All Aboard the Internet:

Calling the world.... for free!

By Don E. Descy

ne of my best friends retired to Brazil several months ago. We have been keeping in touch via email and occasionally by chat.

A month or so ago we decided to look into other modes of communication. After some research we decided to try an Internet phone service. After a very short search and a great deal of trial and error, we settled on an application called Skype.

First let's talk for a minute about Internet phone services. Internet phone services, sometimes called softphones because they are software based, are based on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). When we use VoIP technology we send voice data through packet-based networks like the Internet instead of over conventional telephone lines. VolP software compresses voice data at the source, sends it over the network and decompresses it at the other end. The compression and decompression algorithms are usually brand specific. In other words, if you are using a particular VolP software on your computer, the same VoIP software is required on the receiving end.

There are many different softphone software applications available, well over 1000 by early 2005. Most of the providers have been in business for only a year or two. Some of the most popular are SIPphone, Vonage, and the one we decided to use: Skype. Major phone companies like Verizon, AT&T and Nortel are also getting into the act. Most of the softphone services work over a computer or a regular telephone. The FCC is now debating the merits of VoIP and what to do about it(FCC,

2005). By this time though, it may already be a moot question. According to TeleGeography, in 1998 only .2% (150 million minutes) of international phone calls were carried over VolR That jumped to 11% (19 billion minutes) just 4 years later in 2002. It is estimated that the number will grow to 1,771 billion minutes by 2008. (VolP Guide, 2005).

Using a softphone is really easy. Even a dial-up computer modem connection will do. All you need is a computer, the software and an Internet connection. I have also found that feedback can be a problem, so the one other thing that I would recommend is a set of earphones that can be plugged into your computer. If your computer does not have a built- in microphone, you will need one of these also. Since softphones rely on the regular Internet, times of high traffic volume may affect the quality of your calls. Occasionally (but rarely) you may experience a dropped call, but a quick call-back usually clears things up. Most softphones also include some form of encryption. Skype, for instance uses 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) that it says is (almost) impenetrable.

Setting up and using a softphone is a no-brainer. (Hey, I did it!) Just go to the site and download the software as you would any other software. [ will use Skype as an example. Once it is set up and you choose a username, the first thing to do is to go '~ctions:Edit Profile" to enter any information that you would like to share with others. This information will appear in the directory of Skype users. Now it is time to test and see if you really succeeded in getting your softphone set up correctly. I guess

Conference calling is easy with Skype. This is a Windows screenshot.

that you could call a friend - but if your friend is also a novice Skype user, that might not be the best idea. The easiest thing to do is to use the Skype test robot to test your connection and software. Just type "echo123" into the contact field at the bottom of the window and click on "Call;' A voice will greet you and ask you to record. 3-he message you record will then be played back to you. ]f you hear your own message, you are ready to go!

Now to make a real phone call. If you have set this up with a friend and you know the friend's username, just type their username into the same box (contact field) and again click "Dial;' You will hear a ringing sound and, if

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your friend is online, they can answer. That is it - - now just start to talk.

You will want to place your friends in the "Skype Contacts" panel. Icons here will show you if they are presently on or offline. If you can't find anyone to talk with? Just click on the "Search for Users" button or "Find User" from the "Contacts" tab. This will let you search the Skype directory by username, full name, email address, phone number, age, city, sex, country and even language. Before you can add someone to your contacts list, Skype automatically emails them to ask permission. You can call

Using the Contacts search function for the word "natal" (a town in Brazil)found 117 matches from all

over the world.

The opening screen is clean and easy to under-

stand. This is a Mac screenshot.

them directly by just clicking on their name in the Skype directory though. As I am writing this (Feburary, 2005), the Skype site notes that 55,645,519 people have downloaded Skype so far.

There are several other buttons across the top of the Skype window. "Contacts" reveals a list of your contacts; "Call List" lists all of the calls you have made listing contact, date, time and duration; "Dial" reveals a telephone keypad that allows you to dial directly to a regular telephone or cell phone.

I should make a few comments about the regular phone calling option. This is really neat and a real money saver even if the person at the other end

does not have a computer. All you have to do is purchase "SkypeOut" minutes. If you have Skype running, just go to 'Actions:Go to My Account Page" or log onto your account through the Skype Web page. From there you can buy regular phone connection time. Rates and SkypeOut purchases are handled through this page. Rates are shown i n most currencies, but purchases are by credit card and in Euros (Skype is based in Europe.). Right nowyou can purchase time in just two denominations: 10 and 25 Euros (This is about $13 and $33 at the time of writing). Purchase the lower amount. It will take you awhile to spend it. Skype is set up to use the Internet to get to the local exchange, so all you do is pay for the local connection where the recipient's phone is located. A call to Germany, China or Australia is .023 cents a minute (yes, about 2 cents); Brazilis $0.028 (OK... 3 cents)! Calling to mobile phones is also possible, but - more expensive. (A mobile phone in Germany, for example, costs .33 cents a minute; Brazil is $0.232; China is $0.023

(yes ... still just 2 cents); and Australia is $0.293 a minute.)

Of course, your friends can call you. When someone calls you, you will hear a normal phone ring. Just connect to the caller by dicking the "Answer" button. It is really easy and fun. Once you receive a call there are

With many softphones, rates vary according

to plan.

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l f you missed a call or your contacts are online, this shows in the opening screen. This is a Windows screenshot.

several options available. First, if you dofft recognize the user name you can look up the caller's information in the Skype directory. After reviewing the caller's directory information, you can answer the call, add the caller to your contacts list - - or you can even block the caller. As you are talking with the person, you can also send them a file, usernames and contact information for

Hah... The first "descy" (de Scy) was named for the town of Scy in Belgium in the 1600's. Parlez vous Franr

another person using Skype and you can even send an instant message, Want to talk with someone in the room while you are online? Just mute your voice as you are able to do during a regular telephone call.

Skype also has built in stand alone Instant Messaging and Chat. If you can handle it, up to 48 people can be in your chatroom at the same time! And of course, file transfer is just a few clicks away.

In this column I discussed a little bit about VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol. It is just one of the many new technologies made available by the Internet. I also discussed Skype. Skype is free and easy, and even allows inexpensive calling to a regular phone. Why not download it and give it a try?

References

FCC (2005). FCC: Voice Over IP. Accessed February 17, 2005 at http://www.fcc. g0v/voip.

VoIP Guide (2005). Accessed February 17, 2005 at http://www.voip-guide.org/voip-

reviews.php.

Other sites of interest

CNET (2005). Get Up to Speed: VolP. Accessed February 17, 2005 at http://news.com.

com/200t-7352_3-0.html.

VoipReview.org (2005). Save Money on Your Phone Bill! Accessed February 17, 2005 at http://www.voipreview.org/.

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