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What is Skype?
A. Summary:
Skype is a Voice over IP (Internet Protocol) free software that allows users to make calls over the Internet for free using computers. No phone has to be involved. Skype also has a paid service which allows users to call regular telephone numbers (SkypeOut) and to receive calls from traditional phones (SkypeIn). B. Key Points:
· Skype is free software that allows you to make phone calls on your computer over the Internet · You will need a headset with a microphone, or speakers and a microphone, to use Skype with your computer · Link to Getting Started with Skype · The home page for Skype is www.skype.com · By setting up an account and paying a fee you can use SkypeOut to call regular phones · A SkypeIn number will allow you to have a local phone line in another country or to take the same phone number with you wherever you travel · For corrections, updates, or clarifications on this Star Point, please email ewallace@afsc.org C. Details:
Skype is a Voice over IP (Internet Protocol) free software that allows users to make calls over the Internet to other computer users for free. You will not need a regular phone to do this, but you will need a headset and microphone attached to your computer. Skype also has paid services allowing users to call regular telephone numbers (SkypeOut) and to receive calls from traditional phones (SkypeIn). eBay now owns Skype. Skype offers other tools available elsewhere, such as instant messaging, but its main use is for Voice over IP. The voice quality of a Skype call may not always be as good as a call over a regular phone line. But if you and the person you are talking to have high-speed Internet connections, the sound quality is usually very good. Traffic over your Internet connection and on the Internet routers that your call will go through can affect the quality of your call. It is possible with the latest version of Skype to conference call with up to 5 people, including the host. The person with the fastest Internet connection should host a conference call. To use Skype, you will first download the free software from www.skype.com. Please read the Star Point Getting Started with Skype to find out more about installing and using it. One warning for home users of
Skype: Skype clients can become “supernodes” with calls from other Skype
users routed through their computers while they are connected to Skype. The
use of intermediary computers is automatic, and individual users not behind
secure firewalls have no options to disable such use of their resources. You
can identify which computers might be subject to this traffic because it will
affect routers that cannot connect to multiple computers. According to
Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/skype)
Skype automatically selects certain users with fast CPUs, good broadband
connections and no firewall issues to be these ‘supernodes’, through which
other users may connect. Future additional features with
Skype: Netgear, and other phone
manufacturers, are coming out with phones preloaded with Skype. Such phones
would not have to be connected to a computer to use Skype. They use WiFi
wireless routers instead. And some new cell phones are coming out with Skype
preinstalled. Security with Skype Skype calls are encrypted
end-to-end. There is no
risk when you are using Skype only for calls and instant messages. With some
of Skype's other tools, you will need to be more careful. If you choose to
use its File Transfer ability, for example, you should take precautions when
accepting files from other parties, just as with any email program. You can force
Skype to only allow incoming calls from people in a Skype Contacts list you
build. Your Skype profile can be seen by all other Skype users -- now up in
the millions. Do not put details in your profile that you do not want to be
publicly viewed. You do not have to fill in your profile if you do not want
to, and you can change it at any time. If you are
using Skype for work purposes, it's a good idea to have a list of known Skype
Names for all colleagues, and not to trust anyone outside the list. SkypeOut
To the
left you can see how you would dial a regular telephone number from your
SkypeOut. You will need
to buy Skype Credit to make international calls. This means setting up an
account in advance with Skype, using a major credit card. The SkypeOut Global
Rate is currently 2.1 cents per minute to more than 20 countries. SkypeIn SkypeIn allows Skype users to
receive calls on their computers that are dialed from a regular phone. The
Skype user in this case will have to subscribe to a phone number. Numbers are
currently available for the following countries: SkypeIn is also used by those
who want to keep the same phone number when traveling from country to
country. Wherever in the world they log on, people can always reach them at
the same number. Click on SkypeIn to read a Star
Point about it. Skype Video Calling Skype Video,
which comes with Skype version 2 or later, allows you to use Skype with your
webcam to send and receive live video during your conversations with other
Skype users. If you don’t have a webcam and your Skype contact does, you can
see them but they won’t see you. You can start a video call by clicking on
the video button of the contact in your contact list or by choosing
"Start video" during a call. You can switch video on and off during
the call. Video is
currently only available for Windows XP. Video for Mac OS and other platforms
is being worked on, but they do not currently have a release date. Skypecasts A Skypecast is a live, moderated
computer voice-only phone conference that allows groups of up to 100 people
to log in and out of the conference at will and speak to each other. These
are public conferences. You cannot lock someone out ahead of time, but the
host of the conference is able to mute, eject or pass the virtual microphone
to participants. You can use a
Skypecast for a “lecture” by turning on the “Mute All” feature while you
speak; then you can unmute people and invite them to speak in turn. If they
have a question, they can use the “request mic” feature. |
