• So-e General
• Using So-e
• So-e Making Call

Just click here to download So-e, the download should take only a few minutes depending on your connection speed and installation is a snap!

To register a So-e account (or sign up for a So-e Call ID, as we call it) you can goto So-e web site or call So-e service number by telephone or just buy a So-e calling card.
Then you can download So-e client software, run the installer and follow the steps on your screen. The download is free, there are no sign up fees, no subscription costs etc.

So-e is a free program to bring affordable, high-quality voice communications to people all over the world.

Currently, So-e is available for Windows 2000, XP, Mac OS X and Linux. Stay tuned for more information about other platforms.

Because it hasn't been fully tested, we have not yet certified So-e for use with these operating systems. So-e may work with Windows 98 (Win98) or ME but we cannot yet guarantee compatibility. Some WinME/9x video (and possibly others) drivers tend to use 100% of processor for their needs for relatively long periods of time. This can cause the audio quality to degrade significantly. In addition, WinME/9x does not offer full unicode support, which means that some things may not display properly. So-e does not work on WinNT at the moment. We may support these platforms in the future and will make any future announcements on our website.

For non-commercial use, So-e to So-e calls will always be free. Some features and services of So-e require a paid subscription or prepayment. Our ambition is to keep the basic functionality of So-e (PC to PC calls) free forever.

Yes you can! So-e allows you to speak with up to 4 other people at the same time! And with So-e cast you can speak with up to 100 people at the same time. Your computer's processor speed will determine how many people you can host on a conference call. The limit for all users is a ten person conference call (i.e. the host plus 9 others).

No.

So-e has built-in facilities to automatically gather anonymous usage statistics from its network and users, including the number of minutes spent on calls. We cannot track those minutes back to individual users and calls - your So-e calls are and continue to be secure.

So-e does not have a function to allow you to send or receive a fax.

You can find details of our terms of service from our website here:

Terms of Service

With a cordless phone for So-e, no PC is required to make or receive calls. You only need to have the cordless phone on and charged. USB handsets need to be plugged into the computer and the computer needs to be turned on.

Some users may experience a reduction in call quality when a call is placed from an older version of the So-e software to the newer versions. Some issues with call quality are inevitable given that the older versions of So-e are being used.

Each new release of So-e improves in audio and video quality. That is why we are asking our users to get the best possible call quality by upgrading to the newer versions of the software. The best call quality is experienced when both parties are using one of these versions:

So-e for Windows: http://www.So-e.com/Download.aspx

So-e for Mac OS: http://www.So-e.com/Download.aspx

So-e for Linux: http://www.So-e.com/Download.aspx

These audio quality issues may arise only when you’re having a voice conversation partner with another person on So-e. It does not affect So-e Making Call calls, i.e. calls made to landlines or mobiles, or any other features that So-e has.

To get started using So-e, you need to download our free software, you can always get the latest version here. If you have any problems using So-e, please first make sure that you are using the most recent version of the software.
To download So-e to your computer, simply click the download link. Save the installation file to your computer. Be sure to remember where you saved the file (the desktop might be a good place). Please read also our user guides.
The first time you start So-e you must create a new user account. Select “Don’t have a So-e name” from the sign-in window then press enter or click "Next" in order to move on to the next level. Complete the empty fields. You will be asked to choose a So-e Name and password. The So-e Name and password fields are required in order to use So-e. You can choose any name but it must be at least 6 characters in length and without spaces in between, such as JohnDoe or John_Doe or John123 etc. If the name is already in use, you will have to try again. Check the box in front of "Yes I have read and I Accept the So-e End Users License Agreement". Finally press "Finish".

To install So-e, after clicking the DOWNLOAD button, choose the option "open" in the downloading window. So-e will choose itself the location and the installation process starts immediately after downloading without clicking anywhere. Please read also our user guides.

Go to Your Account, add credit and select your desired payment method. There is a link to your account from the events bar in So-e or from the Tools menu.

Yes, you can log on from multiple locations. And starting with the newest versions of So-e (Version 1.2) So-e now stores all your contacts on our servers so there is no need to re-add contacts. Just make sure that the newest version is loaded on all the computers you use and Contacts will be automatically saved.

With So-e, you and 9 other people can take part in a conference call.

