Thread: Skype - new avenues of communication

Skype is among the unique Internet phenomena, which only a few years of existence, reached such a level of popularity that they could not know the person conducting the internet at least hour a day. Although the number of programs for VoIP telephony is constantly growing, and voice chat services appear in normal IM client, the popularity of Skype is not diminishing. I think there are several reasons for this.

Secondly, the popularity of Skype promotes a host of other devices, which declared support program, or they set up exclusively to deal with it. A list of these products is enormous - from the USB phones and devices loudspeaker to communicate via Skype without cumbersome headset, to a USB adapters, which provide the ability to call and receive calls on the network using just a Skype phone. In Russia, such devices suggests, in particular, the company TRENDnet. In addition to the above products, in its arsenal have phones and devices loudspeaker with the connection of Bluetooth technology, as well as a gateway for voice-over IP protocol. More information on these devices can be found at the site of the manufacturer.

Finally, thirdly, the Skype program becomes more convenient and improved with each new version, which went quite often. Sometimes, users are not able to absorb a novelty, and developers have already offered to try next. A powerful impetus to development programmes has been the acquisition of Skype company eBay in 2005. This brought a new means for the development of the project, as well as fresh opportunities for integration with other services owned by eBay, in particular with the payment system Paypal.

At the dawn of existence, Skype offered two main services - other free calls to customers also installed Skype, and paid (but inexpensive) international calls to fixed-line numbers. Today, the list of possibilities Skype has grown, but the principle remained the same services - everything that is not beyond the scope of the Internet remains free for the rest charged a small fee. In today's review, we look at some of the interesting additional features Skype.



Sending SMS
The possibility of sending SMS appeared in the program long enough, and is actively used its many subscribers. This option fee, so as to take advantage of it, it is necessary to replenish their balance. The minimum amount of recharge is 10 dollars. Fill balance can use cards Visa, Mastercard or Moneybookers systems, Diners and Paypal. Another possibility is the payment by bank transfer.

When the balance replenished, it is possible to move to sending SMS by selecting the appropriate command from the Tools menu. First you need to select the recipient country and enter the mobile phone number. If you plan to send SMS messages to multiple people at once makes sense to put them in the list of recipients. However, it must be remembered that when sending the same message to multiple recipients will need to pay for each SMS, that is, if the recipient of four, the price will increase by four.

With the default settings recipient of the message will see in the "sender" in the nick your Skype. If you want that there was a mobile number, you need to open a window with Skype settings (Tools> Preferences), go to the tab SMS, enter your mobile phone number and authorize it. For this to your number will be sent a message that will contain authorization code. This code must be entered in the box. In the message with the code will need to pay the standard fare for SMS.

SkypeFind
SkypeFind - one of the new features, introduced in version 3.1 Skype. This option gives users the ability to leave and find information about various firms, enterprises and institutions. Developers SkypeFind profile as an online "live" directory on which any member of Skype community can cope, say, how better to visit a restaurant in France. If the company is registered in the user points SkypeFind keywords, and it is for them was underway in the database.

SkypePrime and sending money
SkypePrime - is another new feature Skype, which is still in beta. This option allows the user to set fees for calls to their Skype-account. The service is targeted primarily at business users who previously could only take toll calls to city phones, which limited the scope of one country. Now, thanks SkypePrime, you can receive calls from all over the world.

However, we hope that this limitation will soon be lifted, because due to his Russian users can not evaluate another new opportunity Skype - sending money through the program. Works are as follows: The user connects to your account with Skype account at Paypal (can be used to register a new or existing), and then sends the money directly to another user of Skype window. After the operation is complete, the recipient sees a notice of receipt of money in my window Skype.

Public chats and SkypeCast

For text-messaging capable of creating chat. Chat can be open or closed. In the first case, may accede to it all applicants, the second - only those users who added it manually, in the contact list. If you create an open chat, the program will generate a reference to it that can be placed on a site or blog.
As the owner of the chat, you can lay down rules of conduct in there, and restrict the rights of users, for example, do not allow you to send messages to everyone, but only those who you trust.



When you create your own SkypeCast indicated his topic description language of communication, the start date and duration. Chats can be open and closed. If you open a public SkypeCast, it is stored in a directory accessible and searchable on the site skypecasts.skype.com. Therefore, if you want your chat find as many people as possible, with the registration is to introduce more keywords, and also choose an image to match its subject. You can also link to a site, which was created SkypeCast.

Conclusion

We are privileged to live in a time when all kinds of communications together in a coherent whole. In mobile phones, the Internet appears, on the Internet - telephony, etc. Skype is no doubt that this is in the process not least, combining a wide variety of modes of communication.

Despite the growing popularity of this technology, yet many do not pay attention to it, considering Skype regular useless hi-tech toys. However, we are confident that in the short term their views radically changed, for good reason.