Technology has brought so many great tools right to our desktop including the ability to make phone calls using Skype. Since 2003, Skype has been giving millions of internet users the opportunity to make voice and video calls for free. It is estimated that just in 2010, Skype users made 95 billion minutes of calls.
All you need is a computer that has a webcam available (for microphone and sound, which is pretty much every computer on the market today) and is connected to the internet. You download the Skype program, install it, register a Skype user, and you are up and running. Even the free version of Skype is quite useful and allows for free Skype to Skype calls, instant messaging, file transfers, and the ability to share your computer screen with the caller. Subscription and pay-as-you-go plans allow even more features including voicemail, call forwarding, and group video conferencing, all at rates the traditional phone company and even some cellular providers can’t beat.
I often use the free version of Skype frequently to augment my pay-as-you-go cell phone. I am able to make calls to 800 and 888 numbers at no charge right from my computer. The person or persons on the other end of the “line” have no idea I am talking through my computer since Skype uses standard telephone sounds and the audio quality is so high. I was also amazed when a colleague sent me a file download through Skype in the middle of our conference call. Although you can make calls to other Skype users for free, if you call a regular number, you will need to buy airtime (extremely cheap if used within US) to speak with the other party.
I purchased $10 worth of Skype credit and still haven’t used it up since it only charged me two cents per minute. (US call). Even with rates slightly higher for international calls, it is still cheap.
In the near future, I am going to use the screen sharing option for training activities. If you have tried and used this feature for training purposes, please share your experience by posting in the comments section.
One minor caveat: Skype can't be used for emergency calling but neither can a cell phone.
Want to give Skype a try? Check out the Skype website for more information and rates.
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