Ryysa
Caldari
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Posted - 2008.02.03 16:09:00 -
[1]
Considering skype originated in my little country, I'd like to say a word or two ;)
First of all, It is rather popular.
I'll describe some of the most popular free, and paid services.
Free:
* Calling, good quality. If it is not able to estabilish a direct connection, it routes it through a relay (P2P network.)
* Video - again, very nice quality compared to most other stuff out there. If you have a HD capable video camera, a fast enough CPU and 384 kbit/s+ real upstream, you can actually send HD video, looks very very nice. (HD Video is only on windows though).
* Messaging, games, filetransfer.
Paid:
* SkypeOut - Call any phone in the world at local rates. Has saved me tonnes and tonnes of money.
* SkypeIn - Allows you to get a local number (albeit in select countries), so that people can actually call you from a real phone - at local rates, it's just like they would be calling a normal phone. It's quite affordable too at around 50 eur/year (iirc).
* SMS - Prices for sending SMS messages in europe are pure rape. Skype offers 2-3x lower rates than most European providers.
Some interesting things about Skype:
* Very user friendly (read: your grandmother can operate it). Which is the strongest point.
* Quite advanced NAT traversal techniques. Uses at least bidirectional holepunching, if unsuccessful, relays data.
* P2P network protocol is derived from the original FastTrack Kazaa protocol. Reason being, that the same Estonian people who made the original KaZaa, also made Skype ;)
* Due to it's P2P nature, if you are on a fast connection with open ports, it might use a small amount of your bandwidth to route other calls. It won't hog your bandwidth though - a tradeoff for it being free.
Now perhaps the most compelling reason to use Skype is it's availability.
* Skype native client is available for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Windows Mobile.
* Available for Symbian based smartphones via fring.
* Dedicated hardware solutions, which do not need a PC to place calls are also becoming widespread - there are WiFi / Cordless Skype Phones. I have personally used the SPH200D from Netgear, and it met all my expectations :)
Either way, Skype with a Skype WiFi/Cordless phone used together with SkypeIn and SkypeOut is a complete, and cheaper replacement for your landline phone. Only thing to consider is, you'll need your mobile, in case you have to make an emergency call.
Hope that helps.
P.S.
No, I don't work for Skype ;)
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