Install and Use Skype: Free to Use, Easy to Install

I use Skype all the time, especially when I am telecommuting. It let's me have a brief exchange (instant message) with a co-worker without the time investment of finding their phone number and getting involved in a long conversation. If I need to speak with them using voice, I can do that using Skype too.

With Skype you can make free calls over the Internet to other people on Skype for as long as you like, to wherever you like. It is free to download and free to chat with others using Skype. You can even call landlines and mobile phones around the world for a reasonable fee. It uses a technology called VoIP. In this instance it means that you can talk to someone through your computer like you would talk to them over the phone. You do have to have the right setup and accessories, but they can usually be purchased for minimal cost and are easy to use.

What you need:

• Fast Internet connection: Broadband, not dial-up. In the US, that means at least DSL or cable modem.
• Operating system: Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. It even will run on your iPhone and several other mobile devices.
• Either a built-in microphone or a headset with a microphone attached. Here is a really cheap one for $6.37 on Amazon: Skype Headset w/ Microphone.

We asked one of our volunteers to do a test run. While he has worked with computers, he would not describe himself as very tech savvy. Below are the steps he took, how much time each took, and how easy he found the process. His "ease scale" was from 1-5 with five being the easiest. His task was to find, download, and set up Skype on his computer and then find the contact information for our own Jim Lynch.

All in all, he spent about an hour and said the process was very easy. Half of his time (32 min) was trying to make his microphone work properly.

If you decide to give it a try, we hope you enjoy the experience. Let us know how it went in our forums.

Photo: darque9