Handout for GBSCG Meeting 4/13/05

Charles Moir and Eve Welts

Skype

Free Internet Telephony that just works!

Downloads available at www.skype.com for Windows XP/2000, Mac OS X, Linux, and Pocket PC.

Features:

Voice communications computer to computer – very good quality

Conference calls – up to four other Skype users

File transfer – files of any length

Chat in a group of up to 48 users

Calls are encrypted using the Advanced Encryption Standard (256 b)

Key setup using RSA encryption system.

Calls can be made to regular telephones via Skype-out. You sign up and transfer some number of euros to them for calls. Rates may be found at the Skype site. These calls are not encrypted.

Your computer setup can be tested by adding echo123 to your contact list. Calling there first has a recorded message prompting you to speak into your microphone for up to ten seconds. Your voice is then played back. If you can hear yourself then all is well.

No advertising or spyware.

There have been 87 million downloads of the program. When I have been online there are generally about 2 million Skype users on line.

Video conferencing is in the works for 2^nd quarter release.

Primarily for broadband users, but they say it will work for dial-up with 33.3kHz and above.