Skype Me

1
Skype Me

• By Marc Long

2
Skypes Popularity

• Skype was founded in 2003 by Niklas Zennström and
  Janus Friis.
• EBay bought Skype for 2.6 billion dollars in
  2005.
• Recently announced 153 million dollars (US) in
  revenue in Q1 of 2009.
• Skype has approximately 443 million registered
  users.
• Skype is available in 29 languages.
• Users On-line

Skype 3.8
Skype 4.0
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What is Skype?

• Video and Voice Over Internet Protocol
• Computer to computer calls everywhere are FREE!
• For a small charge you can call from your Skype
  account to any phone. Rates vary by
• location
• type of phone

Germany 2.1 per minute Germany-Mobile 24.6 per
minute
http//www.skype.com/prices/callrates/
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Materials Needed

• Skype software
• High speed Internet connection (384 Kbps)
• Webcam with Microphone
• Speakers
• Computer
• At least a 1GHz Processor, 512 MB RAM, 256 kb/s
• Recommend 2GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, 300 kb/s for HQ
  video
• Laptop/headset
• Windows (2000, XP, Vista) with Directx 9.0

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Getting Started

• Download and Install Skype
• Set Up A Skype Account
• Launch Skype
• Set Your Privacy Level
• Start Using Skype

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Download and Install Skype
http//www.skype.com
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Manual SkypeInstall/Update

• If you have trouble (i.e. the site is too busy)
  running or updating Skype, Save the 20 MB file
  to your local drive.
• After the download is complete, run the install
  file from your download location.

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Install Skype

• Run the Skype setup application
• Follow the on-screeninstructions
• Launch the Skype welcome and login screen (next
  slide)

You dont need the Google Toolbar!
Dont change the default install Options!
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Set Up A Skype Account

• First Time User?
• You must pick a unique name (a nickname is good)
• Enter a valid email
• Enter a secure password
• Forgot Your Username or Password?
• Follow the Forgot your Password? link

Record your Skype name and password!
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Forgot It Already

• You must know the email used to set up your Skype
  account.
• Skype will send your email a link where you can
  view your Skypename or change your password.

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Skype Login

• Authenticating your Account Information
• Automatically logs in with your username and
  password when Skype starts
• OR enter your username and password every time
  Skype starts up
• Launching Skype
• Automatically start Skype when you start your
  computer
• OR click on Skype to start it

These settings can be modified later.
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Launching Skype Default View

• Skype Windows
• Contacts tab
• Call Area
• Chat text box

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Privacy Issues
Tools Options Privacy

• Protect your identity
• Limit the amount of information you make
  available to others

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Start Using Skype

• First you must add a new contact
• Select New Contact to begin a search for the
  new user

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Search for a Contact

• You may need to ask your contact for their
• Skype Name
• Email
• Full Name

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Introduce Yourself
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Accept New Contacts

• Notifications alert you to new users.
• If you miss the notification, acknowledge new
  contacts using the Conversations tab.

RightClick
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Make A Call
represents call forwarding/voice mail
phone/mobile calls that will cost you!

• Skype status
• Dial Button
• Voice Call
• Video Call

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Skype Basics

• Send Files
• Conference Calls
• Group Chats
• Share Your Desktop

• Calls
• Chats and SMS
• Contacts
• Profile
• Snapshots

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Calls

• Answer
• Hang up
• Missed Calls
• Manage Status
• Skype Call Test
• Hold
• Adjusting Sound
• Adjusting WebCam Settings

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Chat

• While on a call send text to another user
• Send a message to an offline user
• Send links to a user
• Send emoticons

Type text here
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Modifying A Chat Message

• If you send something in a chat window that is
  incorrect, you can modify the message or remove
  it.
• Modifying a message only works if all
  participants are using Skype 4.x or later.

Right Click on the message
The message gets updatedin the conversation
window.
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Sending a MessageTo An Offline User

• The next time the user goes online a notification
  appears.

