Installing Skype on Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat

A recent report on CNN highlighted a money saving technique that many technophiles are using savvy techniques to avoid shelling out the extra cash for the privilege of using an iPhone and an expensive data plan. Technology freaks are bypassing traditional cell phone data plans, and are using iPods in place of an iPhone. They can use several free or inexpensive applications to pick up the slack left by the lack of a traditional data plan.

One such application that can convert your iPod into something similar to a cell phone is a popular VOIP application called Skype. Paying by the minute, or by a small monthly fee, the Skype program allows you to make a call to any land line, or mobile phone in the world. You can also set Skype up to give you your own number, so anyone, anywhere, on a regular, or mobile phone can call you, directly to your iPod touch. The only extra accessory that you will need for your iPod touch is the combination microphone-headset. Skype can be easily be installed on PCs that run Microsoft Window and Apple computers by visiting Skype.com.

Will Skype work with Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat?
The answer is Yes! You can run Skype on Linux and Ubuntu based computers on an ever increasing array of mobile devices. The Skype website allows you to install a Linux based version of their software. However, with Ubuntu, it is not necessary to visit the Skype website to install the software. Instead, on Ubuntu, you can install Skype using the Ubuntu Software Center. The Ubuntu Software Center bypasses the need to manually download and install the needed dependencies for Skype to work on Ubuntu, namely the Qt libraries. The Ubuntu Software Center will figure it all out for you and install the Skype application in a matter of seconds.

The default set up for the Ubuntu Software Center will not recognize the availability of Skype. So, there is one change that is needed to the Ubuntu Software Center Software Center's software source repository. Here are the menus selections that are needed to set your Ubuntu Software Center's software source repository so that it will recognize that Skype is available for installation. From the menu bar:

System-->Administration --> Software Sources

Select the check box that is entitled: "Software restricted by copyright or legal issues (multiverse)"

The select the "close" button. Your system will them download the files needed to access the "multiverse" repository. Skype has not been released as an open source program. Thus, it is placed in the multiverse repository.

Once the download the updates the repositories, then all you need to do is open up the Ubuntu Software Center, and type in "skype" in the search bar, and an option to install Skype should become available.

Sources for Money Saving Tips for iPhone and iPod users:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/01/20/ipod.phone/index.html