Skype is a bit different from the numerous other VOIP providers and is widely popular among the web users. Skype is basically a simple software that anyone can download to their computer and start making calls all across the globe. Unlike most other internet telephony providers, Skype additionally requires you to have a computer besides a broadband internet connection as required for all these services.

The best part is that Skype is free to download and you can make calls to all other Skype users for free. Also you can use Skype to make calls to all Toll Free numbers within USA without subscribing to the Skype Out service.

Features:

Skype is probably the easiest solution for communication solution for people who have a computer and a good Internet connection. Unlike other messenger services that mainly provides instant messaging service over the net and poor quality voice chat facility Skype is favorite among its users mainly because of the high quality of all voice calls. Along with the calling facility Skype also provides for instant messaging facility to other Skype customers.

SkypeOut:

This is an ideal solution to reach for customers to speak to friends and relatives who are still using their traditional phone lines or mobile phones. With SkypeOut you can call any number in the world may it be a traditional phone line or a mobile phone.

This is a prepaid system and the customers need to buy Skype Credit before they can make calls to traditional phone lines using Skype out. Customers can buy credit from their My Account page and all major credit cards are accepted. Skype offers a global calling rate of Î 0.017/minute that applies for calling to most of the countries. For countries that are not included in this list, Skype has a separate per minute rate chart for each of them.

SkypeIn Beta:

Subscribers of this facility gets a real phone number and if anyone using a traditional phone number dials that number the skype user can receive the call in his Skype. A customer using a Skype number with Chicago area code can receive calls even when he is in France, Belgium or anywhere for that matter and his friends who are calling from Chicago will only be paying for a call within Chicago. SkypeIn package comes with free Skype Voicemail facility.

A SkypeIn subscriber can have maximum of 10 numbers from US, UK , France, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Sweden and HongKong . This service is currently in Beta and the Skype team is trying to make available numbers from many other countries.

SkypeIn is prices at Î 30 for a 12 months subscription and Î 10 for 3 months subscription.

Skype Voicemail:

Skype voicemail is offered free with SkypeIn subscription and is also offered as a stand-alone service. Skype Voicemail offers the customers to receive voicemail from people when they are unable to pick up their calls or even when they are offline. With Skype Voicemail, the subscriber don't even need to go online to receive messages, even when he is offline anyone calling him can leave a voicemail for him. This voicemails can be stored for as long as the customer wants.

This is provided for a minimal charge of Î 5 for 3 months subscription and Î 15 for 12 months.

Skype Email Toolbar:

This is a utility that helps the customers to get their outlook and Skype contacts at one place. This enables them to call Skype contacts who email them and make SkypeOut calls to their Outlook contacts who aren't on Skype yet, all through the toolbar.

This also allows the customers to add a Skype Button to the email signature so the receivers can make a Skype call by simply clicking on that. Additionally, the users can call Skype Names and phone numbers written in emails, see when their Outlook contacts are online or start an instant message conversations to follow up emails.

Skype Web Toolbar:

The Skype Web Toolbars combines Skype with the web browser. It recognizes phone numbers and Skype Names on web pages so that the user can call them with one click, through Skype.

The best part about Skype is that it can be used by everyone, irrespective of his/her operating system. Separate versions of Skype are available for download for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux or Pocket PC Users.

Important:

Skype does not claim itself to be a telephony replacement service and it cannot be used for emergency dialing.

To Read More about Skype or to download immediately, follow the link below:

Download Skype for free (premium services are also available).