How Does Skype Work?

When we ask, “How does Skype work,” we should probably take a brief, summary look at communication in general. Technology continues to offer human beings better and better ways to communicate. Men and women around the world have come a long way from stones, papyrus, even pencils and paper.

When we want to talk to someone without writing or typing the technology has been amazing. Smoke signals and signal towers have been replaced by electronic connections that allow us to converse with another person who lives half a world away. With a combination of cables, satellites and computers we can “talk” to someone else now.

The key is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). This allows one person to actually talk to another person using the same network that the Internet does. This is also called broadband phone by some. The quality of service depends on the connection and equipment between the two parties, just as Web surfing does.

Basically, the voice is transferred from analog, which the microphone picks up, to digital, which is moved along as a stream of digital audio signals. The entire signal is divided into smaller pieces (packets). The technology isn’t perfect, but it is getting some attention from a good portion of the population.

Many observers of the Internet and communications industries feel that Skype and VoIP are destined to become as common for connection as the email address is today. A couple of decades ago, few people had computers, much less email addresses. Today the email is one of the most common ways to communicate. Individuals and businesses wade through hundreds of emails each day.

Skype is a provider, a company that is getting an early start in the VoIP world. The intention is to provide people with the same convenience and efficiency as we are used to with telephone dial service. Satellite technology and high-speed broadband access to homes and businesses has given us almost instant communication, no matter the distance covered.

The cost may be an issue for some. Two registered Skype users can communicate at no cost, if they have the computer equipment etc.

For someone who is not a registered Skype user, there is a fee. But people who have used the service from one country to another find the cost is much less than an international phone call over a traditional phone network or even the 3G that drives connections today.

Users can pay as they go or sign on for a monthly plan. Those who make calls around the globe might want to get a monthly plan. Some cell phones will support the Skype platform, making that another option for some people.

Skype and VoIP may eventually eliminate the problems with delay and sound quality, putting this method of communication on the same level as email and texting. Use of Skype between two Skype users is already growing. With the right microphone, speaker and the company platform (software) this may be the next “telephone” industry.

 Print This Page