Skype

I don't know if most people have heard about Skype. Created in 2003 by the makers of Kazaa, its a p2p program which is meant to make communication easier. Its a rather simple program which allows you to talk to, not message, other contacts; all you need is a microphone and a speaker or a headset. It makes life easier for people who are too lazy to actually sit and type (I'm not yet at that level) and for those who have friends all over the world. The best part is that there is a free version for those college students who can't even afford to pay that much.

Basically all you have to do is download the program at www.skype.com and then create a login name. Add contacts and then you can call them. I've talked to friends in Boston and in India and have had clear lines all through out the call. This spares the user from having to bear with calling cards and staticky sounds. Just a warning for those who will be using their speakers, you will possibly get an echo which can be quite frustrating; use earphones.

People with dial up connections will probably have problems as it would take a few minutes for the voice to travel. Skype was primarily made for broadband internet, so its not too smart to actually use it otherwise. Another problem I've found with Skype is that it does not transport your contact list, so if you change computers, you'll also have to add your contacts all over again.

Perhaps this is the future of the 'telephone'. Though Skype has all its faults it allows easy communication for people across the globe. Skype also has a messaging system similar to MSN Messenger so that it consists of more than just calls; but I don't know who would want to message someone else when they can talk instead.

I would understand that if a random person messages you before you actually talk to them and realise they are really really creepy. Its like Kevin was mentioning in tutorial today, about people you don't know sending you messages. Perhaps this is the future... hopefully someday it will be even easier to talk to a loved one across the world.

“I knew it was over when I downloaded Skype,” Michael Powell, chairman, Federal Communications Commission, explained. “When the inventors of KaZaA are distributing for free a little program that you can use to talk to anybody else, and the quality is fantastic, and it’s free – it’s over. The world will change now inevitably.” (Skype website)

I really do wonder how most people I talk to about Skype have never even heard of it, when it is just so convenient and easy to use. Maybe its because it hasn't been publicized too much, or perhaps it is because there is still so much more to be done in the study of Internet telephony.