Skype Reviews
One of the major players in the field of VoIP is Skype. Built by the inventors of Kazaa, Skype lets you make free VoIP calls via your broadband connection. The service uses peer-to-peer networking scheme but rather than sharing files, connected PCs help route one another’s calls. Skype also uses that routing technology to get around the need for (and cost of) central servers and directories, so call delivery can be free.
The software handles compression with several proprietary audio codecs, which, depending on the available bandwidth, deliver bit rates from 3 to 16 Kbps—enough for decent voice audio. The service does end-to-end encryption using 256-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), which is nearly impossible to hack. Skype also supports text messaging, a useful feature for immediately sending notes to the other party. Skype differs from other major VoIP players insofar as it is designed more on the lines of an IM service that offers voice communication rather than a program designed to completely mimic traditional telephony. This means that it runs on a platform that allows for instant messaging, a convenient tool for those that want to send files across the internet while they are speaking. The service also comes with a host of other supported features like 3 and 4 way calling, call-waiting, voicemail, and customizable ringtones. Currently you can make point-to-point calls only, but conferencing will soon be introduced by Skype. However, Skype relies upon a very fast internet connection. The company is quite clear that dial-up service will be virtually impossible to communicate on.
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