[UEB Maths] Skype

[Bruce Maguire]

Greetings Everyone

My Skype name is Brucemaguire. Like Joe, I am generally only online by
prior arrangement, although I sometimes "hang out" in Skype Me mode
(where anyone can initiate a conversation). I have made some good
contacts that way. I'm happy to be available if anyone wants to
experiment with Skype..

Cheers
Bruce
On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 22:50:41 -0400, you wrote:

>Hello everyone,
>
>Skype is an Internet phone service that is completely free if you talk=20
>through your computer to someone else on their computer, and quite=20
>inexpensive (.02 Euros per minute to almost anywhere in the world) when=20
>talking through your computer to someone on their standard phone. (The=20
>latter service is called "Skypeout" and is accomplished by talking =
through=20
>the Internet to a server near the phone you're calling, then connecting =
for=20
>the last leg through the standard local phone network.)
>
>You can learn all about it, and download the (free) software to run it =
on=20
>your Windows computer, at:
>
>http://www.skype.com/
>
>Apart from any "Skypeout" calling, typically the only thing you might =
have=20
>to buy would be a microphone for your computer, if you don't already =
have=20
>one; most computers already have the required sound speakers.
>
>In my experience the connections are surprisingly good, though not =
always=20
>quite as good nor as stable as a regular phone line. Sometimes there are=
=20
>strange little delays, which I suppose are due to some random data =
packet=20
>being routed the long way around the globe, or something like that.
>
>In principle, Skypeout will work with any connection to the Internet,=20
>whether it be broadband or dial-up, but common sense tells me that the=20
>connection quality is likely to be somewhat less with dial-up. I also=20
>understand that conference calls (which I have not tried) don't work =
well=20
>for more than some small number of participants. Still, I'd be =
interested=20
>in experimenting.
>
>My "Skype name" is joesullivan -- and I'm not usually online, but can be=
 at=20
>prearranged times.
>
>Incidentally, if you're wondering how Skype can stay in business =
providing=20
>a free service and not charging even for the software to access the=20
>service, I've wondered the same thing, and we're not alone. There are =
lots=20
>of articles, some pretty interesting, to be found on the Web if you do a=
=20
>search for "Skype" and "revenue" or "business model." Besides Skypeout,=20
>there are some premium services for which Skype charges, or plans to=20
>charge, and so far it seems to be working; I hope it stays that way.
>
>Best,
>Joe