Webcam/voice chat applications

[Anpanman]

Anyone use their pc to keep in touch with loved ones or friends.

Wife is going to Japan soon and want to use the pc's to keep in touch rather than phone. I've tried setting up that Skype rubbish via Hotmail/Outlook but we can't get it to work so looking for some free software to connect us up.

Any ideas?

[Mayhem]

I just use MSN or Skype so erm... yeah... heh. What issue(s) did you have?

[Anpanman]

In the new Hotmail come Outlook thingy in our browsers, both me and the wife have each other as contacts, have downloaded the Skype add-on for Outlook on both machines but even though we are both logged in we can't even 'chat' let alone use Skype as according to both machines we are not even showing as 'online'.

Have checked that our online status is available too.

[Baseley09]

Would recommend the standalone Skype application.

[Mayhem]

Oh right... yeah... I use the standalone Skype program.

[speedlolita]

Skype is really hard to fault honestly.

[randombs]

Have you not tried Skype on your phone(if it's available)? 99% of my Skyping is done on my iPhone/iPad. I've only used the laptop once or twice.

Facebook has video chat if that's an option for you, but I've never tried it.

[Anpanman]

Yes thanks all, we tried the Skype standalone and it works fine great result.

Still having issues via Hotmail/Outlook but suppose it's a moot point now, Skype all the way.

Cheers.