What is Skype?
The word “Skype” underscores a computer service and software application that permits its users to create videos as well as voice calls to someone else at no cost, by means of the Skype network. Nonetheless, some of its features come at a cost (Hanna, 2012, p.241).
A number of features of Skype comprise Skype to Skype calls, SMS messaging, video calls, immediate messaging, and the capability to forward calls to cell phones of the users when the user is offline.
A brief History about Skype
Janus Friis and Niklas Zennström, a Dane and Swedish respectively, established Skype in the year 2003. Estonians Heinla, Jaan Tallinn, and Priit Kasesalu built up the Skype software. Accompanied by Zennström and Friis, Heinla, Tallin, and Kasesalu initiated the peer-to-peer service software.
The initial public beta edition came into being in the year 2003. In the year 2005, eBay accepted to obtain Luxembourg-founded Skype Expertise SA for about 2.6 billion US dollars in direct cash, in addition to eBay supply and possible performance-founded deliberation (Strang, 2012, p. 23).
In the year 2011, Microsoft Corporation obtained Skype statements, S.à r.l for 8.5 billion US dollars. Skype was fitted in as a part of Microsoft, while Microsoft obtained the entire expertise of the company with the purchase. The conclusion of this deal was on 13 October in the year 2011.
Explain from A to Z how to use Skype!
The first of the many steps towards the use of Skype is going to the website www.skype.com and select the download option. This move is followed by clicking on the option ‘download now’.
When using a Mac, the users need to check in the menu feature on the right part of the screen, and choose the version of Skype they require for their particular operating system.
The next view is a concurrence to install. Selecting the option, ‘I agree-install’, takes the user to the browser highlighter’s screen.
On this screen, the user is supposed to unselect the ‘Yes’ option before selecting on the option ‘Next’, which will direct the user to the downloading screen after which a screen with the message ‘Thank you for installing Skype appears’ appears.
On this screen, the user is supposed to click on the ‘Finish’ option. The user will at that point have installed Skype on his/her computer. After installation, Skype will spontaneously come to view in its own screen, which will be the log in page for users who up to this point had a Skype name.
In the login page, users will be required to provide their Skype name and password before clicking on the option ‘Sign in’.
New users of Skype, who lack Skype name and password, need to select the option ‘Don’t have a Skype Name?’ after which a screen requiring them to fill in their full names, Skype name, and Password appears.
After filling in these details, new users need to click on the ‘Yes’ box before selecting the option ‘Next’, which will direct users to a ‘Welcome’ screen after signing in.
It is necessary to note all the information concerning Password and Skype name somewhere secretly. It might be necessary to make use of the option ‘Take a minute to get set up’.
In particular, the user is supposed to select the option ‘Check your sound works’ first to make sure that sound settings are working appropriately from the start. The options ‘find friends and import contacts’ is as well important to select.
The set up options explained above can be completed at whichever time the user finds convenient. On a Skype session, contacts marked with color green and a tick stands for users who are online (reachable to make a call to or chat with).
In addition, contacts marked with color gray and an “x” signifies that users are not available, and still others that signify occupied or gone can be obtained in the ‘Online Status’ option under the option ‘Skype’.
To look for Skype users, selecting ‘Search for Skype Users’ under the option ‘Contacts’ will direct to a section of filling out required details for accurate search.
After clicking on any contact, the screen that comes to view will have the options; call, write message (chat), and video call. Users can select on either option they want to use.
To add or change a picture, users should select the option ‘Personalize’ and click on ‘Change Your Picture’, which will allow them to ‘take a snapshot’ or ‘browse’ for pictures on the computer. You now Skype!
What are the new features added recently and does Skype record or not
Some of the features added recently on Skype comprise video calls beginning by 640 x 480 resolutions, as from January in the year 2011. With the aid of this feature, video calls on advanced computers begin in 30 frames for every second.
Moreover, some applications like ‘Create a Group’ were advanced. In March 2011, another feature was added to assist altered mobile phone dialog having incorporated contact search.
Through this new feature, there was improved appearance of the call button and contacts, as well as advanced call management when users finish their credit (Hwang, & Vrongistinos, 2012, p. 173). In April 2011, a new feature was added for better quality of video sent to cell phones from Skype.
In July 2011, Skype incorporated a new feature that permitted sending of instant messages to Facebook, which as well supported advanced call management, better video calls dependability, and advancements while making video snapshots (Thomas, & Brown, 2010, p.98).
In September 2011, a feature to back Windows 8 was added to Skype and another for screen sharing advancement; however, in October the same year, Google merchandise bundling was eradicated.
In February 2012, Skype included the complete HD video-calling feature that assisted such applications as Facebook audio and Push to communicate.
In April 2012, Skype added a feature for an affirmation message while sending a given contact to a grouping chat, which assisted applications like making snapshots and video calls simultaneously.
In mid 2012, Skype added another feature to enable choose and pin a preferred contact (Hwang, & Vrongistinos, 2012, pp. 176-179). Regularly, hotfix has been added with the latest being added in July 2012.
Despite the fact that Skype does not offer native application for recording voice chats so far, users can simply record sessions by means of intermediary accompaniments, hardware tools, or software in the computer.
Skype calls on mobile devices are recorded as audio files such as MP3 that the user could later edit and distribute to friends.
What are the free features and the features that are by money on Skype?
Some of the free features of Skype comprise Skype to Skype calls, instant messages, screen sharing, and video calls. Skype to Skype calls are at no cost in spite of place or period.
Skype permits its users to observe the other individual throughout a voice call on condition that, the two have Skype-attuned video cameras with permitted video attribute in Skype.
Through Skype video, the user can commune face-to-face with the other individual in spite of the distance between the two, and at no cost.
Skype users can move a file to other Skype users in their contacts register at whichever instance or with any person for the period of a chat session, or Skype to Skype call (Quinn, 2012, p.69).
In addition, Skype users can perform all these activities by just right clicking on their mouse, or through dragging. The features that are by money on Skype comprise call forwarding and SMS.
Who are the people using Skype?
By the close of September 2011, Skype boasted of 663 million users; the numbers are undoubtedly higher today.
Even though Skype is a profitable product, teachers and learning institutions keen on international learning projects are making use of its free edition with a rising incidence (Bozarth, 2010, p. 168). For instance, Skype usage assists language sharing.
Students who use Skype in various regions of the globe are matched; every one of them is an indigenous orator of the language others desire to know. Additionally, features of Skype permit peers to commune via instant messaging, voice, and video.
Family members and friends use Skype to be in contact. Lastly, business people use Skype to share information with clients and other businesses, locally and internationally.
References
Bozarth, J. (2010). Social Media for Trainers: Techniques for Enhancing and Extending Learning. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer Publishing.
Hanna, P. (2012). Using internet technologies (such as Skype) as a research medium: a research note. Qualitative Research, 12 (2), 239-242.
Hwang, Y. S., & Vrongistinos K. (2012). Using Blackboard and Skype for Mentoring Beginning Teachers. American Journal of Distance Education, 26 (3), 172-179.
Quinn, C. N. (2012). Designing mLearning: Tapping into the Mobile Revolution for Organizational Performance. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer Publishing.
Strang, D. K. (2012). Skype Synchronous Interaction Effectiveness in a Quantitative Management Science Course. Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, 10 (1), 3-23.
Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2010). A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change. Washington, DC: CreateSpace.