Skype Me

By Marc Long

Skype’s Popularity Skype was founded in

2003 by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis.

EBay bought Skype for 2.6 billion dollars in 2005.

Recently announced 153 million dollars (US) in revenue in Q1 of 2009.

Skype has approximately 443 million registered users.

Skype is available in 29 languages.

Users On-line

Skype 3.8 Skype 4.0

Skype Registered Users (in millions)

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What is Skype?

Video and Voice Over Internet Protocol Computer to computer calls

everywhere are FREE! For a small charge you can call from

your Skype account to any phone. Rates vary by location type of phone

Germany 2.1¢ per minute

Germany-Mobile 24.6 ¢ per minute

http://www.skype.com/prices/callrates/

Materials Needed Skype software High speed Internet connection (384 Kbps) Webcam with Microphone Speakers Computer

At least a 1GHz Processor, 512 MB RAM, 256 kb/s Recommend 2GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, 300 kb/s for

HQ video Laptop/headset

Windows (2000, XP, Vista) with Directx 9.0

Getting Started

Download and Install Skype Set Up A Skype Account Launch Skype Set Your Privacy Level Start Using Skype

Download and Install Skype

http://www.skype.com

Step 1

Step 2

Manual SkypeInstall/Update

If you have trouble (i.e. the site is too busy) running or updating Skype, “Save” the 20 MB file to your local drive.

After the download is complete, run the install file from your download location.

Install Skype

Run the Skype setup application

Follow the on-screeninstructions

Launch the Skype welcome and login screen (next slide)

You don’t need the Google Toolbar!

Don’t change the default install Options!

Set Up A Skype Account

First Time User? You must pick a

unique name (a nickname is good)

Enter a valid email Enter a secure

password Forgot Your Username

or Password? Follow the “Forgot your

Password?” linkRecord your Skype name

and password!

Forgot It Already

You must know the email used to set up your Skype account.

Skype will send your email a link where you can view your Skypename or change your password.

Skype Login

Authenticating your Account Information

Automatically logs in with your username and password when Skype starts

OR enter your username and password every time Skype starts up

Launching Skype Automatically start

Skype when you start your computer

OR click on Skype to start it These settings can be modified later.

Launching Skype Default View

Skype Windows Contacts

tab Call Area Chat text

box

Privacy Issues

Protect your identity

Limit the amount of information you make available to others

Tools…Options…Privacy

Start Using Skype

First you must add a new contact Select “New

Contact” to begin a search for the new user

Search for a Contact

You may need to ask your contact for their Skype

Name Email Full

Name

Introduce Yourself

Accept New Contacts

Notifications alert you to new users.

If you miss the notification, acknowledge new contacts using the Conversations tab.

RightClick

Make A Call

Skype status

Dial Button Voice Call Video Call

represents call forwarding/voice mail phone/mobile calls that will cost you!

Skype Basics

Calls Chats and

SMS Contacts Profile Snapshots

Send Files Conference Calls Group Chats Share Your Desktop

Calls Answer Hang up Missed Calls Manage Status Skype Call Test Hold Adjusting Sound Adjusting WebCam Settings

Chat

While on a call send text to another user

Send a message to an offline user

Send links to a user

Send emoticons

Type text here

Modifying A Chat Message If you send

something in a chat window that is incorrect, you can modify the message or remove it.

Modifying a message only works if all participants are using Skype 4.x or later.

Right Click on the message

The message gets updatedin the conversation window.

Sending a MessageTo An Offline User

The next time the user goes online a notification appears.

SMS Short Message

Service is a great way to get a message to a cell phone user.

SMS will deduct a fee from your Skype account.

You must click the TxT icon to send.

More With Contacts

Remove or block contacts

Import contacts from Outlook

Importing from an Email Address Book

This process will search your email contacts, identify those that have a Skype account and send them a Skype contact invitation.

Skype 4.1 beta import options improve

Send Requests To Skype Users

Skype will evaluate your email addresses to see which users have Skype accounts.

Check the boxes of Skype users you wish to add as Skype contacts.

Import Continued

Request to be Added as a Contact

Introduce yourself and ask to be added as a contact

Import Continued

Send Requests To Email Contacts

Select only the email contacts you wish to invite as Skype users.

Import Continued

Setting Up Your Profile

What are you willing to share with others? Share just enough

that your contacts can find you

Do use an alias Be careful sharing

personal data Share a website

Skype … Profile … Edit Your Profile

Snapshots

Take a SnapshotAppears as a buttonwhen the video window is open

Send It To A FriendA snapshot may be sent to any Skype user.

Send Files

Sending a file is as simple as browsing to the file and clicking “send”

Transfer rates depend upon: your connection’s bandwidth number of users online voice and video being used

I have transferre

d a 100 MB Video

file in about 15 minutesEnd your call and the

transfer rate will increase.

Receiving a File You must save the file before the file can

be transferred.

After the file has transferred, select “Open File.”

