Also see Skype Hardware FAQ
- What is Skype?
- Will Skype replace my regular landline?
- Will Skype work on a dial-up modem connection?
- How to save my Skype contacts and personal settings so I can reinstall or use them on another computer?
- Can I send a fax with Skype?
- Where to get more help with Skype?
Skype is a small, free program that lets you make free calls over the Internet to any other Skype user in the world. You can also make Video calls, conference calls, send instant messages and share files between Skype users.
If Skype to Skype calls are totally free, how does Skype make money? They charge a small fee for extra services:
- SkypeOut
to call any regular phone number in the world over the Internet, much less expensive than traditional long-distance (and much better sound quality)
- SkypeIn
is a regular phone number your friends can call. You answer in Skype.
- Skype Voicemail
records a message for you if can’t take the call
Will Skype replace my regular land-line?
You probably do not want to cut your regular phone line(at least now for now), since Skype does not yet support 911 emergency calling. You should consider replacing your traditional long-distance calling with Skype, as Skype-to-phone calling is much less expensive than regular long-distance, and Skype-to-Skype calls are always free, anywhere in the world! Using a USB-RJ11 Skype Adapter, you can enjoy all the benefits of Skype calling and continue to use your landline (for 911 calling, etc.), all from your existing standard telephone.
Can I use Skype over a dial up modem Internet connection?
Skype is designed for use with high-speed Internet connections. From my experience, Skype calls made over a dial up modem connection are possible, but are prone to audio dropout, and the sound quality is nowhere near the amazing clarity of calls made over a broadband (DSL, cable modem...) Internet connection. So a broadband connection is highly recommended. Skype Video and conference calls definitely require a high-speed connection of at least 128Kbps upload and 500Kbps download speeds.
How do I save my Skype contacts and personal settings so I can reinstall or use them on another computer?
Go to "C:\Documents and Settings\yourusername\Application Data\Skype" and save the contents of this folder on a CD-R or floppy. After you have re-installed Skype or installed it on another computer, copy what you saved into the same folder.
Skype does not work with fax, unfortunately. There are also no third party solutions for faxing with Skype that we know of. One alternative, if the document is in electronic format, is to send it with Skype's file transer function(the recipient would need to have a Skype account).
Where can I get more help with Skype?
Please email VON-Phone.com for product support or any other questions: info@von-phone.com.
Also, the Skype Forums are an excellent source for answers to practically any Skype related questions. Go to: http://forum.skype.com(also see the Skype Hardware Forum). We suggest first entering keywords related to your questions into the forum's search engine.
