[UEB Maths] Skype

Wed, 13 Jul 2005 22:50:41 -0400

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Hello everyone,

Skype is an Internet phone service that is completely free if you talk 
through your computer to someone else on their computer, and quite 
inexpensive (.02 Euros per minute to almost anywhere in the world) when 
talking through your computer to someone on their standard phone. (The 
latter service is called "Skypeout" and is accomplished by talking through 
the Internet to a server near the phone you're calling, then connecting for 
the last leg through the standard local phone network.)

You can learn all about it, and download the (free) software to run it on 
your Windows computer, at:

http://www.skype.com/

Apart from any "Skypeout" calling, typically the only thing you might have 
to buy would be a microphone for your computer, if you don't already have 
one; most computers already have the required sound speakers.

In my experience the connections are surprisingly good, though not always 
quite as good nor as stable as a regular phone line. Sometimes there are 
strange little delays, which I suppose are due to some random data packet 
being routed the long way around the globe, or something like that.

In principle, Skypeout will work with any connection to the Internet, 
whether it be broadband or dial-up, but common sense tells me that the 
connection quality is likely to be somewhat less with dial-up. I also 
understand that conference calls (which I have not tried) don't work well 
for more than some small number of participants. Still, I'd be interested 
in experimenting.

My "Skype name" is joesullivan -- and I'm not usually online, but can be at 
prearranged times.

Incidentally, if you're wondering how Skype can stay in business providing 
a free service and not charging even for the software to access the 
service, I've wondered the same thing, and we're not alone. There are lots 
of articles, some pretty interesting, to be found on the Web if you do a 
search for "Skype" and "revenue" or "business model." Besides Skypeout, 
there are some premium services for which Skype charges, or plans to 
charge, and so far it seems to be working; I hope it stays that way.

Best,
Joe

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Hello everyone, 
Skype is an Internet phone service that is completely free if you talk
through your computer to someone else on their computer, and quite
inexpensive (.02 Euros per minute to almost anywhere in the world) when
talking through your computer to someone on their standard phone. (The
latter service is called &quot;Skypeout&quot; and is accomplished by
talking through the Internet to a server near the phone you're calling,
then connecting for the last leg through the standard local phone
network.) 
You can learn all about it, and download the (free) software to run it on
your Windows computer, at: 
<a href="http://www.skype.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.skype.com/</a>
 
Apart from any &quot;Skypeout&quot; calling, typically the only thing you
might have to buy would be a microphone for your computer, if you don't
already have one; most computers already have the required sound
speakers. 
In my experience the connections are surprisingly good, though not always
quite as good nor as stable as a regular phone line. Sometimes there are
strange little delays, which I suppose are due to some random data packet
being routed the long way around the globe, or something like
that. 
In principle, Skypeout will work with any connection to the Internet,
whether it be broadband or dial-up, but common sense tells me that the
connection quality is likely to be somewhat less with dial-up. I also
understand that conference calls (which I have not tried) don't work well
for more than some small number of participants. Still, I'd be interested
in experimenting. 
My &quot;Skype name&quot; is joesullivan -- and I'm not usually online,
but can be at prearranged times. 
Incidentally, if you're wondering how Skype can stay in business
providing a free service and not charging even for the software to access
the service, I've wondered the same thing, and we're not alone. There are
lots of articles, some pretty interesting, to be found on the Web if you
do a search for &quot;Skype&quot; and &quot;revenue&quot; or
&quot;business model.&quot; Besides Skypeout, there are some premium
services for which Skype charges, or plans to charge, and so far it seems
to be working; I hope it stays that way. 
Best, 
Joe 
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