Skype is the world’s leading real time communications service, supporting free voice, text and video conversations amongst Skype users worldwide . In addition Skype supports low cost voice calls to conventional landline and mobile phones worldwide as well as SMS messaging.

In some ways, think of Skype as an “uber” telephone service that allows you to make calls worldwide independently of carriers. All you need is:

1. a broadband Internet connection and either a (Windows, Mac or Linux) PC or a PC-Free Skype phone, or
2. a WiFi or 3G wireless connection and one of several Skype-enabled wireless devices, including mobile devices such as smartphones, that are configured to provide Skype access.

3’s Skypephone, available in six European countries, Hong Kong and Australia, is one particular example of a mobile device. Skype can also be accessed via a Windows Media Center PC and AppleTV.

Skype’s core services comprise:

• voice (traditional voice calls, conference calls)
• text messaging (chat, SMS)
  • conversation archiving
• presence
• video
• directory services
• group chat
• calling services:
  • speed dial
  • voice mail
  • call forwarding
  • call transfer
• file transfer

The above example comes from the Skype client on a Windows PC where all the features are available. On PC-Free phones and many mobile devices, functionality is usually limited to voice, voice mail and maybe text chat.

Tips for Using Skype, including 2 ways to edit chat messages and 7 ways to use Skype File Transfer

Skype on Mobile provides an outline of the various means to access Skype from wireless devices via 2G or 3G GSM/GPRS wireless carriers or WiFi access points.

Skype Calling Plans: While calls to other Skype users are free worldwide, Skype offers several services for connecting with PSTN numbers worldwide as well as a basic voice mail service (more details):

• SkypeIn: provides a personal online phone number via which users can call your Skype account from any phone; available for 20 countries
• SkypeOut: allows you to make outbound calls to PSTN numbers worldwide. Rates per minute vary by country
• Skype’s Unlimited Calling Plans provide flat rate calling to phones (i) within your home country code, (ii) within your continent or (iii) worldwide, with discounts on SkypeIn numbers as well as free voice mail and call transfer.
• SMS Messaging: send an SMS message anywhere worldwide

Skype for Business: Skype also forms the basis for several business services that either enhance the Skype feature set or support communications enhanced business processes (CEBP) such as collaboration, conferencing, and customer relationship management. One of these services provides a “fax anywhere, anytime” capability that is especially useful for road warriors.

• Skype Business Solutions provides an overview of the range business solution offerings available from various third party Skype Partners
• Using Skype for Business provides a step-by-step guide to getting Skype set up in your business or organization.

Skype Website: All Skype Features

HD Voice (High Definition Voice): Skype has always been associated with providing excellent voice quality. Skype’s HD Voice results in a much clearer and crisper conversation, especially between parties who are on Skype itself. If you use a stereo headset you would say the other party is almost “in your head”. Voice quality is reduced when making a SkypeOut call to a PSTN landline or, even worse, to a mobile device due to limitations imposed by the audio infrastructure design parameters of the PSTN and mobile networks. More about HD Voice….

Echo cancellation: Audio systems, such as included in a PC, that involve a microphone and speakers may cause the microphone to pick up the audio from the speakers and send it back to the originator; this annoying and distractive behavior is called “echo”. When using a PC this issue was originally addressed by requiring a headset where the “speakers” are directly attached to the head in a way such that the headset’s microphone does not pick up the conversation coming out of the speakers. Skype has not only developed “echo cancellation” techniques that eliminate the need for a headset or phone handset to avoid this echo but also taken measures to reduce background noise. More ….

Skype Security: Skype is not only unique for its ability to provide free calls amongst Skype users but also for the level of security it provides during conversations. With an ability to traverse firewalls and routers in a highly secure manner, both Skype voice calls and Skype chat messages are encrypted to prevent unauthorized access while traversing the Internet. Additional measures have been taken to authenticate users in establishing a call. Users themselves have the ability to limit who may contact them (from anybody on Skype through to only your authorized contacts). More on security….

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