Enjoy free phone service
Where to find it: www.skype.com
Who runs the site: Skype has been around since 2003 and was
founded by Niklas Zennstr
öm and Janus Friis. In September 2005, Skype was bought out for
$2.6 billion by ebay but is still run by founders Zennström and
Friis.
Enjoy free phone service
Where to find it: www.skype.com
Who runs the site: Skype has been around since 2003 and was founded by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis. In September 2005, Skype was bought out for $2.6 billion by ebay but is still run by founders Zennström and Friis.
Who is likely to use the site: This site is perfect for anyone who has relatives living out of state or even out of the country. Skype allows members to call other Skype users for free anywhere there is an Internet connection.
Why it’s cool: With the cost of phone bills reaching triple digits Skype offers users a way to stay connected while keeping the wallet disconnected. I first became familiar with Skype when faced with the news that my girlfriend was going to be 3,000 miles away for eight months out of the year. A friend of mine told us about Skype. Being the poor college students that we were, we thought it sounded like a great idea. Plus with more than half a billion downloads, more and more people are connected.
Another great thing about Skype is the clarity of the conversations. The voices come across clearly. The video chat feature is another benefit that allows users to connect in a personal way. While most other services such as yahoo messenger or AIM only offer a partial screen, Skype offers a full screen option, which allows people the luxury to see their family members up close and personal.
Pros: Skype has services such as a full screen, instant messaging, file transfers, and of course, phone calls. The sound is clear and better than most phone lines. It is available in 28 different languages, which is perfect for international calls. Skype is a great way to connect with those who are overseas or even over state lines without the strain of unmanageable phone bills.
Cons: The Skype service is delivered through a computer so it leaves users strapped to their laptops and screens. While people can purchase a receiver for the computer, those not wishing to pay might feel as if they got the busy signal. Skype offers other amazing features such as unlimited calls to anyone in the United States and Canada for $29.95 a year, but again those not wishing to see bills might want to stay away.
