Millions of people now depend on Skype phone software. They depend on Skype to stay in contact with friends and family, but also to operate their businesses.
The Skype phone service delivers cheap and even free phone calls, but that's only the beginning. In our business we use Skype conference call functionality almost every day. The cost is nominal because we can make unlimited calls to landlines for a nominal monthly charge.
Online phone numbers are probably the best feature of Skype. They're just like a regular phone number. People can call a Skype phone number using any landline or cell phone. For the cost of a local call, friends, family and work colleagues can contact you at any time, no matter where in the world you are. If you are unavailable they can leave a voicemail message on your virtual phone number.
A Skype numbercompliments SkypeOut, which is the ability to call landlines and cell phones from Skype. Calls can be made using either downloaded Skype software on a computer or via one of the many Skype cordless phones that use either WiFi or DECT to communicate with a base station linked to the Internet and the Skype phone service.
Skype is rapidly increasing in popularity, which makes the service even more attractive as there is a growing assumption that most people will have a Skype number and name. In fact, it's now common to find these details on business cards and in email signatures. It probably also explains why so many people are asking "how does Skype work."
Products such as Magic Jack may briefly capture customers through clever marketing, but it's difficult to see how they can compete with the Skype in the longer term given the range of features it provides.
