Skype
Skype, the telephone of the 21st century
Skype is the most popular application on the market for making video calls, mobile calls, and sending instant messages and SMS. On top of all that it's now emerging as the successor to Messenger.
Skype's functions
With Skype, you can
communicate with your friends wherever they are and with whatever device you use, whether it's a latest generation phone, smart TV, PC or Mac.
Its main interest lies in
video calls, where it's
becoming something of a benchmark. They're free, although if you want to
make group video calls of up to 10 people, then you need to pay.
In addition, Skype lets you
call regular telephone numbers worldwide at a reduced rate, which is then deducted from your balance.
Finally, Skype, like a good successor to Messenger, lets you
chat with your friends regardless of the service they're using, whether Skype, Messenger or Facebook.
Skype's usability
Using Skype isn't difficult, as long as you limit yourself to the basics.
Calling another Skype user is really simple, and the same applies to
making phone calls: the difficulties only appear if you want to use some
of the
more advanced features.
Some functions are hidden in menus or buttons which
aren't very descriptive (e.g.screen sharing), which requires a bit of
prior learning and practice to take full advantage of it.
The fact that Skype has become a reference point when it comes to
regular calls and video calling is no coincidence: it's a real
all-rounder.
Skype
is adaptable to almost any configuration,
webcam, and network speed without requiring anything more than minimum
configuration. It works without much, and does so very well.
There are many variables when it comes to good quality picture and
sound, and Skype knows how to squeeze the full potential of your system,
adapting the quality to the situation to keep the conversation flowing
and stable.
Conclusion: an essential program
Its functions, quality, and extent of its network users make it a program that's
indispensable, not only on your PC, but also on your phone and tablet.
As for its future, you just need to remember that Microsoft has
staked everything on Skype, which ensures that the program will continue
to improve and increase its market share in the coming years.
Brief history of Skype
The creators of Kazaa, the famous P2P download program, brought Skype
into the world in 2003. This is the same technology that enables the
program to allow
voice calls between users and phones.
Video calls, the star function of the program,
didn't appear until two years later, along with a range of functions
that eventually disappeared over time, including Skypecast, SkypeFind,
and even sending money.
Since its inception, Skype has changed ownership several times,
passing via eBay before it came to Microsoft, which acquired it in 2011.
Within a year, it turned into the top messaging program on the market.
