Skype VOIP Product Review

The broadband revolution has brought us music, video, and pictures at the click of a mouse. But it has also inspired a new way of communicating on the cheap: VOIP, or voice over internet protocol.

Using VOIP, broadband users can subscribe to free or low-cost calling through the internet. One provider offering VOIP phone service is Skype. In this article, we'll take a closer look at Skype's features and how the service stacks up against the competition.

Overview

Skype is a popular VOIP service provider that facilitates free, unlimited computer-to-computer calling using their proprietary software. After you and your friends go to Skype's website and download their software onto your respective computers, you can call each other for free anywhere in the world. You can also make video calls, conference calls, and instant message your friends.

How Does It Work?

You use Skype's phone features in one of several ways: headset, USB Skype phone, cordless phone, or Skype-enabled WiFi phone. You can also use your computer's built-in microphone and speakers.

The headset and USB Skype phone you simply plug into your computer. With the cordless phone option, you can either purchase a Skype-enabled cordless phone or a special telephone adapter box that allows you to use your existing cordless phone (broadband router required).

The most exciting option is the Skype-enabled WiFi phone. The WiFi phone is much like a cell phone, except you make calls via WiFi hotspots rather than cell signals. This means you can call other Skype users for free anywhere in the world you find a WiFi hotspot, sans laptop. Pretty nifty.

Free is great, but what if you want to call friends who only have a landline or cell phone? Skype has numerous plans for that scenario as well.

Skype Features and Service Plans

Skype's free VOIP service is strictly for Skype-to-Skype calls. For those who would like to expand their VOIP functionality to more of a traditional telephone, Skype offers two other plans: pay as you go and monthly. Skype calls these plans SkypeOut.

With pay as you go, you add SkypeCredits to your account and use your credits at least once every 180 days (6 months). With a monthly subscription, you pay $2.95 per month with no contract. A subscription also gives you features such as voicemail, call forwarding, and caller ID.

If you would like to receive calls via a traditional telephone number, SkypeIn is your answer. For an annual fee of $60, your friends and family can call you from their traditional landlines and cell phones.

Limitations

As Skype's website admits, Skype is not a replacement for your regular phone service. As with all VOIP services, you won't have telephone service if your electricity goes out. You won't be able to dial 911 in the case of an emergency either, since Skype does not support emergency dialing. Also, you can't port your existing phone number to Skype.

The Bottom Line

Skype's features and pricing are midway between Vonage and MagicJack. While Skype offers free videoconferencing and those cool WiFi phones, pricing on their VOIP phone service is higher than MagicJack but far lower than Vonage. In comparison, both Ooma and MagicJack provide more basic features at a lower cost including 911 emergency dialing and in the case of Ooma, phone number porting.