Skype is a software application that allows individuals to make voice calls as well as video calls over the Internet for free anywhere in the world. Through Skype, all calls to other Skype users are free, but a unique addition to this software is the ability to make calls to landline telephones and mobile phones as well, with a slight fee. Skype is a peer-to-peer system rather than a client-server system. Over time, Skype has upgraded and added additional features to its software, such as file transferring, video conferencing, and instant messaging. It is operated by Skype Limited, with headquarters in Luxembourg and eBay as a minority owner.
History
Skype was founded in 2003 by Niklas Zennstrom and Dane Janus Frii, and is based in Luxembourg. The main purpose the founders had in mind was to break down the barriers to communication, especially over long distances. Because Skype is a peer-to-peer system as opposed to the client-server system, it makes use of background processing on computers running the software. Thus, the original proposed name was Sky peer-to-peer, which was then abbreviated to “Skyper.” Because some domain names associated with “Skyper” had already been taken, the founders dropped the “r” and left the software to its current name, Skype.
In 2006, Skype had 100 million registered users, Skype 2.0 for Mac was released, and Skype introduced a new pricing structure, with fees for “SkypeOut” calls. In the same year, video conferencing was introduced for the Windows and Mac OS X platform clients.
Features
Skype for Windows supports high quality video with quality and features, such as full-screen and screen-in-screen modes. In addition, Skype audio conferences can support up to 25 people at a time, currently. One feature Skype lacks is the ability to call emergency numbers such as 911 in the United States. This is a result of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission ruling that Skype is not an “interconnected VoIP provider” (Wikipedia).
How it Works
Users first download the free software, creating a distributed network of computers running the service. Each computer in the network shares the duties of processing and distributing data. With USB handsets, users can talk on Skype using a conventional phone device, and Skype-equipped Wi-Fi phones let users tap into the Skype service anywhere there is Wi-Fi access. Skype offers a searchable directory of Skype users.
Users can pay a premium for services such as SkypeOut and SkypeIn. SkypeOut lets users call any regular phone from a Skype account. Customers who use SkypeOut can either pay for a package that provides unlimited calls within a geographic area, or they can pay per-minute charges that are usually considerably less than comparable charges from phone carriers. In terms of SkypeIn, users pay for a conventional phone number that others with a regular phone can use to call the Skype user.
Skype 5.0
With Skype 5.0, the company hopes to win over even more customers and users than they already have, while keeping the current ones happy. Skype 5.0 features group video calling, Skype Home, streamlined interface, Facebook integration, offline instant messaging, new contact search and improved contact adding, enhanced call quality experience, user interface refresh,and videoconferencing functionality (c-net).
The new home page offers a variety of tutorials that help with using the various features of the service. These tutorials range from teaching you how to make a video call to teaching you how to sign up for a subscription. The company has also been working to simplify the overall interface so that making a call, messaging, screen sharing, and file transferring can be more user-friendly and easier to navigate. The contact search screen now also features images and mood messages, as well as offers real-time results.
One aspect of Skype 5.0 that I am interested in and enjoying, is the group-video-calling feature. According to company data, approximately 40% of all Skype-to-Skype minutes were used on video calling. Thus, the company decided that a logical next step would be to provide a feature that allows users to chat with more than just one person face-to-face. Currently, this feature is free to all users who download Skype 5.0, but later down the line, it may be a paid feature.
A particularly interesting videoconferencing feature that has been added is the dynamic view, which increases the screen size of the person doing most of the talking at any given moment. This would be very useful for business calls. There is also still the typical side-by-side screen with participant screens of equal size.
In Skype 5.0, the group video screen also displays relevant controls along the bottom, including a meter that measures call quality. They have added a call quality manager that works to gauge audio and video quality during calls. In addition, if you experience Internet connection problems, Skype’s new feature of automatic call recovery, helps users quickly reconnect calls that are interrupted.
Lastly, Skype has now integrated Facebook into its interface. This addition allows you to go directly to your news feed in Skype’s home screen, where you have the ability to update your Facebook status as well as start Skype calls with various contacts (c-net).
Significance of Skype
Skype provides access to voice and video communication for a fraction of what other options cost, giving phone access to people who may not be able to afford it—in particular, international phone calls. In this way, Skype saves traditional phone costs. In addition, when buying a SkypeIn number, users can choose the area code. Thus, someone in New York, could have a SkypeIn number with a California area code so that anyone who calls that number from Atlanta won’t have to pay long-distance charges.
Where is it Going?
With more users having access to Skype, the service will be required to add features, improve quality, and tie in with other applications. Skype has shown that people are interested in free calls, but would still pay for services that are inexpensive compared to alternatives. Thus, Skype can take advantage of the power of the Web and evolve voice and video communication further. Currently, vendors are introducing new Skype devices, some of which work as landlines and Wi-Fi phones.
Services
Since September 2007, users in China who want to download Skype are redirected to TOM, which is a joint venture between a Chinese wireless operator and Skype. The TOM client participates in the People’s Republic of China’s system of Internet censorship. It monitors text messages between users in China as well as messages exchanged with users outside the country. In 2008, it was discovered that TOM had been saving full messages from some Skype text conversations on its servers that focused on messages related to political issues such as Taiwan independence and the Chinese Communist Party. This can be seen as unethical because the saved messages contain personally identifiable information about the senders and recipients, such as IP addresses, usernames, landline phone numbers, etc.
Customer Service
In terms of Skype’s customer service, complaints have been made about its customer support. As of May 2010, Skype still does not provide any official means of contacting customer support; there is also no e-mail or phone number for complaints about billing errors, which makes it unclear as to which country would be the jurisdiction for conflict resolution.
In January 2010, Skype abandoned their policy for seizing funds in Skype accounts that have been inactive for 180 days due to a settlement to a class action lawsuit. Skype’s current refund policy states that they will provide refunds in full if the user has used less than 1 euro of their Skype Credit.
References
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