Introduction to Skype

Introduction

Skype is a global Internet telephone company with headquarter in Luxembourg. Through providing worldwide customers with free high-quality inbound call services, it is gradually changing the telecommunication industry in the whole world. Skype is also the name of their products, which is one of the best instant messaging software in the world. Michael Powell, chairman of U.S. Federal Communication Committee once said, “When I first downloaded Skype and started to use it, I realized that the era of traditional communication has ended. You can use it to make free call with anyone, with a splendid call quality.” Fortune also commented on Skype in 2004. They expressed that the concept of paying to call has become the idea from last century. Skype has provided a series of functionalities, which allow people to stay in touch with their families and friends through Internet technology. By simply register an account and download the software to your phone or PC, you are able to make calls with anybody you want in the world. Customers don’t have to be limited by their mobile service providers, they can choose Internet as the media to make free and unlimited calls. In 2011, Skype was acquired by Microsoft with the price of 8.5 billion U.S. dollar. One year later, Microsoft announced to stop its MSN services, and the original functionalities and services were replace by Skype. This paper will describe the major functionalities as well as the strengths of Skype.

Functionalities of Skype

Skype is an online instant messaging software. It has functionalities including video chat, voice conferencing, multiplayer chat, file transfer and text chat. Both local and International calls are supported by Skype, together with the function of call forwarding and SMS services. By simply using the phone, or PC with microphone and loudspeaker, users are able to use most of the basic functionalities provided by Skype. The functionalities of Skype can be divided into four basic categories, which are instant text messaging, global calling, instant translation and other value-added features.

Instant Text Messaging

As an instant messaging and communication software, instant text messaging is obviously the most basic feature of Skype. People can send each other text through Internet. Moreover, voice, picture and video can also be included as part of message. It is easier than sending SMS over phone, and with lower charge as it has used Internet as the mean of transmission.

Global Calling

On Skype, message can be sent though text, voice, picture and video. The voice and video calls can be done between two PCs, between two phones as well as between a PC and a phone. Moreover, group voice chat can be supported by Skype, with a maximum of 25 users at the same time. Similarly, group video chat is also supported, with a maximum of 10 people at the same time. However, for the best quality of call, it is recommended that no more than 5 people join the video call at one time.

With this feature, users can enjoy a more flexible, more costly and better communication experiences over Skype with their families, friends and colleagues. They are no longer bounded by the limitation set by the mobile service provider. Additionally, with the increase of Skype user, the power of Skype will be stronger as there will be more ‘stations’ for Skype.

Instant Translation

Instant translation feature of Skype, Skype Translator is a brand new function for Skype. Currently, around 50 languages is supported by Skype Translator. In addition, based on user feedback, Microsoft has done several optimized adjustment after its first few version of Skype Translator. When two people are chatting in two different languages, users can choose to let Skype read out the translated text. That is to say, instant voice