INTERNET PROVIDES FREE LONG DISTANCE TALKING

For some reason, people are still amazed when I tell them they can speak audibly to anyone on the Internet for free. I think that's partially due to the fact that we still associate the phrase "Long Distance" to the act of picking up a telephone and making a call outside our toll area. It's true that the Internet is changing all of that. Of course I also believe that some telephony concepts will be with us forever. How often do we still say "dial" a number even though our fingers probably haven't touched a telephone dial in at least a generation?

Using the Internet to place calls from one telephone set to another uses a technology called Voice Over Internet Protocol or "VoIP." I believe that this will eventually replace the rapidly aging switched telephone network we've been using for so many decades. Initially the technology required two computers running special software to connect using the system's built-in microphone and speakers. Next appeared services that used ordinary telephones to begin the call and the Internet to carry the long distance portion. Some of the newest VoIP services require the use of a special kind of telephone set that plugs directly into your existing broadband Internet service. And while all of these continue to flourish, it seems like we've gone full circle with something called Skype (www.skype.com).

Using the same Peer-to-peer (P2P) technology used by music downloading services such as Napster and Kaaza, Skype consists of an easy to use, totally free piece of software that converts your computer into a communications device that sends and receives voice communications. And it does this at no cost other that what you pay for your link to the Internet. What makes Skype different than the original PC-to-PC software is that Skype's proprietary codecs coupled with today's superior bandwidth connections results in a superior sounding experience and far more reliable connections that keep the conversation viable throughout the duration of the call.

Installation of Skype is a breeze. Just download the version for your platform. Versions are available for Windows, Macintosh, Linux and even a PDA using the PocketPC operating system. When you first launch Skype, you're required to register by picking a name. You need know nothing technical like IP addresses and the like. Just run it, pick a name and connect. As you begin to use Skype, you'll start to build an address book of contacts that you plan to call. As the list grows, Skype will maintain your contact list within its on-screen display window.

You can also add to your own caller profile by optionally entering things like your picture or avatar, birthday, gender, language, email address, your homepage and location. Placing a call is pretty much just pointing and clicking. Skype will show you who in your contact book is online at the moment. It's pretty much like using an instant messaging service like AIM. Just click on the name and click the "Call" icon. You'll hear a ringing sound. If the person chooses to pick up the virtual phone on their copy of Skype, your connection is made and you can begin speaking. The quality of the speech is phenomenal. If you were to close your eyes you would think that you are speaking to someone in the room standing next to you. Of course part of that depends on the quality of your computer's speakers and microphone. But even an average setup will run rings around any tinny-sounding telephone you use. Skype even lets you perform conference calls that let a number of your address book contacts talk all at once to each other. Plus Skype's transmissions are encrypted to ensure privacy from would-be eavesdroppers.

As with many of the instant messaging services, Skype also lets you transfer files and type in text to the person you are speaking to while connected. I should also mention that an additional service called SkypeOut lets you place calls to regular telephones but that is a value-added service that has fees associated to it.

If you already have a broadband connection to the Internet, I strongly suggest you give Skype a try. It's totally free and you'll be very glad you listened.

www.skype.com