Skype Video Calling
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Overview
Skype is a downloadable web-based application that allows you to make several types of calls from your PC or mobile device by utilizing Voice over Internet Protocol technologies (VoIP). Most services are free between Skype users. It supports many operating systems and platforms including Linux and even Playstation Portable (PSP). [1] It was created by Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu and Jaan Tallinn who also developed the peer-to-peer file sharing application Kazaa. [2] In 2005, eBay acquired Skype, but it has recently been the subject of controversy. [3]
Features
Skype provides multiple services as listed below and on their website. [4]
Skype-to-Skype Calls - These calls are made between one Skype client and another either via PC or mobile device with Skype. Between PCs, calls can be either instant message chats, voice calls, or video calls. Mobile devices with Skype can only utilize voice or IM messaging.
Skype-to-Phone Calls - Skype users can make voice calls to land line phones and mobile phones that are not equipped with Skype. These calls are not free, but 30 countries including the United States cost only $0.021 per minute (after Connection Fee and other fees if applicable). Skype cannot be used for Emergency (911) calls.+
SMS Messaging - Skype can send mobile phone users SMS messages for a small fee.+
Voice Mail - Skype can take voice mail messages when users are not online which can be checked from any Skype enabled device whenever the user signs back in again.+
Call Forwarding - Users can set up Skype to forward Skype calls to a standard or mobile phone when they are offline.+
Online Number - Users can purchase an "online number" which is a local number in the country of purchase, but allows non-skype users to call skype and allows the user to take the skype call anywhere in the world.+
+ Fees apply
System Requirements
Windows [5]
- Windows® 2000, XP, Vista or 7. (Windows 2000 users require DirectX 9.0 for video calls).
- Internet connection (broadband is best, GPRS is not supported for voice calls, and results may vary on a satellite connection).
For Voice and Video Calls:
- Speakers and microphone – built-in or separate.
- At least a 1GHz processor, 256 MB RAM.
- Webcam.
For High Quality Video calls:
- high quality video webcam and software
- dual-core processor
- fast broadband connection (384 kbps).
Mac OS X [6]
- Mac computer with G4, G5 or Intel processor, 800 MHz or faster.
- Mac OS X v10.3.9 (Panther) or newer.
- 512 MB RAM.
- 100 MB free disk space on your hard drive.
- Either a built-in or external microphone is required for voice calls.
- Either USB or regular headset if your Mac does not have a built-in microphone.
- Download drivers if you are using an external webcam.
- Internet connection – broadband is best (GPRS is not supported for voice calls).
For higher-resolution video:
- a faster processor (Core 2 Duo)
- a broadband connection with at least 384kbps upload speeds.
Linux [7]
Hardware requirements
- 1 Ghz processor or faster.
- 256 MB RAM.
- 20 MB free disk space on your hard drive.
- Microphone and speakers or headset.
- Internet connection (broadband is best, GPRS is not supported for voice calls, and results may vary on a satellite connection).
- Video card driver with Xv support.
Software requirements
- Qt 4.2.1+
- D-Bus 1.0.0
- libasound2 1.0.12
- PulseAudio 0.9.10+ (optional)
- PulseAudio 0.9.15+ (optional recommended)
Recent Controversy
Recently, Skype (namely its parent company, eBay) has come under fire from a group known as "Joltid" created by the founding developers of Skype. In 2005, the developers sold Skype to eBay, but not the technology that powers it. Joltid claims that eBay violated its contract by demanding compensation for technologies they did not have the rights to. Joltid has filed a lawsuit against eBay over the matter. [8]
Skype has also announced that it will make itself an open source software product. [9] Critics claim that Skype does not own enough of its own technology to be able to make anything more than the User Interface open sourced, and even if they did, this could lead to large scale security issues such as stealing calling credit or abuse of the phone network. [10]
Resources
1. Skype Home Page: http://www.skype.com
2. Wikipedia Article on Skype. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype
3. Palmer, Maija and Waters, Richard. "Parties close to settlement in Skype takeover dispute". Financial Times. 5 Nov. 2009. Web. 5 Nov. 2009. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ea36d9fe-c9ac-11de-a071-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
4. Skype features website: http://www.skype.com/features/
5. Skype for Windows download page: http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/
6. Skype for Mac OS X download page: http://www.skype.com/download/skype/macosx/
7. Skype for Linux download page: http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/
8. Palmer, Maija and Waters, Richard. "Parties close to settlement in Skype takeover dispute". Financial Times. 5 Nov. 2009. Web. 5 Nov. 2009. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ea36d9fe-c9ac-11de-a071-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
9. Skype Blog: http://share.skype.com/sites/linux/2009/11/skype_open_source.html
10. Unuth, Nadeem. "Skype to Become Open Source". About.com. 4 Nov. 2009. Web. 5 Nov. 2009. http://voip.about.com/b/2009/11/04/skype-to-become-open-source.htm