Skype is a funny name, for a very serious program.
Skype makes it possible for you to make phone calls over the internet for free. The free software works somewhat along the lines of instant messenger, except for voice. With Skype you can call other people who also have the Skype service for free, no long distance charges, no cell phone minutes, completely for free. You have to use your computer as your phone and both you and the person you are calling have to be using the Skype service.
The service is ideal for people who have close friends or family overseas and don’t want to rack up huge phone bills keeping up.
If you want to pay a little money you can get SkypeIn a service that allows you to create a local number for anywhere in the world. For instance if your child is doing a study abroad in England and you live in New York, your child can create a SkypeIn account with a New York number that can allow you to use your phone in New York and call your child like they are local, even though they are thousands of miles away. The number will also work for other people in the US, or anyone else your child wants to give the number to. With a SkypeIn account the person placing the call doesn’t have to have a Skype account, only a telephone.
With both Skype and SkypeIn you can pay for a voicemail service as well, allowing people to leave messages when you’re away from your computer.
Skype is quickly gaining in popularity. Free international calling is appealing to everyone who makes international calls. Skype at this point is not a replacement for a regular phone due to the fact that it does not have the ability to call emergency services like 911.