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Skype phone services allow students to contact worldwide
By Christina Simmons
Posted: 2/5/07, 9:35 PM EST Section: Feature
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Skype, the online calling service owned by eBay, fits the ideal criteria for technologically advanced communication. However, many are not aware of the free and painless options available to connect the world.
With just a few clicks of a mouse, one can download Skype and instantly become connected to anyone in the world who also has the program installed. All one needs is Windows 2000 or XP, an Internet connection, either built-in or separate speakers and a microphone. It's that simple to use Skype to call someone anywhere in the world, and the best part is it's free.
Julia Correia, a freshman design technical theater major, began using Skype two and a half years ago, when her dad started working in Sri Lanka, China and Vietnam. She said it is a very simple and efficient means of communication.
"Essentially if you have high speed Internet, a microphone and speakers you can use it," Correia said. "It's incredible. It's the most convenient way to keep in touch with people."
In today's society, many more people are traveling out of the country and conducting business with other nations. Skype makes that global contact a little easier.
Zofia Sztechmiler, a professor of languages, literature and linguistics at Syracuse University, uses Skype every day to talk with her family in Poland.
"I use Skype to talk to Poland because it's free and it's wonderful," Sztechmiler said. "I have a whole huge list of friends who use it."
The communication program is advantageous for businesses because the user can chat with up to 100 people at a time and have conference calls with four others. File and photo sending are also made simple with Skype.
Recently, studying abroad has become a popular option for many college students. At SU, more than 20 percent of the undergraduate population takes advantage of this opportunity each year.
Leaving behind family and friends and making new friends abroad may have created a difficult situation in the past. Today, Skype makes communication universally accessible.
Adina Safron, sophomore psychology major, recently traveled to London for 10 days. While there, she purchased a calling card for getting in touch with her parents and a U.K. SIM card to get in touch with people in England.
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