Skype is a voice over internet protocol ( or VOIP for short ) software. It’s original idea is to be an internet phone, and, with that in mind, considered to be the highest quality voice chat currently avilible to normal people like you and me. It also just so happens to be the one that takes up the most bandwidth, CPU, and memory. Skype is the most used VOIP software by people with little or no computer expience because of its simplicity and how similar it is to using a normal phone.
Not many people know that Skype was originally created by Ebay. They have since sold the majoity of their ownership of Skype to focus their attention on other, more Ebay-like things.
Skype’s features include:
- Group chats
- Calling and texting real phones (for money; this is the only feature Skype charges for)
- One-way screen streaming video (only works in a 1 on 1 conversation)
- Video chat with webcams
As a gamer, Skype should not be your first choice for VOIP in games, but it should certainly be your second or third because a) most people have it on their computer, b) it’s free, and c) no one has to set up a server. But, as I said, Skype is the #1 resource hogger among voice chat programs, even if it does a very good job hiding it (if your computer isn’t that good, Skype does give leeway to your games, but you will notice better performance without it running).
Many people find it annoying when people call you while you are in game, as a ring tone plays and a popup appears, sometimes throwing you out of your game. Because of this, and its resource consumption, I tend to shy away from using Skype now, but if you just need a quick VOIP with lots of features and simple to start using and get friends to use, Skype is your best bet (and the streaming your desktop to a single person really helps you give computer assistance!).
Get Skype at http://www.skype.com/
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