Sype In as a phone replacement
 

Hi There,

I'm wandering if it is possible to use Skype In on the N800. Is it Ok for the device to be on 24h/24 in order to receive phone calls?

Cheers

Re: Sype In as a phone replacement
 

I use SkypeIn on my N800. Here's the current situation:


the N800 is designed to be "always on/always connected"

The big problem I have with the current implementation of Skype is that it seems to use the microphone built into the unit, even when I plug in the supplied headset. Effectively, that means I can't throw it in a pocket.
Skype also has three audio settings: A) Play sound only when Skype is the active task B) Play sound at all times C) never play sound.

B) means the ITT makes noises whenever someone on your contact list connects. C) Means you never hear calls.

Now, OS2008 is coming, and they promise a new, improved Skype. If you're looking to buy a N800 for SkypeIn, I suggest one of two things:

1. You buy it, 'cos it's cool. If 2008 makes it a skypeIn vehicle (or, hey, the Gizmo project could come through), even better.
2. You wait a week or two and find our what OS2008 brings.

Re: Sype In as a phone replacement
 

Thanks for your answer DingerX. It's really a good thing if the N800 can be actived all the time with Skype In (hoping it doesn't affect too much the battery life if it's always on sector). Right now I have to leave my laptop open to be able to receive phone calls which is quite annoying.

Re: Sype In as a phone replacement
 

According to this it will do Skype In.

If you're going to just use it at home I would think the battery would be the only drawback. On page 5 of the Nokia Product Information guide it reads, " Do not leave a fully charged battery connected to a charger, since overcharging may shorten its lifetime." Hmmmm? If you're at home you'd have constant WiFi so you wouldn't have to worry about being handed off from location to location.

Re: Sype In as a phone replacement
 

I would think any modern charger/device would cease charging when a full battery is detected, or at least I'd hope so :)

Re: Sype In as a phone replacement
 

One would think. <g> It was in the manual that came with the N800. If it isn't true then Nokia needs to tell me which parts to believe and which to dismiss.

Re: Sype In as a phone replacement
 

Was there in the 770 manual to. Could be that they are trying to cover their asses in case something happens...

Re: Sype In as a phone replacement
 

Though I've heard other people have this problem, it isn't universal; when I plug in my headset it switches to using the headset mic. OTOH, I think the sound from the headset speakers are too weak, so most of the time I just use the internal mic and speakers, ala speakerphone.

Also, I notice that although having Skype loaded doesn't seem to decrease battery life, active conversations do drain the battery rather quickly; I don't believe I've ever talked more than an 1.5 hours without my battery starting to give out. OK maybe with an extra battery or nearby AC outlet, but devastating without them.

Re: Sype In as a phone replacement
 

I use Skype-In. Skype-Out, and Skype to Skype on my Nokia N800 daily. I leave my N800 turned on 24 hours a day, and plug it into a charger ( car or wall ) whenever I am near a charger. Skype will work well if your WiFi LAN is good. If you experience problems with Skype when you are out of the house or office please realize your are in a public hotspot, very likely an inferior one.

With regard to keeping a charger attached to the N800 (or any portable device with a Lithium battery) for long periods of time, I fail to understand why Nokia (or equiv.) would say that would over-charge the battery. The reason I fail to understand this is because the fact is the battery charge level is not controlled by the charger, or the device it is attached to. The charge level is controlled by a tiny microcontroller sealed in the battery itself. Rechargeable Lithium batteries have internal intelligence to protect us from danger in the event of an external short circuit, and also in the event of attempts at over charging. Lithium batteries can literally explode with great force (and / or violently burn) if the internal cell(s) are overcharged or shorted. The internal microcontroller circuit monitors --and controls-- lithium cell charging and discharging to prevent danger. This fail-safe design doesn't always succeed as can be seen when a laptop or cellphone self combusts, but the battery design is such that you are unable to overcharge the battery (even if you try) so long as the batteries internal microcontroller is working as it should.

Charging and discharging lithium batteries causes wear to the chemistry. Reducing the number "cycles" will extend your batteries life. You cannot extend the life of a lithium battery indefinitely, but it can be stretched by not cycling to battery unnecessarily. N800 batteries ( like cellphone batteries ) are not too expensive so it really is not a big deal I guess. What I am saying, is I would not be concerned ( I am not concerned ) about leaving the N800 plugged into an external power source, leaving the N800 turned on at all times, and running Skype on it, prepared to answer incoming calls from people. That is the way I use my N800 when I am home, or in the car.


For more about the N800 and Skype read this:
http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...73&postcount=2

Re: Sype In as a phone replacement
 

Did you try pushing the headset in all the way? The black of the headset should really be against the casing of the N800. At first I didn't dare push it in that far, because it requires quite some force and I had exactly this problem. With the plug in all the way it works great.