Skype Is Not Your Typical VoIP... It's Much More Than An Internet Phone!

Now, you KNOW how I like to find ways to use products other than for their intended purpose...

Did you realize that Skypecan also be used as an intercom?!

How To Use Skype As An Intercom

Jim and I use it on a daily basis as an intercom to buzz each other whenever we need to ask the other person a quick question or something if we're working on our separate computers in separate offices in the house.

We recently moved Jim from our shared office (in the bonus room with me) to his own office (in one of the spare bedrooms) down the hall. But for some reason, we have a hard time hearing when the other one asks a question or something. I guess it's because my TV is on, and his radio is on, and the dogs are usually playing (loudly) in the background, and we're both focused on our computer work.

Thanks to Skype, I just click his name (in my Skype address book) and his computer starts "ringing"! His Skype address book automatically pops up and shows him who's calling. At which point he clicks once to answer and start talking to me.

Isn't that the coolest?!

How Skype Works

It runs in the background (we have ours set to load automatically every time we start the computer), and whenever someone's trying to reach you, your Skype address book pops up so you can see who's calling. You can choose to answer it (or not) simply by clicking on the icon.

From there, you just start talking... into thin air!

There's no annoying "delay". And you don't have to wait for them to finish talking before you start talking. You can talk all over each other and interject freely throughout the conversation as much as you want!

Only people who know your email address can call you. And you can block certain people from calling you, if you want to.

All you need to take full advantage of Skypeis a cheap microphone. They range anywhere from $2.50 to $20.00 and you can use either a desktop microphonethat rests on your desk/monitor or a headset with built-in mic.

Why Skype Is So Great

With Skype,calling computer-to-computer is 100% FREE.

There's no catch. No annoying ads. No spyware or adware. Nothing. One of our friends uses it to chat regularly with a friend of his who just moved to Poland... it's FREE 24/7!

Skype's voice quality surpasses that of a landline phone--it's CD quality. Source

The best part: it's the ultimate in "hands-free phone calling". For example...

• You could check out the exact same website that the other person is looking at and chat about what you see there. (An easy way to share something cool that you've found with someone else!)

• You could be working on the computer while you're talking to someone else "on the phone". (Talk about multi-tasking!)

• You could poke around your own computer and actually walk someone through the process of doing the same thing on their computer at the same time. (Great if you're asked to explain to a computer novice how to do something on the Net or on their computer!)

• You could recline in your favorite chair (that's near the computer) and chat for hours with someone on Skype without having to watch the clock.
  

When you use Skypeto send or receive a phone call from your computer, there's nothing to press. Nothing to click. There are also no limits to how long you can talk, and no restrictions on who you can call!

Other Things You Can Do With Skype

Skypeis similar to IM (instant messaging) in that it's interactive and "live" -- direct connect. In fact, Skypealso has its own "live online chat" function that makes it JUST like IM (but easier!). You could use the Skype chat feature to share files with someone else, or use it like an FTP program to push large files to another person's computer. (They must "approve" files from you, and vice versa.)

Plus, by simply clicking the name of someone else in your Skypeaddress book, you can have a conference call with up to five people! Yep, you could immediately connect with any other Skypeuser on-the-fly to involve them in the conversation too.

Skype was launched nearly two years ago by Niklas Zennstrom who co-founded the Kazaa P-to-P file sharing service. Source

With Skype,when a call comes in for you and you're not at your computer, a little button pops up showing that you missed X number of calls and who they were from, what time they called, etc. It's TOO cool. If you want people to be able to leave messages for you, then you can sign up for Skype voicemail for a nominal fee.

While the most popular use of Skypeat this point is to make calls computer-to-computer (two people talking to each other from anywhere in the world at their own computers for FREE), you could also call from your computer to any land-line for an additional fee. (It's called "Skype Out" and it's VERY cheap.)

You could sign up for a Skype phone number to give your friends who don't use Skype so they can call you from any phone, and ring your computer. (It's called "Skype In" and it comes with free voicemail service.)

---> The prices listed for Skype'sadd-on features are in Euro's. Use this converter to determine U.S. dollars.

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• Now you can make FREE video calls with Skype's latest version.
  
• Advanced users will appreciate the up-to-the-minute updates found in the official Skype blog.