How to Answer a Call with Skype

Skype's Web-based SkypeIn service lets you talk with anyone within the United States and Canada for free once you pay the annual subscription fee. Here's how to answer a call with Skype:

Instructions

Sign Up for a Skype Telephone Number

1. Go to the Skype Web site (view link in Resources below).

2. Sign in with your name and password or download Skype.

3. Click the "Buy now" button under SkypeIn.

4. Choose the country you live in, then select your area code from the drop-down menu.

5. Choose a number, then click the "Buy selected number" link.

6. Choose your payment method and select a subscription plan. Click "Next" when you have made your choice.

7. Follow the menu prompts and enter the information that is required to complete the transaction. You'll need to wait for your order to be processed and your phone number to be confirmed before you can answer a call with Skype.

8. Give your new Skype phone number to your friends, family members and coworkers.

Answer an Incoming Call

1. Keep Skype open to accept calls. If Skype is closed, even if the computer is online, you won't know if someone is calling. Listen for the sound of a telephone ringing coming from your computer. The Skype icon in your system tray, usually located in the bottom-right corner of your computer desktop, will flash.

2. Go to your Skype application by clicking it on the taskbar if it isn't already visible. The taskbar is usually located in the bottom-right corner of your computer desktop.

3. Your call will begin as soon as you choose to answer the call.

Tips & Warnings

• If the other person cannot hear you, call Echo123 (Skype Test Call) in Skype to verify that you can hear your own voice. Search for Echo 123 by clicking "Contacts" along the text menu on your Skype application window and then clicking "Search Contacts" from the drop-down menu. If you cannot hear your voice when you call Echo123, adjust the sound setup by following the troubleshooting steps (see Resources below). If you cannot hear the person who called you, follow the troubleshooting steps (see Resources below).