Skype

I've been hearing a lot about Skype these days and thought it certainly warranted a post. Not only because they just launched an iphone application which brings free calling to our mobile devices, but also because of the cost saving and family connection benefits it offers to all families with home internet. In today's economy, most of us can't afford long distance phone bills or flights to visit friends and family and Skype offers a great solution to keep us in touch.

Skype was launched in 2004 as a Voice Over IP solution providing users free calls to other Skype customers and inexpensive calls to traditional phones. Essentially, Skype uses your internet connection to let you turn your computer into a phone. You can use a headset or use your computer’s built-in microphone and speakers to talk to friends and family. Skype now also offers Video Calling so you can connect a webcam to your computer and see the person you are speaking to.



According to Ad Age boomers are using this technology, among other social media, to keep in touch with families and to watch their grandchildren grow up from across the country or around the world. Not surprisingly, Skype now has over 400 million users and, according to TeleGeography analyst, Stephan Beckert, "has emerged as the largest provider of cross-border voice communications in the world.”

To keep in touch with your friends and family a no to little cost to you, visit skype.com and download it today. While your at it, set the grandparents up with a web cam so they can see their grandkids in between holidays!