Skype

man, I had a really detailed response for you, and lost it before I hit send. Prices and everything. Well, nutshell version. I have done the free part, then for almost 3 years now have subscribed to the service for calls IN, calls OUT, and voicemail. They now offer things in a package. You can pay monthly or by the year. We LOVE it. I mostly use it for home phone, anyone using my phone # for internet stuff- they get to use that "home" phone #- it is what used to be called "a skype- out number". This way any solicitors get to leave msg on voicemail if I want them to (and I don't have to use up my daytime cell minutes, getting the message they left!)
I use it to make outgoing calls, all week long, when my cell service is deducting minutes. Makes it pretty darn affordable. So...... for less than $60.00 per year.... I have to say I strongly recommend it, even if you go the paying subscriptions- instead of the free calls to others on skype!
Have a great week!

HI,
It's a way to communicate online via text,speech and/or video. You can also do conference calls and create chat rooms that are private or public.
Also you can can purchase credits and make very cheap phone calls around the world like 2 cents a minute with no large connection fees. It's great quality most of the time and it's free.
www.skype.com just download it, install it, create your profile and you're on.
It's very simple. Good luck.

I love Skype. It is very easy to use. You just download the program and make a user id. It should find your webcam and install the settings so you don't have to fool with it. Then just search for the name of the person you want and set them as a dial once they accept you, when you want to talk, just "dial" them if they are online.

It's IP telecommuting... so, basically it offers telephone connectivity through the internet. You'll need your computer to have a speaker or a wired microphone for you to speak into.

When I travel, I call home (and say goodnight to my daughter) via skype.

Morning N.;

Skype is a one to one computer program for talking to another person! Just like a Telephone except thru the computer!

My son and I have Skype and when he was in the Ukraine we
could voice talk and it didn't cost us anything. He has
a video on his lap top and so we could even see him while
talking to him.
Hope this helps, it is a great program!
B. C.

We actually use Skype for our home phone now. We got so sick of AT&T that we cancelled everything. But you have to have an internet connection, so we're using cable high speed. Anyway...you can buy Skype phones that hook up to a USB connection, and then you use then basically as a regular phone (once you have set up an account online). You have to dial it a certain way, but it's no big deal. You can make and accept calls for free, but it just uses random numbers each time. Or, like we did, you can purchase an account for only $60/ year, and have a local phone number of your own. Then you can make unlimited local, long-distance, and even international (I think) calls.

Oops...kids screaming...gotta run.

cc

Skype is basically an instant messenger with audio and video application. It's great for when my husband goes on deployment and he can still see and speak to our daughter. And much cheaper and more reliable than the cell phones in the lesser countries.

You can download skype online at www.skype.com and is free. You need a web camera. Video calls are free and you can buy minutes to call from your computer to a land line anywhere in the world. You can even forward your video calls to your cell phone but need to purchase the feature. I use it all the time with my my family in Mexico, Minnesota, Illinois and Kansas. Skype is an European company and it works all over the world. Many troopers use skype to stay in touch with their families. After you have a list of contacts you can see who is on and then skype them. It is very easy to set up. In my experience the web camera works better with cameras that are part of the computer rather then the ones bought separately - but many work great. Skype sells the web cameras too. Logitech are a good made. An $80-100 dls camera is worth the investment. Let me know if you have any more questions!
PB