/
http://www.sipgate.co.uk/
http://www.voip.co.uk/
http://www.voipfone.co.uk/
http://www.voipon.co.uk/
http://www.voiptalk.org/

Not quite a provider, but sometimes handy:

http://www.uknumber.co.uk/voip.htm

Gordon

On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:47:16 +0000 (UTC), Gordon Henderson
<gordon+usenet@drogon.net> wrote:

>In article <5m4g6aFbme3fU1@mid.individual.net>,
>Ray <noemailaddress-here@mail2me.net> wrote:
>>
>>"Brian A" <no_spam_bca1000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:2clpf39frrsdsr1lfc2jhqlps2k1u37ah8@4ax.com. ..
>>> On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:50:27 -0400, Casey <no@way.com> wrote:
>>
>>Has anyone created a list of SIP Providers anywhere? It would be good to
>>see which other companies offer services like Sipgate. Can anyone come up
>>with a list of URLs offering the sort of service that Sipgate does. (I know
>>they have had some problems, but for some time now, my service from Sipgate
>>has been great here.
>
>http://www.google.co.uk/
> ;-)
>
>A small selection from a recent forray, in alphabetical order:
>
>http://www.gradwell.com/ (maybe more business/power user orientated)
>http://www.orbtalk.co.uk/
>http://www.sipgate.co.uk/
>http://www.voip.co.uk/
>http://www.voipfone.co.uk/
>http://www.voipon.co.uk/
>http://www.voiptalk.org/
>
>Not quite a provider, but sometimes handy:
>
>http://www.uknumber.co.uk/voip.htm
>
>Gordon
You'll find most of the worlds providers listed on Sipbroker together
with links to theri web sites. There are HUNDREDS! The ones with the
green ticks are those that can be contacted, via Sipbroker, with the
access codes shown. The ones with red crosses are the providers who
sadly like to operate a closed network and thus don't work via
Sipbroker.
If you have a particular international destination, that you regularly
call, it is often possible to get a good deal from a provider in that
country.
Sipbroker :-
http://tinyurl.com/2a5edl
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