Turn your PC into a telephone with Skype.
Skype is a computer communication program that offers instant messaging, computer-to-computer voice chat, live webcam and calls from your computer to a land line or mobile phone. While computer-to-computer voice chat and instant messaging are free to use, phone calls cost money, called "Skype Credit." Skype Credit is charged through a credit card. After your account is charged, you can call national and international numbers from your computer, or even through a handheld Skype phone.
Instructions
Installation
1. Download Skype from the Skype website (see Resources), choosing to "Install" and "Run" the program when prompted by your PC.
2. Double-click the Skype icon on your desktop to open Skype. A small window, titled "Welcome to Skype" will pop up, prompting you to type in your Skype name and password--if you don't have one, click on the option under the "Skype Name" input form titled "Don't Have a Skype Name?"
3. Input your details into the "Create a New Skype Account" window that pops up. It asks for your full name and email, and you will have to create a Skype name and password. Click "I Agree-Create Account" once you are done and have perused the Skype license agreement. The Skype interface will come up, from where you can make calls and video chat--you will be logged in under the Skype name you just created.
Using Skype
4. Find contacts--friends or family also on Skype--by clicking on the upper left-hand menu item in the Skype interface named "Contacts." Click on "New Contact" and input your friend's full name, email or Skype name and click "Find." Alternatively, click "Import Contacts" from the "Contacts" menu to import contacts from a number of various programs, such as existing Facebook, Hotmail and AOL accounts.
5. Contact another Skype user on their computer by clicking on his name in the "Contacts" panel on the left side of the Skype interface. This will bring up a number of options in the right-hand panel of the Skype interface. Click on the green button that says "Call" to make a voice call to this person's Skype account. Click on the green button that says "Video Call" to make a video call to this person's Skype account. Type an instant message into the text box at the bottom of the Skype interface to start an IM conversation with this person.
6. Call a land line or cell phone from Skype by clicking on the "Call Phones" button on the bottom left of the left-side panel of the Skype interface. This will bring up a large number pad in the right-hand panel of the interface, but you need Skype Credit in order to call.
7. Click on the "Buy Skype Credit" in the small box on the far right of the right-hand Skype interface panel. This takes you to a secure page. Follow the prompts to enter your billing address and credit card number, and your Skype Credit will be loaded. Go back to the "Call Phones" page and enter the phone number you wish to call, then press the large green button that says "Call."
Tags: Skype interface, Skype Credit, button that, button that says, green button