Skype

Skype is a telecommunication software that is used to send messages, make calls, and share files on the Internet. It is useful for business and personal communications.

Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis designed and released Skype in 2003. In 2011, Microsoft acquired this software. The software is popular for free video and voice calls between users worldwide.

Features of Skype

Skype offers a wide range of features which are discussed below:

• Voice and video calls: Users can make free video and voice calls through Skype.
• Screen Sharing: The software allows users to share their PC screen with others during calls. This feature is helpful for presentation, collaboration, sharing content, and troubleshooting.
• Messaging: This feature helps users to send free text-based messages to their contacts.
• Call Forwarding: It has a call forwarding feature. This feature helps users to transfer calls to other Skype Accounts or phone numbers.
• File Sharing: It has a file-sharing feature. This feature helps users to share images and other files with others globally.
• Group Calling: It has a group conferencing feature that allows users to make voice and video calls with many participants at the same time.
• Video Messaging: It has a video messaging feature that helps users to send video messages to people globally.
• Voicemail: It has a voicemail feature. Users can send voice messages to their contacts.
• Integration: Since Skype was acquired by Microsoft, it is integrated well with other Microsoft products. This integration allows collaboration across various Microsoft products namely Office 365, Xbox, and Outlook.
• Skype Numbers: Users can buy a Skype virtual number. The number allows people to call them from mobile or landline numbers.

Advantages of Skype

It has many advantages which are discussed below:

• International reach: Skype helps users to communicate with people all over the world. Users can send messages, make video and audio calls, and share files internationally.
• Cost-Effective Communication: The main benefit of using Skype is cost-effectiveness. It helps users to make free calls to other Skype users internationally. Hence it reduces the expense of international phone calls.
• Compatibility: People can use this software on Computers, tablets, smartphones, and other operating devices. Hence, users can stay connected everywhere.
• Quality of Service: Whether users have high or low bandwidth connections, Skype provides high-quality video and audio calls. Thus, users enjoy a reliable communication experience irrespective of their internet connection speed.
• Versatility: It supports different communication methods namely, video calls, voice calls, voicemail, messages, file sharing, and screen sharing. Users can select the most appropriate communication method according to their preferences and needs.
• Collaboration features: It offers various features that facilitate collaboration such as file sharing, group calling, and screen sharing. These features are helpful in presentations and projects.
• Integration: The software is integrated with other Microsoft applications namely, Office 365, Xbox, and Outlook.
• Privacy and Security: It employs encryption techniques to make user communication private and secure. The communication between users is end-to-end encrypted in Skype.

Disadvantages of Skype

It has some disadvantages which are discussed below:

• Depend on Internet Connection: People need an Internet connection for using Skype. Hence, without the Internet users can not make calls, send messages, and share files.
• Privacy Concerns: It raises privacy issues despite of end to end user communication. Past history of security breaches and privacy issues compels users to switch to other alternatives.
• Resource Intensive: The application consumes a huge amount of system resources. This will slow down the performance of the computer or any other operating devices, especially low RAM operating devices.
• Limited Customer Support: It has limited customer support. The users try to contact the customer support team but they receive a reply very late. Thus it is quite frustrating for users and compels users to switch to other alternatives.
• Limited Features in the free version: It provides limited features in the free version. It offers advanced features in the premium version namely group video calls and call recording. Thus users have to pay a subscription fee for using these advanced features. This compels users to switch to other alternatives.
• Advertisements: It displays advertisements in its interface that are distracting for some users.

Conclusion

Skype is a famous communication software that provides an extensive range of features. The features of Skype are audio calling, group conferencing, chatting, file sharing, and other features. The key benefits are cost-effective communication, accessibility across different devices, collaboration features, integration with Microsoft software, and versatility in communication methods. The calls, messages and file sharing are end-to end encrypted, ensuring privacy and security of user data and communication.

However, it has disadvantages namely resource-intensive nature, limited features in the free version, reliance on internet connectivity, privacy concerns, and presence of advertisements.

In the last, Skype is the best communication software that is used all over the world.

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