Communication cage match
Connecting with family and friends while abroad is easier than ever
Google Voice and Skype slug it out in the battle to keep in touch while abroad
by Danielle Cadet
| Skype | Google Voice |
|---|---|
| What it offers: Skype-to-Skype voice, video and instant messaging are free via computers and mobile apps. | What it offers: You can use your Google account to manage online voicemails, and make free phone calls and text messages to the U.S. |
| What you pay: Calls to mobile phones and landlines are as low as 2.3 cents per minute plus a connection fee, making a 30-minute conversation cost less than a dollar. | What you pay: International calls are available for a small fee. Prices vary, but start at 2 cents per minute. |
| What’s different: Some Panasonic, Sony or Samsung TVs are Skype-enabled, so your family can see your saucy new beret on the big screen. | What’s different: Voicemails can be transcribed and sent as an e-mail or text. |
| The Good: “I keep in contact with my family via Skype once a week,” says Vickie Johnson, 20, a student working in Uganda through Northwestern University’s Global Engagement Summer Institute. | The Good: “Google Voice is more than just a way to make calls,” says Michael Bolognino, a Google Voice team member. “We don’t charge connection fees, which are pretty common elsewhere.” |
| The Bad: Video calls eat up a lot of bandwidth. When using an Internet modem, be sure to keep track of your minutes, or opt for voice calls instead. “It moves extremely slow because the Internet cafes here have a weak signal,” Johnson says. | The Bad: Users must be U.S. residents. Although services can be used overseas, it’s more suitable for those back home to call an international cell phone. “At school, it’s necessary that you have a cell phone,” says Leila Pree, 20, a student studying in Seoul, South Korea. Pree received a temporary phone with free incoming calls, making it easy for family to contact her through Google Voice. |