Skype

Popular programs in Internet phone

What is Skype

Skype is one of the most popular VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) programs worldwide. It is available for free to download to your smartphone, tablet and of course, your computer. The latest version is 6. Skype’s popularity stems from the fact that it allows you to engage in video chats with other people from anywhere in the world and enables you to instant message or text for free and make regular voice calls to others for a low fee of only $30 per year right from your computer.

This program is generally regarded as a lifesaver for anyone who has important contacts, whether family, friends or business associates, who reside overseas. Skype allows you to speak with – and see – these people in video chats and anyone else in real-time as long as they also have the program. Many companies use it for business purposes to keep in touch with clients or employees. The program has a wide variety of features and functionalities that include emoticons within the chat feature, user avatars and the ability to have group-video conferences.

Skype is exceedingly easy to use in spite of the fact that the user interface has recently been redesigned. The revamp was done to make way for video conferencing. In other words, it is wider so as to accommodate written chats, contact lists and toolbars so that it is easier to keep track and manage any conversation. The purpose is also largely to eliminate clutter within the screen while you are in the middle of a video chat. At this point, all you will see onscreen beside the person with whom you are chatting are the controls.

Facebook integration is a new feature that Skype includes. You can receive your news feed within the app and view call and SMS buttons for each of your Facebook friends who have shared their contact information. It is a quick and easy way to contact anyone with whom you have contact on the social networking site.

The sound quality within Skype is clear and loud. Video is generally fair although occasionally too pixelated. You can also capture a screenshot of your face within the program.

Generally, the only con about Skype 6 is that its new interface is huge, perhaps too much for some users. However, the pros outweigh that single con as it is easy to use, includes excellent sound quality, has many features that accommodate video chats, includes a sharp video conferencing mode, keeps records of all calls and has support for embedded local video on the target video.