What is Skype?

Website: www.skype.com

Skype has come on a long way in the last few years to become a leader in providing Telephone Calls using the Internet. Simply go to the Skype web site, install the software and very quickly you are able to chat for free to millions of other people in the world who are also using Skype.

Skype is even now appearing on TV:

The minimum requirements for using Skype are a reasonably  modern computer with a microphone and loudspeakers (preferably a headset to stop outside noise). If you have a web cam you can even broadcast video. And of course you need to have a broadband internet connection to make it work successfully.

Is it reliable?

Which Consumer magazine ran a survey of internet phone call applications and concluded Skype is as good as any mobile phone service, but falls behind land-line calls in terms of reliability and call quality. Our own experience is that 90% of calls are good or better quality.

Why use Skype?

The bottom line is it saves money, especially when making international calls. In addition Skype offers flat fee rates for UK landline numbers (Approx £3 per month) and a London phone number will cost approx £45.00 per annum.

What else can Skype do?

If this was all there was to Skype, then it would be a very useful tool. However Skype have now provided customers with a lot more features that can really start to save you money.

Most of the features listed below require some small initial outlay to set-up the services. We have provided links to the relevant parts of the Skype web site so you can find out more.

• Ring standard land-lines and mobile phones.
• Receive calls from land-lines and mobile phones.
• Caller-Id (People can see you number).
• Answering Machine.
• Call forwarding to land-lines and mobile phones.
• Send SMS Text messages.
• Free Skype to 3 Skypephone mobile phones.
• Business Skype Account management and top-ups.
• Web Browser integration – Get a Firefox or Internet Explorer and lick on phone numbers to make calls. Works very will with the Google Mail Contact Manager.

Want to Learn More – Come and see what we do?

Hayling Internet are a big user of Skype. All our workstations have Skype installed. We also use Skype extensively for our business.

We also use the 3 Networks Skypephone which allows up to 4,000 minutes free Skype calls per month. These nifty devices also come with mobile 3G internet which gives us email on the move in addition to all the facilities of a web browser for £5 per month.

We can also offer custom Skype software development in PHP using the Skype API.

Further Reading

• Skype Product News
• Skype – Unlimited Calls to Landlines
• Skype – Call Charges
• Skype – International Call rates