Skype Made Easy
Remember how we couldn't wait till we had video phones so we could see loved ones from a distance? Now we have
them! Smart phones have video and our computers have also become video
phones. The best known VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) software is
Skype. Even though Skype has done everything it can to make its site simple, I know some people are still intimidated by
technology that unfamiliar to them, so this is my easy walk-through.
If
you have a computer with a built-in web cam, all you need to do is
download the software. If you don't, go to your favorite consumer site,
like Amazon, or tech store, like Fry's, and buy a web cam for $25 or
$30. If you want to do a little comparison shopping first, check out a
review site like Consumer Search. Likewise, if your computer doesn't have built-in speakers and mic, you'll need to buy a USB headset. (Macs have everything built in, as do most laptop PCs.)
After you have a web cam and headset, go to the Get Skype page to download the software. Skype is free. (Paid versions offer more features, but for the purpose of a simple coaching call, the free version is fine.)
Install the software. (It's quick.)
Like
registering for any site, you'll need to create an account with a user
name and password. Your username is your Skype Name. You need this so
people can find you and call you. Mine is maureenpnelson.
Add me as a contact by choosing Contacts > Add a Contact... and type in my user name: maureenpnelson.
To
make a video call, click on my name in your Contacts and then click
green button with the camera. The Skype site has the same directions with screenshots. Skype will tell you if the person is online unless they're made their status invisible.
Once they try it, my clients much prefer a Skype session over a phone session. With
more visual information, both my clients and I can pick up on subtle
communication cues like facial expressions.
Skype lets you send files and web links as well as type text while Skyping. And you can share your screen with your Skype conversation partner — all for free.
Also,
once you've used Skype with me, you're no longer a newbie. You can use
Skype to see relatives and friends anywhere in the world!
