Mork calling Orson....on the internet (Skype.com) (Other Website...)

Member Name: darkman2005

Product:	Other Website...
Date:	20/01/05 (187 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free calls, File transfer

Disadvantages: Call quality not 100% inconsistent

About Internet Telephony – The bit for technophiles, Trivial Pursuit buffs and trainspotters.

You’ve probably heard about making calls on the Internet but perhaps haven’t looked into it because, frankly, there are better things to do in life than work out how to make a call through the Internet. The history of Internet telephony is neither long nor particularly interesting, pioneered in 1995 by researchers and CB-type hobbyists in bed-sits. The technology allows users to communicate using real-time voice via PC-to-PC, PC-to-phone, phone-to-phone, PC-to-fax, or fax-to-fax. The threat this technology poses to traditional long distance and local phone carriers is becoming quite real. The underlying principles behind Internet telephony are dryer than twice-cooked toast but I will try to explain for those who care. Voice is transferred over packet-switched networks as opposed to traditional dedicated switching circuits. A packet-switched network utilizes routers to transfer packets of data. Each packet carries a header that conveys the sending location and the sequence of information. The information packets are then broken up by a hub computer and sent to routers that determine the least congested path to the final destination. Once the packets reach the final destination, the destination computer reconstructs the information into its original form. Packet-switched networks require significantly less infrastructure than circuit-switched networks while providing the same data capacity. It’s simple really.

About Skye.com – The bit that tells you what’s in it for you.

In 5 minutes time you could be making free calls through the Internet. Skype is brought to you by the same people that made the evil file transferring software Kazaa. The site is clean and simple and the downloads are easy to find and take just moments to pull down and install. The software is both PC and Mac compatible and callers can communicate between each platform and make calls to normal phones. Calls between Skype software users (PC-to-PC calls) are secure and encrypted. Calls to standard telephone or mobile numbers are encrypted until they reach a public switched telephone network (like all normal calls).

How Skype works – The bit with added juicy bits.

The Skype user interface looks just like an instant messenger. Sign up, give yourself a username and then add your friend’s Skype names to your contacts list or invite them to join. Like an instant messenger you can send messages, see when you friends are online and set your status to show your friends whether you are available. As an interesting feature on it’s own, you can also transfer whole files between friends – gigabytes of the stuff.
Now here’s where the fun begins. There’s a big fat green button called “Call”. Select your mate and press it. You hear an old school phone ringing. You’ve heard this before annoyingly on ring tones, but here it’s incredibly satisfying. Your friend then decides whether or not to pick up. If they answer you then have a chat. It’s that easy. You can also call landline phones using Skype Out after purchasing an online credit. It’s very simple and if you have friends and family overseas, then it’s here you begin to see the real savings. Calls to Australia and the USA for example, cost 0.017€ per minute. Even a low cost carrier would charge you 4p. You can also have conference calls with up to 4 participants, either Skype users or Skype Out. Skype puts a whole new spin on making prank calls. Could there be anything more satisfying than doing a random search of Skype users and then calling a bewildered German to recite a Bart Simpson call to Moe’s Tavern. Genius.


What you need – The bit where you kick yourself for still having a C64

You need a broadband connection. Skype supports Windows 2000, XP, Pocket PC, Mac OS X and Linux. Your computer will need a microphone. Most late model laptops have one built in. To guarantee a clear call you should use headphones to avoid feedback and echo. On the Skype site you will find links to buy headsets but they are not necessary if you have a cheap pair of headphones from that Walkman you binned when you upgraded to an MP3 player.

Does it work – The bit where we take a reality check

Yes it works and works pretty well. There is a lot to like about Skype. As soon as you see their home page you know this is a company getting it right. They are very likeable because, like any good Internet company, their growth depends on word of mouth. I would recommend not making calls without headphones; otherwise you have to fiddle around on each end with volumes to get it working properly. The technology is very good but there are still moments when the call quality gets choppy. Don’t go throwing out your BT phone yet. But this is fun stuff. There is something remarkably rewarding about not paying for a phone call. And the novelty value of talking to a friend on the other side of the world and walking off to make a cup of tea without hanging up is ceaseless. Having a call through headphones is also much more intimate than talking on the phone as it is like the other person is sitting next to you.


The Future – The bit that makes you glad you are alive in the 21C

Skype already co-produce USB handsets that can be purchased for around £100. They look and work just like a normal phone except you can call normal numbers as well as your Skype friends through your PC. In theory, if everyone went out and bought one of these phones tomorrow, we could all call each other for free. The future possibilities for this technology are infinite. Imagine when there is a global wireless network. We will be placing all of our calls through the Internet. The most dramatic acceptance of this technology is expected to initially relate to the fax usage of Internet telephony acceptance. Currently, the average employee responsible for fax transmissions at FTSE 100 companies sends 41 five-page documents per day. It is easy to see the cost savings applicable just to fax applications.

Summary: