Transcript SKYPE - Quad Cities Computer Society

The Easy Way to Call Landlines, Cell
Phones,
Video Chat or IM from Computer to
Computer.
Conference calls and voicemail too.
Skype History
Originally developed in 2002 by same
developers of Kazaa
 Skype.com domain registered in 2003
 In 2005 purchased by eBay
 Rumor has it that eBay is going to spin it
off as a separate company or may sell to
Google.
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What Is Skype
A VoIP telephony network
 Or software that lets you make phone calls
over the internet
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What You Need to Use Skype
Basics are three/free
 Computer with internet access—should be
faster than dial up for best performance—
DSL or Cable
 Software—free download from Skype.com
 A microphone and headset—you may
already have, or can be purchased
inexpensively (Webcam for video calls)
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Why Use Skype
Already own computer and pay for internet
service, why not use it to cut costs on long
distance phone calls
 Calls can be free or low cost
 Technology keeps improving and sound
quality may be better than your cell phone
or regular phone
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Things you CAN’T Do With A
Regular Phone
Send and receive large files that might
choke your email
 Send and receive live video all over the
world
 All transmissions over Skype are secure
and encrypted
 Skype permits and ENCOURAGES thirdparty add-ons
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No emergency calls with Skype.
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Skype is not a replacement for your
ordinary telephone and can't be used for
emergency calling
First Steps
Download the software and install
 Create a Skype name (or handle)
 Test your audio (and video) settings
 Add a contact and make your first call—
you may have to wait for contact to accept
your invitation to use Skype
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Free Calls
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Calls from computer to computer (Skype
user) are totally free, no restrictions to time
of day or length of call
Skype OUT
If you want to do more than the basics,
you will have to pay
 If you want to call grandma and she does
not have a computer—you can call her
landline for a small fee, many calls are
about 2cents per/min
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Skype IN
Your personal online number
 People who do not use Skype can dial
your Skype online number from any phone
 They pay as if they were calling any
landline (if you have a Los Angeles
number, people in LA=local call, people in
NY=toll call)
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What You Can Do With Skype
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Call to or receive a call from a regular telephone , a cell phone , or a
computer on the Internet .
Send or receive files over the Internet to and from fellow Skypers .
Search Outlook contacts and call them within Skype
Hold a conference call with a group of people .
Besides participating in audio conferencing , you can " simul-chat "
with your conference participants - exchanging text , live Web links ,
and files .
Make video calls .
Initiate a group chat .
Hold a Skypecast for as many as 100 people at a time .
Transmit secure and encrypted voice conversations , text , file
transfers , and video .
What can you do with Skype
Credit?

Purchase Products & Services
-Voicemail, Call Forwarding, Text Messaging
 Webcams, Headsets,
 Corded and WiFi Phones
How Skype Credit works
Skype Credit remains active for 180 days
after your last use of a product or feature
that uses credit.
 Skype Credit balances on accounts with
no activity during a 180 day period will be
lost.
 $10.00 minimum purchase
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Monthly Subscriptions
Unlimited calls to landlines
– any time, day or night.
 No long-term contract.
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Unlimited US & Canada
$2.95 per month
Personal or Business
Skype is a great personal communication
tool, but it can be used for business
purposes also
 Suppose you are at the Chicago airport
and need to conference call with the sales
department in Dallas and Product
Development in San Francisco, with a
WiFi connection at the airport you can do it
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