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SMS

• Short Message Service is a great way to get a
  message to a cell phone user.
• SMS will deduct a fee from your Skype account.
• You must click the TxT icon to send.

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Share Contacts

• Share contacts (Skype 3.8 and 4.1 beta)

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More With Contacts

• Remove or block contacts
• Import contacts from Outlook

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Importing from an Email Address Book

• This process will search your email contacts,
  identify those that have a Skype account and send
  them a Skype contact invitation.

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Send Requests To Skype Users
Import Continued

• Skype will evaluate your email addresses to see
  which users have Skype accounts.

Check the boxes of Skype users you wish to add as
Skype contacts.
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Request to be Added as a Contact
Import Continued

• Introduce yourself and ask to be added as a
  contact

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Send Requests To Email Contacts
Import Continued

• Select only the email contacts you wish to
  invite as Skype users.

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Setting Up Your Profile
Skype Profile Edit Your Profile

• What are you willing to share with others?
• Share just enough that your contacts can find you
• Do use an alias
• Be careful sharing personal data
• Share a website

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Snapshots

• Take a Snapshot
• Appears as a buttonwhen the video window is
  open

Send It To A Friend A snapshot may be sent to any
Skype user.
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Send Files

• Sending a file is as simple as browsing to the
  file and clicking send
• Transfer rates depend upon
• your connections bandwidth
• number of users online
• voice and video being used

I have transferred a 100 MB Videofile in about
15 minutes
End your call and the transfer rate will
increase.
34
Receiving a File

• You must save the file before the file can be
  transferred.
• After the file has transferred, select Open
  File.

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Conference Calls
Groups you call or chat with frequently can be
saved.

• Host sets up the conference call
• adds users
• ends the call
• No video
• Difficult to moderate with too many

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Group Chat

• Group IM
• Useful in a conference call
• Helps small comments to be made without
  interrupting the flow of a conference call

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Sharing Your Desktop

• Sharing your desktop is as simple as selecting a
  user and Share Your Screen

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Skype Revenues

• Skype Out
• SMS (already discussed)
• Call Forwarding
• Skype In
• Voice Mail

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SkypeOut

• Buy minutes or a yearly subscription and make
  calls to telephones.
• Rates vary by the country and type of phone

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Call Forwarding
ToolsOptionsCallsCall Forwarding

• Skype to Skype calls can be forwarded to a
  landline phone.
• It does require the user to purchase Skype Out
  minutes
• A forwarded call will cost you (regular Skype
  rates apply)!

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Skype In

• This allows anyone to use a phone to call a
  number and it will ring your Skype account.
• Limited availability

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Skype Extras

• Skype Extras are programs that provide additional
  functionality in the Skype environment.
• Examples
• Sketchpad
• Record a call with Pamela
• Innerpass
• Yugma Remote Control
• Share a presentation, document, etc.
• Games

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Managing Skype Extras
ToolsOptions Advanced Advanced Settings

• Allow the Skype Extra application to access Skype
  by clicking accept
• Use the Skype Manager to verify acceptance

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Sketchpad
Skype Extras

• Allows two people to jointly create a picture
• Share photos

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Pamela
Skype Extras

• Pamela helps record Skype calls
• Records in an MP3 format
• Free version records 15 minutes

http//www.pamela-systems.com/download/
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Inner Pass
Skype Extras

• Share a meeting room where users can upload
  files
• A group presentation can be shared
• Users can chat
• Users can conference call

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Yugma
Skype Extras

• Allows Remote access
• Share your desktop
• Share an application
• Give control to another user

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Remote Control
Yugma

• Yugma Remote Control allows up to 11 remote users
  to view what is being displayed on a host
  computer.

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Skype In Education

• Record a conversation with a scientist
• Teach a lesson remotely
• Have a group chat with students in a lab
• Work in a collaborate environment
• Students can share projects they have been
  working on with others in a group
• Carry out online interviews with someone

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Skype In Education (Cont.)

