| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Most of the time I keep my Skype status on: Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 14:08
Spanish to English
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But I don't give out my skype details to everybody, and only very few clients, in case they end up consulting me every time they have a doubt or query.
Apart from calling family (abroad) and friends more cheaply, I really only use it for the chat function, to communicate with fellow translators when working together or helping each other out. I prefer to reserve skype for that rather than opening it up for use by all clients, and I much prefer to be contacted by email than any other... See more But I don't give out my skype details to everybody, and only very few clients, in case they end up consulting me every time they have a doubt or query.
Apart from calling family (abroad) and friends more cheaply, I really only use it for the chat function, to communicate with fellow translators when working together or helping each other out. I prefer to reserve skype for that rather than opening it up for use by all clients, and I much prefer to be contacted by email than any other medium - mainly because it gives me time to consider and phrase my response, as I can come across somewhat brusque and/or dismissive in spoken negotiations.
[Edited at 2012-03-22 10:08 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Patricia Charnet
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:08
Member (2009)
English to French
| I don't use Skype | Mar 22, 2012 |
I've got an inclusive call plan, and can call quickly a client if need be or vice versa. I also respond very quickly to all emails.
| | | | Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:08
German to English
+ ...
| I don't use Skype either | Mar 22, 2012 |
Our phone system is VoIP anyway. I am always at the end of an e-mail. To be honest, I've only once ever been asked to use it ...
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Mary Worby
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:08
German to English
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| Make that twice ... | Mar 22, 2012 |
... just been asked again. Maybe there's something in the air!
| | | | Oleg Osipov
Russian Federation
Local time: 15:08
English to Russian
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Online. All the time.
This is something extremely useful.
| | | | Claire Cox
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:08
French to English
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I use it for one client, but mainly for colleagues and friends, for the instant messaging facility as much as anything. It's useful to be able to send a quick message to a colleague having checked that she's there and know I'll get a reply back straightaway - and vice versa. It's also invaluable for contacting my son at university; mobile reception is not wonderful where he is in Bath so Skype is often the best way to chat - that or Facebook! I have one major client who communicates almost exclu... See more I use it for one client, but mainly for colleagues and friends, for the instant messaging facility as much as anything. It's useful to be able to send a quick message to a colleague having checked that she's there and know I'll get a reply back straightaway - and vice versa. It's also invaluable for contacting my son at university; mobile reception is not wonderful where he is in Bath so Skype is often the best way to chat - that or Facebook! I have one major client who communicates almost exclusively via Skype and I send and receive work to/from him via Dropbox - all very high-tech but extremely convenient. ▲ Collapse
| | | | DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
| documents circulation | Mar 22, 2012 |
requires not spoken, but written words; that's why only hardcopy is considered to be a document, not ICQ/Skype fancy talking. Especially it's true regarding explicit moments in biz.
But if it's not about work then I can chat with my people, but not clients.
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Helen Hagon
Local time: 13:08
Member (2011)
Russian to English
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I use Skype to talk to family and friends in far away places. I have occasionally used it to talk to clients but only at a pre-arranged time, so I switch it on only when I need to call someone. There are enough interruptions in the day already so I don't want to add another one to the list.
| | | | | All the time | Mar 22, 2012 |
I keep Skype open and my status as online all the time I am at my computer.
However, I do not give my Skype details to anybody except my immediate family, my business partner and a few long-standing clients, as I use it for two things: work and talking with my family, and I don't want to be bothered by stupid chat messages.
When you are working with a colleague on the same project it is great to be able to communicate immediately almost as if we were in the same room.
| | | | | Everything should be personalized... | Mar 22, 2012 |
Having used Skype for many years, I find that the only way it really is efficient for me and not a time waster is for me to be invisible. The people who really have to get in touch with me know this. The people who are not close and tend to be time wasters don't. I started doing this six years ago and don't regret it and will continue to do so!
| | | | William Murphy
Italy
Local time: 14:08
Member (2009)
Italian to English
+ ...
| Exactly this | Mar 22, 2012 |
William Pawlowsky wrote:
Having used Skype for many years, I find that the only way it really is efficient for me and not a time waster is for me to be invisible. The people who really have to get in touch with me know this. The people who are not close and tend to be time wasters don't. I started doing this six years ago and don't regret it and will continue to do so!
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Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 14:08
English to French
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When some time ago, a client contacted me on Skype on a Friday evening 22.30 and another on a Saturday morning around 10.00, I solved the problem differently - I created several accounts: one for business, where the status is online during business hours but invisible or offline outside of business hours.
A second account is for friends (among whom some colleagues) and family. I usually have it on not available/away (older versions of Skype made a difference), meaning I may not reply immed... See more When some time ago, a client contacted me on Skype on a Friday evening 22.30 and another on a Saturday morning around 10.00, I solved the problem differently - I created several accounts: one for business, where the status is online during business hours but invisible or offline outside of business hours.
A second account is for friends (among whom some colleagues) and family. I usually have it on not available/away (older versions of Skype made a difference), meaning I may not reply immediately, outside of business hours, and invisible most of the time during business hours.
I have a 3d account on my laptop but hardly ever use it now.
Most contacts on my lists use Skype the way I do - sparingly
[Modifié le 2012-03-23 08:31 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 14:08
Member (2006)
German to English
| Online always | Mar 23, 2012 |
and have never had any problems this way.
| | | | Nikki Graham
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:08
Spanish to English
| Online always | Mar 30, 2012 |
unless I have remembered I'm going out and update my status. Quite a few of my clients contact me via Skype, usually with a chat message, hardly ever an actual call, and they have also sent me documents via Skype, which is great when email decides to crash. I do not find Skype intrusive. In fact, if you need to sort out with a client if, when, how, etc., you can do a job, then Skype is much quicker, more convenient and more personal than email. I used to have Skype on my mobile till that crashed... See more unless I have remembered I'm going out and update my status. Quite a few of my clients contact me via Skype, usually with a chat message, hardly ever an actual call, and they have also sent me documents via Skype, which is great when email decides to crash. I do not find Skype intrusive. In fact, if you need to sort out with a client if, when, how, etc., you can do a job, then Skype is much quicker, more convenient and more personal than email. I used to have Skype on my mobile till that crashed too, but will be looking into having this on my next mobile when I switch provider at the end of this (lousy) deal. ▲ Collapse
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