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"Skype" for Free Desk-Top Video Conferences?Skype provides free video-conferencing from the desk-top which can eliminate the need for travel or costly video-conferencing equipment. For existing Skype users, the only additional technical requirement is a web-cam. The costs are free for Skype users and $0.02 per minute for others. Skype
also allows you to do Instant Messaging (IM) and file transfers while on video conference. What do I need to use Skype Video-Conferencing?1. A computer running Microsoft Windows, Apple OS X or Linux.2. A headphone/microphone head-set - look for Skype-compatible head-sets on Amazon.com,  head-set bargains on eBay 3. A PC-compatible camera ("web cam" - sometimes also already built into your laptop). Check out these independent web-cam reviews first! 4. A fast internet connection. 5. The free Skype software You are now ready to make free video conferences with other Skype users! 6. To include non-Skype participants (voice only, but very low cost), put at least $15 of "SkypeOut" credit your Skype account. This is not required if you only want to video-conference with other Skype users. MasterCard and Visa are OK, but a free PayPal account is the easiest and safest payment method!
If you need more help, get a Video Conferencing book from Amazon.com! Test the Skype Video-Conference set-up: After you have installed Skype, type in the Skype-name "Echo123" into the Skype-name/phone-# field (see picture on left) and click on the green phone-button. An automated system will answer your call, ask you to record a test message and replay that test message back to you. If you appear to have problems with your microphone or speakers, go to Skype's Sound Set Up Guide for instructions on how to set up and test your headset, microphone and speakers. If you send a "Call me" chat message to "Echo123", the automated system will call you, ask you to record a 10-second test message and replay
that test message back to you. Use Skype to take part in Conference calls:You can use Skype to hold conference calls with up to 10 participants which may include participants on normal phones using SkypeOut. From the Skype menu, go to Skype -> Call -> Start Conference Call...If you want to use Skype to participate in conventional phone conferences, it is quite simple: 1. You will need to have some SkypeOut credit 2. You call the conference call dial-in number 3. If requested, use Skype's keypad to mouse-click the PIN number
4. The cost is ~$0.02 a minute So, what else can Skype do for me?Skype allows you to make and receive calls from your PC:Use the Skype file-transfer function:Very useful, especially during video conferences - you can exchange files in the background.Use the Skype Instant Messaging (IM) function: Also very useful during video conferences: you can communicate with individual participants via IM-style "chat". Skype for Business: The Skype Business Control Panel usage
and SkypeIn numbers and produces comprehensive expenditure reports with cost centre allocation. | ||
| Skype Security and Technical Information | ||
| Make Skype secure: It is preferable to exclude your personal data (birthdate, sex, home number, etc.) from your personal profile as it is visible and searchable for>100 million Skype users. ● To prevent getting rogue calls, go to Skype -> Tools> Options -> Privacy and click the two "Only people from my Contacts can ..." options! ● Do the same in the Tools> Options -> Video to prevent rogue video connections. ● To prevent constant taskbar notifications as people go online/offline, go to Skype -> Tools -> Options -> Notifications and unclick "Display Notification in the Windows tray when someone..." -> "... comes online"!
More at www.skype.com/security/safety/safety.html. What Standards does Skype support: While Skype uses the TCP/IP internet standards to communicate and AES encryption (see above) standard, the actual communication mechanism uses proprietary peer-to-peer VoIP technology (see www.joltid.com and www.GIPSCorp.com). Skype at this point in time cannot interoperate with other Video-Conferencing systems. Archiving Chat Sessions: You can view and export any chat session. Type the command into the lower chat window, preceded by a forward-slash "/": | ||
| More technical information: Get VoIP textbooks from Amazon.com. Providers of Video Conferencing products and services, on this site! |
