Internet telephony: Does Skype live up to the hype?

Skype logo With 143 million downloads, Skype is the free Internet telephony service that has got everyone talking. Once you have it installed, Skype enables you to make free 'calls' from your computer. As you'll read it's well suited to us soloists.

It's important for soloists to stay connected with the outside world and this natty communications tool means you can do just that - easily, immediately and (best of all) for nothing.

As more of us move towards an Internet connection that's 'always on', the immediacy and simplicity of Skype is akin to having colleagues and friends sitting alongside you. Clearly this can be both good AND not so good. Thankfully Skype allows you to appear invisible when you'd rather not be disturbed.

To get Skype going you need a PC and at least a broadband Internet connection. Your system should have an inbuilt microphone and speakers or you can invest in a headset with a mike which plugs into your computer. Actually, many long term users choose to buy the headset as it ensures privacy and better sound quality.

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Compatible with Mac, Windows and Linux, the basic download of Skype (7.3MB) enables you to speak for free with other Skype members. If you use Outlook, Skype offers the option to scan your address book to look for other members. As for security, all calls are encrypted and peer-to-peer (i.e. they don’t go through a server) so it’s impossible for hackers to listen in on your conversations. Skype is also free from malware, spyware and other nasties.

We interviewed Grant Hyman to discover the ways Skype has helped him with his solo business.

How did you come across Skype?

A close colleague and fellow soloist in Victoria rang and suggested we try it.

How does it help you in the day to day running of your solo business?

It definitely helps for a number of reasons. Most obvious are the cost savings. Being free to use, my total financial investment was a $9.95 microphone at an electronics shop as I already had speakers connected.

Secondly, it gives me an extra line available, with the phone being freed.

Thirdly, it's more comfortable sitting back in the chair with a microphone than holding a phone to my ear. Finally, it leaves both hands free to type, so my colleague and I can be sending each other emails, then discussing the emails’ content in real time.

How would you reassure those who may find an Internet telephony service intimidating?

I was hesitant about downloading freeware on my business system, but it loaded and operated first time with no problems at all. It has never caused any system conflicts and has been completely unobtrusive apart from a little 2-3 second pop-up which tells you when someone in your address book logs in.

Any other comments about Skype?

The voice sound is a little different to a phone, but you forget that after a couple of times. It has been very reliable but can slow down or echo a bit during peak Internet usage times of if your computer is flat out processing.

All in all, though, for my needs it’s a great product!

Once you’ve got the hang of one-on-one calls, you can branch out and create your own virtual meetings with up to five people via conference call. This is great for those in remote areas or for small groups who never quite manage to meet up regularly. Provided you can talk your colleagues into downloading Skype, this won’t cost you a cent.

However, if those you want to speak to persist in being late adopters, you could opt for SkypeOut, a service that enables you to make calls to landlines around the world for 1.7 Euro cents per minute (about 3.5 Australian cents). Prices that ought to make Telstra and their shareholders break out into a cold sweat, in other words.

Intrigued? You can download Skype here. Once you’ve tried and tested it, let us know how you got on!

Sam Leader is a director of Flying Solo and its editor. She is the co-author of Flying Solo - How to go it alone in business.

14 comments | Add your own 1 2 3 | Next» View all»

I've never used Skype for business, but guess I could try and talk a client or colleague into giving it a go. I use it for personal calls - both my partner and I have family in the UK and our international phone bill has gone from $70 per month to $0. It's worth it just for that. Mike Peters from Chatswood, NSW
My advice to those looking for a business solution is that it's worth investing in a VoIP handset and a local VoIP provider. You have the option for a local number so people can call you from their home phone (which can be linked to a 1300 or 1800 number) and the call costs are comparable to skype. It's much more natural to pick up a handset then to fumble around to answer the skype call on your PC.
Skype is good to test the waters or make cheap outgoing calls, but if you want to get serious with it you need a more business oriented solution. Paul Robinson from Parramatta, NSW
Sam, I've been asked to join up to Skype, but the person asking me said to make sure I had unlimited downloads because it chewed it up. Do you have any idea how many Mbs get taken up per minute or per hour? Megan Tough from Sydney
Good point, Megan! According to the Skype website, it uses 0-0.5 kilobytes/sec while idle. When in use, it... "uses between 3-16 kilobytes/sec depending on bandwidth available for other party, network conditions in between, callers CPU performance, etc." Using my rudimentary maths, worst case (i.e. 16 kbs) means a 5 min call takes up 4.7mb. So if your allowance is 1GB per month, a 5 min call represents 0.47% of that. I need to go and have a lie down now! Sam Leader from Sydney, Australia
Brilliant work! I have a 10Gb download, so I guess I can handle a few Skype conversations without worrying.
Megan Tough from Sydney
My broadband plan provides me with free local calls so I dont use Skype for those calls. However its been great for calling family who are all located interstate or overseas. Jacinta Hoare from Loverly tropical Cairns!

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