What is Skype?

So you’re interested in Skype, huh?

Maybe you heard about Skype from a co-worker. Perhaps you found out about Skype through a family.

You may even be interested in Skype because Oprah’s now using it.

Whatever the reason you should be proud of yourself for looking into Skype.

That’s because Skype is largest (and still growing) VoIP service on the planet. At any given time there are more than 5 million people using Skype to send and receive calls, instant messages, conduct video calls and even share documents!

Skype makes communications simple, easy and cost effective

Skype is widely known as a software application that allows you to make free or low cost calls across the Internet to other Skype users, cell phones, VoIP and PSTN lines.

But Skype is about more than just making calls from your PC. With Skype you can also:

• Send and Receive Instant Messages
• Conduct Video Calls
• Collaborate and share documents
• Send and Receive Faxes

These options make Skype a complete communications service for just about any user – whether you are using it for personal or professional use.

Plus because Skype is a software application it can be accessed via a number of devices. This allows Skype to “go wherever you go” (that has an Internet connection) as you can access your Skype account from other computers, your laptop and even your mobile phone.

Best of all Skype is free to download, offers free calls between Skype users and low cost international calling rates.

Skype can be used for personal and professional communications

Many people consider Skype to be a personal communications service. While this is true the biggest growth in the Skype user base is coming from the professional.

That’s because of the functionality and low cost that Skype brings to any user.

Busy executives, road warriors and call centers across the world have embraced Skype as a way to make themselves more efficient, effective and profitable. Now what business professional wouldn’t want that?

And as Skype has continued to evolve, new services and products have come along that allow small, medium and large enterprises to use Skype throughout their organization as the primary means of voice communications and collaboration.

Not bad for a free piece of software.

Getting into Skype

Getting started with Skype is relatively easy. All you need to do is:

1. Download the Skype application for your PC, laptop or mobile phone
2. Set-up your Skype account by adding friends, co-workers, business partners and customers to your Skype buddy list
3. Select a plan (or simply call your current Skype buddies for free)
4. Select the right piece of Skype hardware to manage inbound and outbound audio/video
5. Start calling!

Skype really is that simple and easy to get started with and continue using.

Learn More About Skype

Interested in learning more about Skype? Check out the educational resources in the right sidebar or give one of our Skype experts a call at 800.398.8647!