Skype For Beginners

We all have heard of the freemium calling app Skype, but if you haven’t used it yet, here’s help to get you started.

All you have to do is visit skype.com or download the app from your Google/App store and sign up. It’s free and very easy. You don’t need to go to an internet café to seek help, unless you’re only going there to use the computers only.

 

Skype has an easy to read and understand interface so you won’t have problems creating an account.

1. Both you and the person you want to communicate with must have the app installed on your phones.
2. After installing the app, created your account, and then you can search for friends by their user names in the search tab on your Skype screen.
3. Once you have requested the other person to add you as their contact, or vice versa, you can start talking. You have 3 options to converse, via video call, phone call or messenger facilities.

You can then Skype away!

Skype also has other features you might like like sharing your PC screen so the other person can see what you’re doing. It saves time if you have a large file to share as you can both/all look at it at the same time.

Being used the world over by people of all ages, this VoIP service is a great way to keep in touch and see (literally) what your close ones are up to.

The best part about Skype is you can hold video conference calls and have a meeting. With the traffic situation in Zambia lately, you’re better off buying internet bundles and having meetings on Skype than trying to beat those red lights, or RTSA, just to make it to a venue.

For friends and family, you never have not to not see someone again if they move away, or for some other reason, you all get separated.

Skype calls are not just limited to users with the app installed. You can call cellphone and landline numbers but you have to pay for those. Skype calls to other Skype users are free and only require an internet connection.

Your device has to have an inbuilt microphone and a front-facing camera/webcam, others may have to buy these separately depending on what device you have, laptop, PC or phone.

It is compatible with iOS, Mac OS X, Windows, Android, Linux, some BlackBerry devices.

Be careful though when it comes to data usage especially in Zambia. VoIP services use up more internet data bundles than regular social messengers so make sure you have enough data bundles, or are signed up for an unlimited non-capped plan.

Hope those tips helped. You never have to look lost when someone tells you “Skype me” ever again.

 Image Credit: Softpedia