1. Click on the Conference call button (or go to Call --> Start Conference Call ) which opens a Conference Call window. Click on the contact name in 'Choose Contacts' box and then click on the Add button below. Contact is added to Conference Participants window. You can add both So-e contacts and So-e Making Call contacts to a conference call in the same way.

2. Once you have selected the participants, simply click the start button.

3. You'll be shown a conference tab with the names of all participants. Participants will be added to the conference call once they answer your call.

If you are already in a call and would like to add an additional participant to the call, simply select the contact you want to add from your contact list and click the conferencing toolbar button. You can also right-click on the contact and choose the option 'add to conference'.

If you would like to change your password, please follow these instructions:

If you are using So-e for Windows Versions 2.0 and above, please login to So-e, choose File -> My So-e Account -> Change Password.

If you are using So-e for Windows Version 1.2, then login to So-e and then select File->Change Password.

If you are using So-e for Windows Version 1.1.0.79 and lower, go to File -> Options -> Personal -> Change Password.

To find out which version of So-e you are using, please go to Help -> About.

To change your e-mail address please login and then select File->Edit My Profile-> Change your e-mail in the e-mail field. Click Update.

In order to unistall So-e please look at the right hand corner of your PC screen. There, in the system tray is a small green spot - So-e icon - click on it and choose "quit" from the menu that pops up.

To uninstall So-e, open your control panel (Start->Control Panel, or Start->Settings->Control Panel) and choose "Add/Remove Programs". Select So-e from the list and click on "Remove". You will be asked if you would like to keep or remove your Friends List and Call History. This may be useful in case you think you may want to reinstall So-e sometime in the future (that way you don�t lose your Contact List). Choose the appropriate option to remove So-e from your computer.

You need a computer headset, not a telephone headset. A computer headset has two separate connectors one for the microphone, and one for the speaker (some newer headsets connect via USB, these are typically a bit more expensive but in general quite good).

Also make sure that the headset has a microphone. You can also buy a handset, just as long as it has two connectors so that it can be plugged into your computer. You can buy a headset from the So-e Accessories Store (www.So-e.com/go/shop.accessories) or by visiting your local computer or electronics retailer.

If you use a USB headset or USB phone or use multiple sound cards, you can configure which device to use for AUDIO-IN (microphone), AUDIO-OUT (headphones or speakers) and Ringing (sound alerts) by going to Tools --> Options --> Sound device.

For USB phones, it's probably best to configure AUDIO-OUT and AUDIO-IN so that it uses the USB device. If you want So-e to ring using your speakers, set the "Ringing" device so that it uses your default windows device.

If you have forgotten your password there is no way to retrieve it, but you can have a new password sent to you so that you can access your account.

If you entered an email address when you registered for So-e, you can request a new password by going to Sign In page and a new password will be sent to you.

If you do not receive the email check your Junk Mail folder, sometimes it is sent there by mistake.

If you did not enter your email address, you will have to register again as a new So-e user. If you have So-e Making Call credit on your account and the retrieve password tool does not work please submit a ticket to customer support with your billing information.

You will need to register as a new user. From the File menu, select "Sign Out" and then create a new So-e account.

Please note: If you create a new So-e name, your So-e Credit and active services can't be transferred to the new account and all your So-e contacts will need to be re-added. Because of these restrictions we do not suggest you create a new username if you have already purchased services you wish to use.

So-e Making Call allows you to place calls to regular telephones (landlines or mobiles) all over the world for a small fee.
How do I call phones and mobiles?
You need to activate the So-e Making Call service and make sure you have at least enough So-e Credit for a 1 min call to the country you want to call. You can then simply type a phone number into the address field and hit enter or call. To make a So-e Making Call call, you must enter the number in the following way (even for local calls): "+" + "country code" + "number". You can also use "00" or "011" before the country code.

Examples (using the country code "1" for calling USA):
·  +15555551234
·  00 1 555 555 1234
·  011-1-555-555-1234

WARNING: So-e software does not support calls to any emergency number nor emergency service (e.g. 211, 911, 999 etc). To perform calls of this type please make sure to use a landline telephone or a cellular/mobile phone.

Click and hold down your left mouse button over the "0 +" button for 2 seconds to get the "+" symbol.

Once you've started your call you call dial extensions or respond to phone menus by switching to the Dial tab and using the keys there to enter numbers.

