Skype
Marisa Conte
Clinical and Translational Science Liaison
Health Sciences Libraries
22 April 2009

Today’s agenda
 What is Skype?
 What can I do with it?
 Why should I care?
 Free features vs. fee-based features
 How to:
 Install software
 Create an account
 Set up your profile
 Complete sound checks
 Use free features

What is it?
 Internet-based communications software with
capabilities for:
 Instant messaging (chat)
 Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) calls
 Video calls
 Web conferencing
 File sharing
 Free and fee-based services available

Skype is for you if …
 You collaborate with colleagues or work on teams:
 Use Skype for conference calls or group chats/IM
 You want the ability to share files while chatting
 You don’t want to spend money on international or
long-distance calls when travelling
 You like to see who you’re talking to
 You don’t like having people in your office
Bottom line: Fast, free, convenient way to
communicate in real time!

Skype is not for you if …
 You don’t have a broadband internet connection
 You are looking for a video conferencing platform
 You are having a medical emergency
 Like other VoIP products, Skype CANNOT be used to
call 911 or other emergency service providers

Service models: Free vs. fee
 Free
 Download free software, establish account
 Basic services
 Fee-based
 More options, including calls to and from landlines or cell
phones
 Prices vary by service and area
 Subscriptions available

Free features
 Skype-to-Skype voice calls
 Skype-to-Skype video calls
 Text messaging (individual or group)
 File-sharing
 Web conferencing with up to 24 people (voice
only)

For-fee features
 Set up an online phone number
 Call land line or cell phones
 Receive calls from land line or cell phones
 Forward calls from Skype to a mobile phone

Minimum equipment list
 A computer
 Broadband internet access
 Current version of Skype installed
 A Skype account
 A headset with microphone
 USB headsets work best
 Webcam (for video calls)

How to install

Complete installation

Create an account

Create an account

Create an account

How to log in

Welcome screen

Check sound levels

Test your speakers

Check your mic (check, check)

Main screen

Edit your profile

Edit your profile
 Add or edit personal
information
 Picture
 Phone numbers
 Address information
 Website
 Gender and birthdate
 Be careful! Some
information can be viewed
only by contacts, some is
completely public!

Customize privacy settings

Add a contact

Add a contact – search by full name

Add a contact – search Skype name

Send a request message

Edit contacts

Chat
 To begin a chat, right-click a contact and select ‘Start chat’

Make a voice call

Make a voice call

Making a video call
 Video calls work with only 2 participants
 Select a contact from your contact list
 Click the green Video Call button
 A new window will open with the webcam view
of the person you are talking to, and your
webcam view will display on your contact screen
 Helpful hints:
 Stay in one place when you’re on a video call!
 Background checks are never a bad idea!

Initiating a conference call

Name your conference

Select participants

More about conference calls
 Select up to 24 participants
 Participants can be Skype
users (free)
 Participants can use a
landline or cell phone (fee-
based)
 You can add participants at
any time during the
conference
 No option for video
conferencing at this time

Mobile (iPhone)
 Skype provides a platform for iPhone users
 Free Skype to Skype calls
 Must use a WiFi connection
 3G services do not support calls, charges will apply
 Fee-based calls to cellphones or landlines
 Instant messaging capability on iPhone and iPod Touch

For more information
 Download software and set up an account:
 www.skype.com
 User guides for all features:
 http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/
 Pricing information:
 http://www.skype.com/prices/

Thank you!
Marisa Conte