Skype! It rocks

Another discussion topic for this week is that of the Voip technologies. VOIP stands for voice over internet protocol and it is a way to utilize the internet to talk on the phone rather than the traditional PSTN connections. Skype is a tool that has been developed thanks to the VOIP technologies. Skype is an internet based program that allows users to connect to others who are also signed up with Skype. The calls are free and of very good quality. Not only can one call another, but one has a chat feature and ability to see the other person on live video. There are now also features offered by Skype to buy a number and a phone and purchase a membership to use Skype as your primary home phone. The cost is super affordable and there are also options for international calling at a great price. The cheapest option is just like 20 bucks a year and allows one to call landlines and cell phones of individuals who are not members of Skype.  The advantages are obvious but also the option of having group party calls allows for business practices and advantages due to the ease of conducting meetings and business calls throughout the globe, thus removing the borders and allowing for commerce to expand to all countries and all people. The disadvantages are very few, but one could say that having to have a viable internet connection to function and that it all depends on electricity of some form are two downsides. No power no VOIP, one could say and that goes for mobile devices too because once an iphone dies, one has to charge it, if one wants to keep talking. Occational software issues are also a disadvantage over land lines, but I have been using skype to communicate with my family and it has been awesome. Very few problems ever and usually they are more hardware related or due to peripheral issues.  Voip has allowed families to stay in touch who could not afford to call each other more than one a year to talk on a daily basis, thanks to this technology.
Paola.