What is Skype?

Simply described Skype is a free software enabling you to make high quality voice calls to anybody in the world - as long as you - and they - have a computer with a broadband connection. FOR FREE! (up to now). Go to www.skype.com , download the client and a few minutes later you can search for and make a voice call to your friends and family abroad. All you need is a headset with a microphone plugged to your computer. Skype is responsible for serious drops in telco call charges the last few years and has probably around 20 million users today. You can even call  international land line subscribers as well, at a fraction of the price your telco will charge you for the same call. And the voice quality is is far better than a land line call.

Most people know how to use person-to-person messaging programs incorporating voice (and/or webcam) like MSN Messenger and Yahoo Instant Messaging. Skype is a file-sharing program using peer-to-peer techniques. The Swede Niklas Zennström, the man behind Skype, used to work with Kazaa, who used the same principle for (free) sharing om music. The idea of using this peer-to-peer communication for IP telephony is new. Skype users are sharing packaged data containing voice data instead of music or film. In other words almost no need for central servers and hence very low cost.

Nobody knows how long it will take before Skype decides to charge for software or calls. A portifolio of 20 million clients recommending all their friends and contacts to install Skype in their computers is a powerful marketing tool, at no cost for Skype. Even a very small charge would mean colossal revenues. Meanwhile our advice to our valued clients is: Enjoy! Our ITOWN broadband ensures high quality voice calls all the time.