So-e Making Call offers calls to all standard fixed and mobile numbers in the world at extremely competitive prices. It might not be possible to access some premium service numbers or other special numbers in some countries.

Due to fluctuations in the public switched telephony network we can not always guarantee the quality or reliability of So-e Making Call calls. This is only temporary, and we ask you to please try again later. However, if the problem persists, please report this destination with your username to our customer support.

In order to check your account information (Account balance, Payment history and Call history) please go to the "My Account" section of our website.

You can access from File -> My So-e Account-> Go to ‘My Account Page’. Or log in from our website. You can export your So-e Making Call call list to a .csv file so that you can load it into any spreadsheet software.

No, you cannot use So-e to call any emergency services

Calls between So-e software users (PC-to-PC calls) are secure and encrypted. Calls to standard telephone or mobile numbers are encrypted until they reach public switched telephone network. Note that in a conference call where one participant is a PSTN (regular telephone or mobile phone) number/phone number, the padlock icon will not appear indicating that the call is not encrypted.

It’s possible that the call was inadvertently terminated. This might be due to a bad line connection or that your account balance may be depleted. Please check your account balance: Go to File -> My So-e Account -> Go to My Account Page. If you still have a positive balance, please try to call again.

We recommend you to always check your account balance before making a call. To call a specific destination you need to have at least enough credits to make a 1 minute call. Please check your account balance and the actual price for the destination.

If your balance indicates sufficient credits, then check the format of the phone number you're calling.

Yes.

A conference call can have the host plus four participants, and these can be either So-e Making Call or So-e users. Your computer's processor speed will determine how many people you can host on a conference call. The maximum number of participants in 10 including yourself as host.


Each call will be charged separately and each call will appear on your account overview as a separate call.

If you have less than one minute credit remaining for one of the calls, at any time in the conference, then this call will drop. Other calls will continue until they, in turn, have less than one minute credit left.

There is no additional charge for So-e Making Call conference calling, you simply pay for the time used, for each call.

There are several steps which may improve So-e call Quality. Also if you experience such problems with another So-e user we also suggest you let them know about the suggestions below.

First, make sure you are using the most recent version of So-e as we are continually improving quality in each version.

Make sure all your PC's drivers are up-to-date (sound, video, motherboard controllers etc - please contact the manufacturers of your hardware for updated drivers).

Also make sure your firewall/router is not blocking So-e in any way. Try opening UDP traffic both ways to both the port found in So-e's "Connection" window in Tools -> Options and also ports 80 & 443 - tick the option to use the ports and open both TCP and UDP traffic to all three - keep in mind UDP traffic's availability for So-e results in better sound quality than just data traversal over TCP. If you're not sure how to make such changes ask a tech-savvier friend or your system administrator for assistance.

Another way of improving quality is to shut down any file sharing applications or internet software that consumes a lot of bandwidth. If you are downloading files at the same as using So-e call quality will be greatly diminished.

Also a manual refresh in So-e's data traversal information can be helpful:
The procedure is as follows:

* Close So-e
* Locate the shared.xml file found in
C:\Documents and settings\Your Windows Username\Application data\So-e\shared.xml
(showing hidden folders and files has to be turned on)
* Delete shared.xml
* Start So-e (shared.xml will be recreated).

Another possibility to improve conditions is to disable QoS (Quality of Service) packet scheduling.
Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections

Right click on the connection you are using (e.g. "Local Area Connection") and select Properties

Untick the "QoS Packet Scheduler" option.

In order to check your account information (Account balance, Payment history and Call history) please select File -> My So-e Account -> Go to My Account Page.

Account balances are updated centrally, so you may need to wait a couple of minutes in order to get the most accurate update.

If you have just place a new order please make sure you check your account status by going to "My Account" (select Go to Tools -> My So-e Account -> Go to My Account Page), only orders that are listed as "Delivered" will appear in your balance.

One suggestion is that you place a call even if the balance isn't showing. Often the balance shown in the program can take longer to update but calls can still be place. If your call goes through successfully the balance will immediately update.

Your So-e Credit balance remains active for 180 days after your last successfully-connected PSTN phone call.

So-e Credit balances on accounts with no activity during a 180 day period will be lost.