Conference Calls Host sets up the conference call

adds users ends the call

No video Difficult to moderate with too many

Groups you call or chat with frequently can be saved.

Group Chat

Group IM Useful in a

conference call Helps small

comments to be made without interrupting the flow of a conference call

Sharing Your Desktop

Sharing your desktop is as simple as selecting a user and “Share Your Screen”

Skype Revenues

Skype Out SMS (already discussed)

Call Forwarding Skype In Voice Mail

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SkypeOut

Buy minutes or a yearly subscription and make calls to telephones.

Rates vary by the country and type of phone

Call Forwarding

Skype to Skype calls can be forwarded to a landline phone.

It does require the user to purchase “Skype Out” minutes

A forwarded call will cost you (regular Skype rates apply)!

Tools…Options…Calls…

Call Forwarding

Skype In

This allows anyone to use a phone to call a number and it will ring your Skype account.

Limited availability

Skype Extras Skype Extras are programs that provide

additional functionality in the Skype environment.

Examples: Sketchpad Record a call with Pamela Innerpass Yugma Remote Control

Share a presentation, document, etc. Games

Managing Skype Extras

Allow the Skype Extra application to access Skype by clicking “accept”

Use the Skype Manager to verify acceptance

Tools…Options…

Advanced… Advanced Settings

Sketchpad

Allows two people to jointly create a picture

Share photos

Skype Extras

Pamela

Pamela – helps record Skype calls Records in an

MP3 format Free version

records 15 minutes

Skype Extras

Download Pamela

Inner Pass

Share a meeting room where users can upload files

A group presentation can be shared Users can chat Users can conference call

Skype Extras

Set up an Innerpass Account

Yugma

Allows Remote access Share your

desktop Share an

application Give control

to another user

Skype Extras

Remote Control Yugma Remote Control allows up to 11

remote users to view what is being displayed on a host computer.

Yugma

Skype In Education Record a conversation with a scientist Teach a lesson remotely Have a group chat with students in a

lab Work in a collaborate environment Students can share projects they

have been working on with others in a group

Carry out online interviews with someone

Skype in Schoo

ls

Skype In Education (Cont.) Record an interview with students or

fellow teachers for students to listen to. Record the work of a conference session

where students plan a project between two sites and turn in the recorded call.

World language classes can practice speaking with students in another language.

Connect students in rural areas

http://nikpeachey.blogspot.com/2008/06/skype-part-2-online-workspace.html

Skype and other Devices PDA Cell phone

Skype Troubleshooting

Update Drivers Yellow line down the middle of the video Update the Chipset Sound not crisp Update Audio Video Choppy video and/or audio Update Webcam

Audio Issues Most audio problems can be solved by using a head set

Minimize background noise Laptop microphones often pick up fan noises Call echo occurs when the microphone picks up the other

persons voice through your speakers Webcam microphones pick up noise from your speakers Move your microphone closer to your mouth Specify your best microphone in Skype Check your speaker volume and/or mute button Let Skype automatically adjust audio

Update! Update! Update!

Getting the right drivers

are the key.

Verify settings in Skype Skype Call Test

Skype TroubleShooting (Cont.) Video

Poor quality video is most often a result of a slow Internet connection

Test your broadband connection Test video with the manufacture’s

software Display Technical Data

Video calls have a recommended minimum bandwidth of 512Kb/sec downstream and 256Kb/sec upstream (ADSL).

One way video Uninstall Skype, REBOOT, and reinstall Skype

More TroubleShooting Broken audio and video Too many

applications open when using Skype CPU Requirements

Video calls require at least 1 GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, and 256kbit/s up- and download speed.

High Quality Video calls require at least 2 GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, and 300kbit/s up- and download speed.

Don’t buy too high quality of a webcam for your CPU

Software Get the latest Skype release Directx 9

Skype Spam

Skype spammers tell you that “Windows Requires Immediate Attention” and that “Security Center has detected malware on your computer!”

DON’T be fooled … DON’T follow the links

How It Works Any SkypeClient

(SC) with a public IP address having sufficient CPU, memory, and network bandwidth is a candidate to become a super node (SN)

Life Beyond Skype Skype is proprietary SIP is another Voice Over IP protocol that is not

proprietary Other VOIP software

H.323 Google Talk Yahoo Messenger Gizmo ooVoo Adobe Reader ConnectNow

Free tool for 2-3 people meetings Good voice, video, chat, notes, shared desktops

Elluminate (Group presentations) Bridgit (Smartboard)

Ten Best Skype Alternatives

VoIP Refocus

Focus will be on: Mobility Services

Rich communications environment Multiuser Video Improved sharing environments

Emergency Calls 911 (denied by FCC)

References

Annick LIVEbrary Online Classroom Skype Other Classrooms! Skype in Schools Getting Started Video Skype Tutorials Skype Help

References (Continued)

How to Record Skype Conversations: Tools, Resources, Tips

Skype Announces SIP Gateway Service for IP PBXes

Is Skype for Sale? 10 Best Skype Alternatives Broadband Speed Test