Installing Softphone-Only Services

Providers like Skype and Pulver's Free World Dialup are designed for softphones alone. Although the services may use optional USB handsets for control and communications, the telephone functionality is provided by the softphone software itself.

This section looks at the configuration of one of these services.

Installing and configuring the Skype softphone service

Skype has created its own proprietary softphone application, which combines many of the features of VoIP and instant messaging in one place. This application enables multimedia communications and gives users unprecedented capabilities.

To install Skype on your computer:

1.	Download the Skype software from www.skype.com. You can choose among Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and PocketPC versions.
2.	Execute the installation package to launch the Skype Setup Wizard (Figure 5.13), and follow the steps to complete the installation. Figure 5.13. The Skype Setup Wizard
3.	When the installation is complete, you will see a signup page (Figure 5.14); complete your information on this page. Figure 5.14. The Skype service requires a free subscription to access basic functionality.
4.	Next, you are given the option of creating a user profile to tell other Skype users about yourself; complete or cancel this screen.
5.	Use the Getting Started Wizard to import contacts, make a test call, and locate other Skype users (Figure 5.15). Figure 5.15. Using the Skype Getting Started Wizard, you can find old friends and import contacts.
6.	After completing the Getting Started Wizard, you see the Skype main screen (Figure 5.16), where you can make calls or initiate chat sessions. Figure 5.16. The Skype main screen

Integrate messaging and communications with Skype

With the unified communications of Skype, you can make voice calls, text-chat, and send files all at the same time. This multimedia communications ability is something you just cannot achieve with common telephones. In fact, the power of this medium will take some getting used to. Spend a little time chatting with Skype veterans to get a handle on how they communicate. It is an eye-opening experience.