The Chronicles
February 2012
Salutations dear readers and fellow Laurentian neighbors,
I'm guessing that most of you have heard of Skype, but how many actually make use of this computer-based "telephone" service? This month we'll explore Skype, being as it is one of my most preferred programs. I have been using it since its very beginnings to stay in contact with family and friends dispersed all over the globe.
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Computer to computer calls (users within the Skype service) are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for an extremely minimal fee using a debit-based user account system. Skype is also popular for its additional features which include instant messaging, file transfer and videoconferencing. Skype had 663 million registered users as of September 2011. Quite extraordinary is it not? Its network is operated by Microsoft (purchased in May of 2011) which houses its Skype division headquarters in Luxembourg.
Why so popular? Because of its array of Services, as I just mentioned, but also because of the rapidity of response and the quality of its sound (which does falter from time to time but which surprises nonetheless). Let's take a quick tour of some of the main services Skype has to offer to those of you who have (or will) register ...
* Skype-to-Skype calls: You can communicate through both instant messaging and voice chat. Voice chat allows "telephone" calls between pairs of users. The calls do not actually pass through a telephone but through your computer on the Skype interface. You speak to your screen, which houses the microphone, and you hear through the inbuilt speakers. In Laptops, you also have a camera (for the desktop this can be purchased separately) so that you can use the video-calling feature if you're having a good hair day! Conference calling is also offered so that your whole family (or friends, or workgroup) can talk/video together at the same time. Skype's text chat (Chatting) allows individual or group chats, storing of chat history and editing of previous messages. It is also a great way of leaving a message when your contact is Offline.
* SkypeOut: This allows Skype users to call traditional phone numbers, including mobile phones, for a fee. The fee will vary depending on whether you are living in a high-flow country or not. Packages can be purchased (and even renewed automatically), though after 180 days of not making a SkypeOut call the Skype balance expires. Worry not, it can be reactivated, the money is not lost. SkypeOut calls to Toll-Free numbers in Canada and the US are supported; calls to emergency numbers (911) however are not.
* SkypeIn: This allows Skype users to receive calls on their computers dialed from mobiles or landlines to a Skype-provided phone number. The number need not be in the same location as the user. For example, a user in Val-Morin could create a local telephone number in Acapulco. Callers in Acapulco could then make a local call to reach that user (who answers on Skype in Val-Morin). Cool! Along with this service comes Skype Voicemail which allows callers to leave voicemail messages for Skype users who are unavailable.
* The Skype Web Toolbar recognizes phone and Skype numbers and is available only for Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox on Windows (for now). Such numbers on web pages are replaced with an icon that can be clicked to call the number using Skype, or right-clicked to provide further options, such as adding the number to Skype's list of contacts. The toolbar detects all of these phone numbers automatically.
It is true that Skype is not the only supplier to offer these types of services. Others include Google Talk and Google Voice, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger, but the number of users of all of these put together does not come close to that of the users in the Skype community.
So there you have it folks, the easiest and cheapest way to communicate with anyone, anywhere, anytime!!! All that is left for you to do is to download the Program (on your computer) or the App (on your Smart Phone/Tablet), to register, build your Skype Directory (contact list) and ... call me if you need some help ...
(Ref.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype)
Take good care of yourselves,
questions.monamilordi@gmail.com
This article originally appeared in Main Street – The Laurentians' English Language Community Newspaper.
