Skype

This summer I became a Skype believer! Skype is an free internet calling product that allows one to conference in up to 25 users at once (per the help system).

It is relatively easy to set up a Skype account:

• Go to http://www.skype.com/
• Download and install the Skype software
• create a unique name
• fill in the expected informational fields
• create a password

There is a profile page where one can add a "Mood" message, video, picture, etc. Once in Skype, you can add other Skype users as contacts. While friends can provide you with their Skype name; there is a lookup feature in Skype where one can find people by Skype name, real name, or e-mail address. After adding a contact, the contact must confirm that they want to be added to your list,, like in Facebook.

To begin a call, select a contact who is currently online, click the "Call" button, and wait for them to respond.  One can start a conference call by creating and selecting a group instead.  In addition, it is easy to add people to a call once the call has been started. One can choose to have an audio or video conference. One can also download a Skype app to their iPhone and participate this way. Skype will also allow one to call landlines or cell phones; however, there is a small charge per minute for those calls (an iPhone with app is treated as a computer...no charge).  There are other services for which Skype charges a usage or monthly fees like SMS (text) messages, voice mail, receiving calls from landlines and cell phones, etc.

Skype has a text-based chat feature which is active within a call and allows screen sharing.  This is a feature that I haven't yet tried, but I would certainly like to attempt; however, the call quality was excellent!