Free & Useful (Skype)

Member Name: DocDan3

Product:	Skype
Date:	08/08/09 (14 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free, Audio & Video Calls, Easy To Use, Good Design

Disadvantages: Automatic Start Up Is Annoying, Problems Recognising Webcam

Skype is a superb application, which you can download for Windows, Mac and Linux computers. It's totally free to use if other people have Skype and you are making contact with them, but if you want to make calls to landlines, mobiles or other places, you must put credit on your account to do so. However, the rates are really good as you can phone from Spain to the UK for 0.017p a minute for example, which is peanuts!

The application has a white and blue colour scheme, which is all quite modern and the layout is simple and easy to get by with. You can download and install it for free from skype.com. You can add other Skype contacts by adding their unique skype name. Millions of users are on Skype at any given time, so it's really popular as it is.

On the application, you can see a list of your contacts and their personal message beside their name. Next to your name, you can change your status according to what you're doing and whether you are away from the computer or not.

You can make and receive audio calls as well as do video calls using a webcam. You can also instant message each other and it's all totally free if you both have skype. When someone rings you, it actually makes a ringing noise, which can be customised. When you ring someone, it makes the appropriate tone too, which adds to the realism like it's a real phone.

You can also search for people and add them over the application. Whilst searching for people, you can specify certain things such as their name, age range, gender and a lot more to help narrow down the results. It's really easy to use and I have never had any major problems with it. You sometimes get a bit of lag and sometimes I have difficuilty getting Skype to recognise my webcam, but apart from that, it works really well. The last thing I don't like about Skype is the way it automatically starts up when I switch on my computer. I have a Mac and have looked through the settings but have found no way to switch this off so if someone can help, I'd appreciate it!

Thanks for reading,

Dan ©

Summary: A great application available for windows, macs and linux computers to contact your friends

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