VOIP Provider Overview—Skype
Skype, acquired by eBay in October 2005 for $2.6 billion, can certainly
be called the little company that could.
Founded by 2002 by Kazaa creators Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, Skype is a free VOIP software application currently being used by 150,000 NEW users a day!
Wow.
Skype is a peer-to-peer program, meaning the people you call must have Skype installed too. Using the software is like using an instant messenger, such as MSN Messenger or Yahoo Messenger. Calls are easy to set up and free to any Skype user in the world.
You can also use the SkypeOut service make calls to regular phones for about 3 cents/minute to most places. To do this, you buy Skype credits—sort of like buying minutes on prepaid phone cards.
One of the advantages Skype has over other free VOIP software from a user point of view is the ease of installation and setup.
So What Does it Look Like?
Making a call is as easy as selecting someone from a list of contacts and then clicking the green phone button at the bottom of the screen. Skype's website is designed with non-techies in mind and has as an easy tutorial on their website that shows you all the features of the software.
Skype Products
Besides the FREE stuff, Skype has a few other products. Here's a quick summary:
- SkypeOut—a low cost service for calling folks on traditional
landline phones using Skype. You pay for SkypeOut by buying Skype
credits. Rates are low: cost per minute to most worldwide locations is
€0.017 Euro Cent or approximately $0.023 or £0.012.
For North American Skypers, you can purchase a year's worth of unlimited SkypeOut for $29.95 USD. - SkypeIn Beta—allows you to have a real phone number so that people can call you from a landline phone. A 12-month subscription to a SkypeIn telephone number is around $40.
- Skype Voicemail—Lets you send voicemail messages to your Skype friends and contacts. Cost is £15 for the year, or free if you subscribe to SkypeIn
Skype also offers tempts you with other add ons, such as:
- Skype phones and other gadgets
- Ringtones, graphics, sounds
- SkypeZones Beta - access to WiFi hotspots all over the world
Skype Reviews
For consumer reviews of Skype, check out the following sources:
Got Questions? Ask Skype Yourself
- www.skype.com
—Has email technical support, web-based technical support and online manuals.
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Special Offers:
Lowest monthly unlimited long distance plan from Voip.com is $19.95/month. Lowest yearly plan is $199/year