Skype Facts

Skype is available for Windows, Mac OS and Linux operating systems.

Skype was founded in 2003 by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, and is backed by a group of investors, including the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and eBay Incorporated. The mission of Skype is to provide an inexpensive service that expands the way users communicate online. By the end of 2009, Skype had acquired 560 million users and continues to grow every year.

Calls Between Skype Users Free

Skype allows users to place and receive video calls for free. Both parties must have Skype installed on their computers, a Skype account and Internet access. For video calls, both users should have a webcam, a microphone and speakers. Calls can be placed without either computer having video or audio support, but then the users can only trade text messages.

Calls to House Line And Cellphones

Two pay services that allow Skype users to contact house and mobile phones. The "Pay As You Go" service requires users to purchase credit minutes, which are then used to place calls and send text messages. By opting for a subscription of three or twelve months, Skype users can make unlimited calls. The "Pay As You Go" service has a price plan of about 2.3 cents a minute while subscriptions come out to around 1.2 cents per minute.

Group Video Calls

Skype Premium is a paid service that enables users to manage and attend group video calls. These video conference calls can have up to seven participants. Each participant of the group video call must have a subscription to the Skype Premium service. To access Skye Premium, users can purchase a day pass for $4.99 or a one month subscription for $8.99 at time of publication.

Free Cellphone Application

Smart phone users with devices that use Android, iPhone or Symbian operating systems can download a mobile version of Skype. The phone app version of Skype allows users to send text messages and place voice calls, but only the latest mobile devices can display and contribute video. The iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and Verizon's 4G LTE phones allow full video calls with Skype mobile.

References

• GigaOM; Skype By the Numbers: It's Really Big; Om Malik; April 2010
• Skype: About Skype
• Skype: Group video calling
• Skype: What does it all cost?
• Verizon Wireless: Skype mobile

Resources

• Engadget; Skype video calling for iPhone . . .; Chris Ziegler; December 2010
• Skype: What do I need to make a group video call?
• Skype Clubs: Skype Community