No, not every week or month. Your account remains active and vaild for 180 days after each succesfully connected phone call.

From within So-e, select File -> My So-e Account -> Go to My Account Page, and log in with your So-e name and password.

Select "Add So-e Credit" from the right-side menu to top-up your account.

Yes, our call rates are the same no matter where you are calling from and only vary depending on where you are calling to. For pricing information please see our call rates list.

You will be charged for any call longer than 5 seconds.

First, ensure that your order is "Delivered" and you account balance is positive.

In order to remedy the problem, please try logging out from So-e (File -> Sign Out) and sign in again with your existing username and password.

Please note that simply closing the So-e application and restarting again is not the same thing - That won't actually re-sign you to the network, which is required in this instance.

Another possible remedy is to attempt to place a call, if order is delivered the call will connect and then your account balance will update.

Please make sure that you have entered your voucher number correctly. If the problem persists, please submit a ticket to our Customer Support.

We don't show the person you are calling any number that relates to you.

If you want to know how much it costs to call a location go to our Rates List. Select the location (country) you want to call and it will list all the applicable rates.

Click here to see the rates to all locations.

To call the French Territoires d'Outre-mer (TOM) with So-e Making Call you must dial:

Saint Pierre Et Miquelon
-> + 508 - number

Mayotte - Mayotte Island
-> + 269 - number

Nouvelle Caledonie - New Caledonia
-> + 687 - number

Wallis Et Futuna - Wallis and Futuna Islands
-> + 681 - number

Polynesie Française - French Polynesia
-> + 689 - number

At So-e we strive to give our users the lowest price possible. There may be cheaper alternatives to some destinations but there probably isn’t an offering for everyone in world to everywhere in world that is cheaper than So-e. Having said that, we are still dedicated to make phone calls cheaper we just need to convince the old telephone companies to lower their prices so that we can pass on the savings to you.

Also note that when you are comparing So-es prices with others, watch out for the common set-up charges, subscription fees and other hidden costs, all of which So-e is doesn't have.

Unfortunately So-e does not support calls to all number ranges in every country. There are a select number of premium priced or geographic/country specific numbers which are forbidden and cannot be reached using So-e Making Call at this time. If the number you are calling is not supported we apologize for that and suggest that you use a different method to call that number.

When calling from So-e, you can either dial full international numbers or choose the country in the list and enter the local number only.

Unused So-e Credit will be lost if your account has no activity for 180 days.

Yes, you can copy a number from the web and paste it to the address bar at the bottom of the contact tab or to the textbox on the Dial tab. Special characters will be automatically removed (e.g. if you copy and paste the number +1 (212)555-5555, it will be accepted as +12125555555).

To call landlines and mobiles from So-e:
- Select the Dial tab.
- Select the country or region you wish to call from the drop down menu.
- Use the dial pad to enter the phone number or type it directly into the textbox. You do not need to include the country code, So-e will add this automatically.
- Click on the green call button.

If you already have the complete number with country code:
- Select the Dial tab.
- Use the dial pad to enter the phone number or type it directly into the textbox including the country/region code (e.g. +1 212 555 5555).
- Click on the green call button.

To preserve your So-e Credit on your account you could:

• Use So-e Making Call to make cheap calls to ordinary phones

It's up to you how you spend your So-e Credit; you just need to keep your account active. Doing any of the above will preserve your So-e Credit balance for the next 180 days.

Unfortunately, if you're not using your So-e Credit we’ll need to expire the balance sooner or later to comply with normal business accounting rules. Not very exciting, but true.

So-e phone numbers can be purchased from your So-e account.

For more information about So-e phone number - your personal number; see the So-e phone number In product page

With So-e, you can get your own regular phone number. So if your friends who aren’t using So-e want to call you by dialing a regular number, you can still receive the call in So-e. No matter where you are.

Click here for more info.

You must ensure that your computer is on and So-e is running in order for the call to come through. If you are not logged into So-e the call will either ring busy or be redirected to Voicemail according to your Voicemail preferences.

You must also ensure that you are using the latest version of So-e.

Because part of your call is being routed through the regular telephone network, the call might not always be 100% reliable. PSTN calls rely on traditional phone networks which may have fluctuations in capacity and quality of termination.

No, unfortunately So-e numbers must come from a pre-selected range provided by us.

