Leave the cellphone at home-now you’ve got Skype
If you haven’t heard of Skype yet, you soon will. Just purchased by eBay for $2.6 Billion in cash and stock, this internet phone service startup is based in Luxembourg and employs only 200 people…….but has an estimated $30 million in sales and has the world’s telecom giants running scared. The software it sells allows anyone with a high-speed internet connection to make calls worldwide for free–unlike comparable services provided by Time Warner, Verizon and Vonage that require additional hardware and monthly subscriptions.
Similar to an instant messaging application, after downloading the free app. off the web, users work with a headset, telephone or microphone and speakers instead of typing a message……creating a high-quality voice call with anyone else running the Skype application. If you prefer, you can purchase ‘SkypeOut’ time (about 2 cents a minute) and make your call to someone outside the system on a regular phone line. The similar ‘SkypeIn’ service allows users to receive calls via a regular phone number.
Claiming the demise of traditional telephony, Skype says it’s just transferring data…….all without laying down one fiber-optic cable. With almost 54 million registered users, Skype will no doubt soon become a significant threat to traditional phone companies in the U.S.
If you are fortunate enough to be onboard an airliner with Internet access, give Skype a try……we look forward to your feedback.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
My fiancé and I use Skype to cut down on the tremendous phone bills generated by our long distance relationship. Sometimes the service works very well, but other times there are odd echoes, time delays, or garblings. I definitely wouldn’t trust Skype to make a business call yet - but I’ll keep my eye on it. When they get the glitches worked out, it’ll probably become my primary mode of communication.
That’s a good point. I haven’t used it, but have heard the same thing. Jeremy Wagstaff has posted the question on who pays for Skype and that some networks are resorting to banning it.
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