• Record an interview with students or fellow
  teachers for students to listen to.
• Record the work of a conference session where
  students plan a project between two sites and
  turn in the recorded call.
• World language classes can practice speaking with
  students in another language.
• Connect students in rural areas
• http//nikpeachey.blogspot.com/2008/06/skype-part
  -2-online-workspace.html

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SkypeCasts

• SkypeCasts allow Skype users to participate in a
  audio forum
• Users are encouraged to discuss the topic of the
  Skypecast
• A host moderates the forum
• Users may just listen or talk
• Any Skype user may set up a Skypecast
• Blocked at school

If you test this at home please be aware of the
Adult Content!
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Skype and other Devices

• PDA
• Cell phone

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Skype Troubleshooting
Update! Update! Update! Getting the right drivers
are the key.

• Update Drivers
• Yellow line down the middle of the video ? Update
  the Chipset
• Sound not crisp ? Update Audio
• Video
• Choppy video and/or audio ? Update Webcam
• Audio Issues ? Most audio problems can be solved
  by using a head set
• Minimize background noise
• Laptop microphones often pick up fan noises
• Call echo occurs when the microphone picks up the
  other persons voice through your speakers
• Webcam microphones pick up noise from your
  speakers
• Move your microphone closer to your mouth
• Specify your best microphone in Skype
• Check your speaker volume and/or mute button
• Let Skype automatically adjust audio

• Verify settings in Skype ? Skype Call Test

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Skype TroubleShooting (Cont.)

• Video
• Poor quality video is most often a result of a
  slow Internet connection
• Test your broadband connection
• Test video with the manufactures software
• Display Technical Data
• Video calls have a recommended minimum bandwidth
  of 512Kb/sec downstream and 256Kb/sec upstream
  (ADSL).
• One way video
• Uninstall Skype, REBOOT, and reinstall Skype

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More TroubleShooting

• Broken audio and video ?Too many applications
  open when using Skype
• CPU Requirements
• Video calls require at least 1 GHz CPU, 512MB
  RAM, and 256kbit/s up- and download speed.
• High Quality Video calls require at least 2 GHz
  CPU, 1GB RAM, and 300kbit/s up- and download
  speed.
• Dont buy too high quality of a webcam for your
  CPU
• Software
• Get the latest Skype release
• Directx 9

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Skype Spam

• Skype spammers tell you that Windows Requires
  Immediate Attention and that Security Center
  has detected malware on your computer!
• DONT be fooled DONT follow the links

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How It Works

• Any SkypeClient (SC) with a public IP address
  having sufficient CPU, memory, and network
  bandwidth is a candidate to become a super node
  (SN)

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Life Beyond Skype
http//www.voip-news.com/feature/10-skype-alternat
ives-091707/

• Skype is proprietary
• SIP is another Voice Over IP protocol that is not
  proprietary
• Other VOIP software
• H.323
• Google Talk
• Yahoo Messenger
• Gizmo
• ooVoo
• Adobe Reader ConnectNow
• Free tool for 2-3 people meetings
• Good voice, video, chat, notes, shared desktops
• Bridgit

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VoIP Refocus

• Focus will be on
• Emergency Calls 911 (denied by FCC)
• Services
• Mobility
• Rich communications environment
• File transfers while talking

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References

• Annick LIVEbrary Online Classroom
• Skype Other Classrooms!
• Getting Started Video
• Skype Tutorials
• Skype Help
• Broadband Speed Test

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References (Continued)

• How to Record Skype Conversations Tools,
  Resources, Tips
• Skype Announces SIP Gateway Service for IP PBXes
• Is Skype for Sale?
• 10 Best Skype Alternatives

62
Workshop Evaluation

• Please take a moment to do a workshop evaluation
  www.iste.org/byoleval2009