The So-e number is a regular phone number so any charges that might regularly occur from calling a number in that location still apply.

An example: If you have a So-e number in New York and a friend living in New York calls your So-e phone number from a regular landline they will not be charged anything. But if a friend in Los Angeles calls your New York number they will get charged the long distance fees that they would normally get charged for a LA to New York call.

Just think of your So-e phone number as a regular phone number, because it is!

No.

Yes, you can lose your number if you do not follow the So-e terms of service mentioned during the purchase process. Unfortunately, if you don't use your number as per the policy and in some cases at a minimum usage level, then the carrier takes it away from So-e and there is nothing we can do.

Our Terms of Service can be found here.

Yes, you can forward a call to your So-e phone number as you would any other regular phone call.

Yes, So-e phone numbers act as regular phone numbers and are reachable from anywhere in the world. Just remember though, long distance charges might apply if someone is calling your number from another country. Also, some phones plans may not support calling specific ranges of special numbers (such as "non-geographic" (0845) numbers in the UK), and you might not be able to call the So-e phone number based on that outbound calling plan.

Yes. When you sign up, you have the option to purchase either a 3 month or 12 month subscription. At the end of the period, if you do not renew your subscription, your number will expire.

If the number expires it is held for you for 90 days in case you wish to renew your subscription. Simply log into your account and select the So-e phone number again.

As soon as payment is properly processed your So-e phone number should be active.

Certain countries, notably Germany and France, require that your address information be verified. This will mean that your number will not be active until the address is verified which can take a number of days.

In some countries, when you move from one phone company to another, you have the right to take your number with you - it's called "Number Portability" in the phone world.

If you don't need So-e phone any longer, you can contact your phone company and ask them if they provide this facility.

If your payment fails then your number will be held so that you can attempt the purchase again.

To purchase a number you have reserved log into My Account, click on So-e phone Beta and select the phone number you have reserved and wish to purchase (they are listed near the bottom of the screen). You will then be directed to select your subscription length and payment options.

Because part of your call is being routed through a regular telephone number the quality might not always be as clear as a So-e-to-So-e call. PSTN calls rely on traditional phone networks which may have fluctuations in capacity and quality of termination.

So-e phone numbers are currently available in the US, UK, France, Hong Kong, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Estonia, Australia, Brazil, Japan and China.

We plan on to add more numbers and locations at a later date but do not have a specific timeline as to when numbers might be added.

Currently, no. If we introduce this facility in the future, you will be offered the possibility to opt-in. Your existing user profile or subscription details will not be communicated outside of the So-e global directory and network without your knowledge, now, or in the future.

Yes, it is possible.

But first, might we suggest that you try changing some of the Privacy options in the So-e Client. For example, it is possible to block calls from particular numbers so if you really don't want to hear from your mother or ex-boyfriend they can be blocked.

So-e has much more flexible privacy options than old-fashioned phones.

Currently you can get numbers in a selection of top US cities and states, 0870 numbers in France, 0207 numbers for the City of London in the UK, numbers in Hong Kong, 08 Stockholm numbers in Sweden, 09 Helsinki numbers in Finland and numbers in Denmark.

We will be adding more locations in the future.

Just now, So-e does not offer calls to emergency services, or access to some premium and special short numbers. If you think you need these services you should probably keep your regular phone for a bit. We're sure you'll find So-e a great addition or replacement for extra lines for other family members, or if you are out traveling.

We won't automatically extend your subscription. We like to give you the choice as to whether you want to continue or not - you'll see your subscription status on your Account page, and on the Start Tab. When the subscription end date is approaching you can make a new payment to extend your So-e phone subscription.

Currently it is not possible to exchange your So-e phone number for another once you've purchased it, this is something we are considering for the future.

Caller identification shows your So-e phone number to the people you call. For example, friends will see your So-e phone number appear on their phones when you call them.

At present, it is not possible to use a So-e phone number with a United States international access code (+1) for caller identification. We hope to make caller identification available to more So-e phone numbers in the future.

At present, So-e phone numbers with the following international access codes do not support caller identification:

United States (+1)
France (+33)
Germany (+49)
Switzerland (+41)
Australia (+61)
Brazil (+55)
Finland (+358)
Dominican Republic (+1809)

We are working to make this feature available to more So-e phone numbers in the future.