| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you think that Skype is a must for your business communications? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you think that Skype is a must for your business communications?".
View the poll results »
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I use it for private phone calls, but have so far done fine without it for business purposes.
I generally prefer to use mails, but there are occasions when a phone call is useful to clear up an issue fast. Skype is then cheaper than the other options, but if it is also more complicated, then I am not particularly interested!
| | | | | Since the most of my clients are in other countries, | Jul 15, 2011 |
I use Skype to communicate with them. Moreover, I was quite surprised that only 15% consider that Skype is a must for a translator today. I thought that figure would be 65% at least.
| | | | | It has become a must | Jul 15, 2011 |
Having clients, teammates, and friends scattered worldwide, it's an excellent way for instant communication, either by IM or voice. Now and then I use it as a (much cheaper) payphone as well, but most of the time it's completely free, so there is no reason for not having it. Meanwhile MSN means a heavy drain on hardware resources, so I've never had it. Most likely they'll soon merge into one.
Another advantage is that people know beforehand when I'm available to communicate, somethi... See more Having clients, teammates, and friends scattered worldwide, it's an excellent way for instant communication, either by IM or voice. Now and then I use it as a (much cheaper) payphone as well, but most of the time it's completely free, so there is no reason for not having it. Meanwhile MSN means a heavy drain on hardware resources, so I've never had it. Most likely they'll soon merge into one.
Another advantage is that people know beforehand when I'm available to communicate, something a standard phone cannot do. ▲ Collapse
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Vadim Kadyrov wrote:
I use Skype to communicate with them. Moreover, I was quite surprised that only 15% consider that Skype is a must for a translator today. I thought that figure would be 65% at least.
Why should it be? Same as Christine said, I use it for private phone calls and that's it.
José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote:
Meanwhile MSN means a heavy drain on hardware resources, so I've never had it. Most likely they'll soon merge into one.
MSN shouldn't be a heavy drain on any today's configuration, I'm using it for over 10 years and don't remember it was ever a drain, not even on the weakest configurations.
[Edited at 2011-07-15 14:15 GMT]
| | | | Jessica Noyes 
United States
Local time: 05:16
Member
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Immediate Access | Jul 15, 2011 |
My software doesn't alert me when there is new e-mail message. When working I try to discipline myself to check e-mail hourly (only). People who work with me know that if they need a quick answer they need to use the Skype chat function.
I also post my availability as part of my status, so any of my contacts can take a look and see if I might be available at the time they need me.
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No it is not a must, just a help, which is definitely not "extremely necessary"
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 11:16
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
It has - not yet - become a "must", however, Skype can come in quite handy in case something needs to be quickly clarified with the client. It is, undoubtedly, a very fast means of cummunication.
Most of the persons on my Skype are clients, and communication has been much easier and quicker than via email. Perhaps also due to the amount of emails received by the clients, or those I receive, for that matter. Although my email provider alerts me upon the arrival of new emails, there a... See more It has - not yet - become a "must", however, Skype can come in quite handy in case something needs to be quickly clarified with the client. It is, undoubtedly, a very fast means of cummunication.
Most of the persons on my Skype are clients, and communication has been much easier and quicker than via email. Perhaps also due to the amount of emails received by the clients, or those I receive, for that matter. Although my email provider alerts me upon the arrival of new emails, there are times when the incoming emails are too many to quickly "flip" through them, especially when I am busy with a project.
[Edited at 2011-07-15 14:29 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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I'm one of those people who put "No". I don't use it for work, and very rarely use it privately. If I'm at my desk, I'm working, so I set my Skype status as "Unavailable". This prevents well-meaning friends from trying to engage me in chats, but doesn't help clients at all. So I just communicate via email or regular phone (I have free international calling) instead.
| | | | Yaotl Altan
Mexico
Local time: 03:16
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
+ ...
It may be useful but there are several tools with the same goal, even Messenger helps to transmit voice.
| | | | | Can be useful but also a distraction | Jul 15, 2011 |
I find being online on Skype a bit like having the office door open: people will always stop by for a chat. Nice as this is, I prefer to get on with work and if someone really wants to get hold of me they can ring me up or fix to speak with me at a certain time on Skype.
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 11:16
Member (2006)
German to English
but I tend to keep in touch with other translators using it and I also transfer larger files via Skype for speed and convenience
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Simon Bruni
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:16
Member (2009)
Spanish to English
With so many different ways to communicate, I can't see how one particular method can become a "must", with the exception of e-mail of course which is needed to send the actual files for translation. Personally I use a combination of email, telephone, Skype, MSN messenger, the Gmail chat feature, text messaging and occasionally postal mail. None of them except email are absolutely essential.
[Edited at 2011-07-15 17:12 GMT]
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 11:16
Spanish to English
+ ...
... no no no no.
Skype is for me to make cheaper calls to friends and family than is possible with the phone companies, and also to chat or swap files with colleagues.
Clients are best kept at arms' length, or else they pop up every 2 minutes with queries, revisions, quibbles, etc etc...
They pester me enough as it is, especially now we're in summer and many of the agencies' regular translators are on holiday.
| | | | vixen
Greece
Local time: 12:16
English to Dutch
+ ...
I, too, use Skype to talk to friends and relatives, either through free Skype calls or cheap calls to landlines. If clients want to reach me, they can either use e-mail (I usually respond immediately or within the hour) or phone me in urgent cases. I prefer e-mail, because it is less intrusive. Like Hilary, I usually have my Skype status set to 'Unavailable'.
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