Skype



Skype is a free, downloadable tool that allows you to make free phone calls (with or without video) from your computer to another Skype user. You use your Internet connection to turn your computer into an Internet phone. (www.skype.com)

Skype is a proprietary voice-over-Internet Protocol service and software application originally created by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, and owned by Microsoft since 2011.

The service allows users to communicate with peers by voice, video, and instant messaging over the Internet. Phone calls may be placed to recipients on the traditional telephone networks. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free of charge, while calls to landline telephones and mobile phones are charged via a debit -based user account system. Skype has also become popular for its additional features, including file transfer, and videoconferencing.

Registered users of Skype are identified by a unique Skype Name, and may be listed in the Skype directory. Skype allows these registered users to communicate through both instant messaging and voice chat. Voice chat allows telephone calls between pairs of users and conference calling, and uses a proprietary audio codec. Skype's text chat client allows group chats, emoticons, storing chat history and editing of previous messages. Offline messages were implemented in version 5, but removed after a few weeks without notification. The usual features familiar to instant messaging users — user profiles, online status indicators, and so on — are also included.

media type="youtube" key="b9bwvaOHyQU" height="315" width="420"