Overview of How Skype Works


Skype takes advantage of advanced P2P networking technology to establish and route connections directly between computers, instead of forcing calls through a company's centralized servers. Unlike other voice service providers, the Skype P2P network grows more powerful with each new Skype user who comes online, continually improving the network's capacity to connect people.

Skype works on most popular operating systems (Windows 2000 and XP, Mac OS X, Linux, and personal digital assistants running Pocket PC), with the appropriate look and feel for each platform. Talking, sending IMs, and transferring files among different platforms are as seamless as sending and receiving e-mail across platforms.

Getting started with Skype is easy and straightforward. Regardless of the platform you use, you simply do the following:

1.

Download and install Skype from the Skype Web site.

2.

Register to create a Skype account.

3.

Plug in a headset or phone that works with your computer (or use your built-in microphone and speakers).

4.

Start using Skype.

In general, you don't need to know anything about computer networking, firewall and router configuration, or any other networking gear. Plus there is no need for a special service plan or any dedicated hardware.

Skype also works on many different devices: desktop computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), residential cordless phones that support Skype, as well as a new breed of multimode cellular phones that support Wi-Fi connections to the Internet (see Figure 1-1).

Figure 1-1. Skype works on a variety of devices


On a computer, Skype works like any software program that runs in the background when not being used and moves to the foreground when needed. In this way, Skype is similar to existing IM applications like ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger, and Yahoo! Instant Messenger, and to applications like GoogleTalk, Gizmo, Net2Phone, and MSN Messenger.

Skype works slightly differently depending on the device you're using, but the basic Skype-to-Skype calling operations are the same. You simply select someone from your Contacts List and click a button to make the call.

Skype offers various features that let you search for other Skype users, send IMs, transfer files, and manage calls. Skype also allows you to make and receive calls to people using traditional phones.

If you have access to the Internet, there is no charge for using Skype for voice or video calls, instant messaging, and transferring files between two Skype accounts (and for conference calls to as many as five Skype accounts). Calls from one Skype account to another are always free.




Skype. The Definitive Guide
Skype: The Definitive Guide
ISBN: 032140940X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 130

flylib.com © 2008-2017.
If you may any questions please contact us: flylib@qtcs.net