Experience Skype to the Max: The Essential Guide to the World’s Leading Internet Communications Platform

Book description

Experience Skype to the Max shows you how to make the most of Skype's full range of features on any device. Discover tips and tricks for saving time, saving money, and fostering better communication at work or in your personal projects.

Go beyond simple voice calling and discover Skype as a multimedia cross-platform collaboration tool, wherever you are in the world. Learn how to connect to Skype from your devices whether in the home office, on the road, roaming on your mobile or over Wi-Fi. Discover the best ways to call or message landlines and mobile phones at minimum cost, and how to manage your account and payments, depending on your needs.

As a regular Skype user, you’ll also benefit from insider tips on choosing hardware and peripherals, integrating your Skype usage with other platforms such as Office and Outlook.com, and preparing for the next developments in internet-based communications.

As work and home lives become increasingly intertwined, this book is your essential guide to building and sustaining your important relationships on one reliable platform.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Disclaimer
  6. Contents at a Glance
  7. Contents
  8. About the Author
  9. About the Technical Reviewer
  10. Acknowledgments
  11. Introduction
  12. Chapter 1: People Like to Talk!
    1. Why Skype?
    2. What Is Skype?
    3. Where and When Do You Use Skype?
      1. Skype on PCs
      2. Skype on Smartphones and Tablets
      3. Skype for TV
    4. Skype as a Business and Productivity Tool
      1. Using Skype In the Office
      2. Using Skype On the Road
    5. Where Does This Book Take You?
    6. Summary
      1. Key Points
  13. Chapter 2: Connecting to Skype at Home and Abroad
    1. Opening a Skype Account
      1. The Home Screen
      2. Building a Skype Profile
      3. Profile Considerations
    2. Connecting to Skype at Home and Abroad
      1. Home Office
      2. Public Wi-Fi
      3. Wireless Carriers
    3. Managing Contacts: Whom Are You Going to Call?
      1. Skype Contacts
      2. Selecting Favorites
      3. Contact Status
    4. Skype Security and Privacy
      1. Skype Privacy Settings
      2. Security and Safety of Skype Communications
    5. Summary
      1. Key Points
  14. Chapter 3: Enriching Conversations with Skype
    1. Enhancing and Moving Beyond the Voice Conversation
    2. Skype’s Full Feature Set
    3. Conversation Flow
    4. Skype’s Unique Technology: Innovation for the Masses
      1. Emulating Face-to-Face Conversation Voice Quality
      2. Evolving to HD Video
    5. Rich Conversation in Action: Skype as a Support Tool
    6. Summary
      1. Key Points
  15. Chapter 4: Using Skype in Business—Use Cases
    1. zenPeak—Recruiting Executives with a Social Algorithm
    2. Bicymple—Innovative Bicycle Re-Engineering
    3. Advansys—Software Solutions Building Business Productivity
    4. Summary
  16. Chapter 5: Using Skype on the Desktop
    1. Skype for Windows Desktop
      1. The Personal Pane
      2. The Contacts Pane
      3. The Conversation Pane
      4. Facebook Chat
      5. The Conversation Pane Header
      6. File Transfer
      7. A Skype Voice Call
      8. Call Quality Info
      9. A Skype Video Call
      10. Screen Sharing
      11. Group Video Calling
      12. Skype for Windows Options
    2. Skype for Mac
      1. The Index Pane
      2. The Window Menu
      3. The Content Pane
      4. A Skype Voice Call
      5. A Skype Video Call
      6. Skype for Mac Preferences
    3. Summary
    4. Key Points
  17. Chapter 6: Using Skype on Mobile Devices
    1. Skype Features on Mobile Devices
    2. Navigating Skype Mobile Screens
    3. Making a Voice Call on Mobile Devices
    4. The Future of Mobile Skype
    5. Summary
    6. Key Points
  18. Chapter 7: Calling and Messaging Landlines and Mobile Phones
    1. Connecting with the Legacy Phone Network
    2. Calling Phone Numbers Worldwide at Low Costs
      1. The Skype Account
    3. Calling Landlines and Mobile Phones
    4. Skype Numbers: “Local” Numbers with Worldwide Reach
    5. SMS Messaging
    6. Skype To Go
    7. Click-to-Call
    8. Summary
      1. Key Points
  19. Chapter 8: Skype Chat: A Virtual Water Fountain
    1. Why Chat?
    2. The Conversation Pane
    3. Chat Commands
    4. Emoticons
    5. Facebook Chat
    6. Summary
    7. Key Points
  20. Chapter 9: Managing Your Skype Account and Subscriptions
    1. Pay in Advance—No Phone Bills
    2. Managing Your Account
    3. Optimizing Your Skype Activities and Associated Costs
    4. Managing Skype in a Business
      1. Accounts Managed by Individuals
      2. Accounts Managed by an Administrator
    5. Summary
    6. Key Points
  21. Chapter 10: Hardware Considerations: PCs, Mobiles, and Peripherals
    1. Hardware Requirements
    2. Choosing Peripheral Hardware
      1. Headsets
      2. Webcams for PCs
      3. Webcams for TV
      4. An All-In-One Solution for HDTV Sets
      5. Speakerphones and Microphones
    3. Summary
    4. Key Points
  22. Chapter 11: Building Geographically Dispersed Teams Over Skype
    1. Skype and Collaboration: Building Teams and Communities
    2. Creating a Group
    3. Group Chat: Skype as a Virtual Water Fountain
    4. Multi-Party Voice Calls: Travel-Free Conferencing
      1. Group Video Calling: Togetherness Across Continents and Oceans
    5. Summary
      1. Key Points
  23. Chapter 12: Skype on Office 365, Outlook.com and Lync
    1. Skype on Outlook.com
    2. Skype and Outlook
    3. Microsoft Lync
    4. Summary
    5. Key Points
  24. Chapter 13: The Way Ahead
    1. Where Does Skype Go From Here?
    2. Where do Internet-Based Communications Go From Here?
    3. IP-Based Communications and the Traditional Telcos
    4. Guidelines for Evaluating the Evolution of IP-Based Communications
    5. Conclusion
  25. Appendix A: Glossary
  26. Index

Product information

  • Title: Experience Skype to the Max: The Essential Guide to the World’s Leading Internet Communications Platform
  • Author(s): Jim Courtney
  • Release date: March 2015
  • Publisher(s): Apress
  • ISBN: 9781484206560