CorporatePR: Skype Fails the Mom Test

May 2009

February 28, 2005

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Skype Fails the Mom Test

I have been experimenting with Skype, the VOIP service. I had heard many good things about it and colleagues were encouraging me to download it. So, I did. The latest version.

And it doesn't work. Apparently I have to patch my OS - and no guarantees even then. [Are you kidding me? Patch the OS?]

Skype fails the "mom test", meaning that it is too difficult for my mom to figure out. Hell, it is too difficult for a relatively technically adept person like me to figure out.

I have spent at least an hour on the forums trying to find a solution to the voice issue (after about a minute, my voice stops transmitting. I can hear others, they can't hear me). Let me tell you, there are some IRATE people on those forums. Apparently, the beta worked. Now the latest version doesn't.

So, here are some alternatives: Teleo and Babble. I'll be testing them. Skype hasn't won my business.

Update: Neville says Babble sucks (well, he said it much more eloquently). He is testing Teleo.

February 28, 2005 in PR Tips & Tools | Permalink

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Comments

om malik at gigaom.com brought your blog to my attention.

you should try firefly. www.freshtel.net

i'm actually discussing your post with a friend from australia right now over firefly.

craig
firefly# 83333333

Posted by: Craig | March 01, 2005 at 07:53 AM

I actually did the OS patch and it still doesn't work. Maybe this is a Windows issue, not a Skype issue, but I really don't know what to do now. I have done everything suggested on the Forums and it still doesn't work.

This is a big customer relations issue for Skype...and a conundrum if it actually isn't something they can fix.

I will check out Firefly.

Posted by: Elizabeth Albrycht | March 01, 2005 at 10:20 AM

Apparently, Teleo isn't taking any more beta users. Too bad.

Posted by: Elizabeth Albrycht | March 01, 2005 at 10:31 AM

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