Skype

OK, I know Skype has been out for quite some time now - but I really want to write a review on it. In case you didn't know, Skype is a VERY cool service that facilitates voice over IP (VoIP) phone calls through your computer. The very "thin" software installs on your computer quickly and runs in the background. If your friends have it and they are logged on at the same time - you can communicate with them in any number of ways (including but not limited to: text chat, video chat, audio chat, games, application sharing, virtual whiteboard, etc.). See their web site for a more comprehensive listing (www.skype.com). Anyway - the reason I think Skype is VERY cool is because you can also call regular phones (land lines and mobile phones). For a small fee of $30 US dollars, you can make unlimited outgoing calls for a whole year! Not only that, but for about $90 you can buy a cordless Skype phone that works just like a regular cordless phone - and make calls using your Skype account! There are many different kinds of Skype phones that give you different levels of freedom. The most inexpensive (about $15) connects to the computer with a USB cord. The most expensive (about $120 last time I checked) don't require a computer at all - they are completely cordless and only require a wireless hotspot. So, you could not only use it at your house (if you have a wireless network) but anywhere you have free wireless access! That is pretty cool! A lot of airports and coffee shops have free wireless, so that means wherever you have wireless (wi-fi) you can use your skype phone! Very COOL! And, it's very useful. With this service combined with the device, I can throw away my traditional house phone and dramatically reduce my phone costs. Before I would spend $30-$40 a month on my home phone - now I spend $30 a YEAR! That's $2.50 / month! Keep in mind that with the Skype out service, the people you are calling don't have to have Skype. They don't even have to have a computer! Just a house phone or a cell phone! Now if they have Skype, things get even cooler! Because you can do lots of cool things. If you have a simple web cam ($15 at Wal Mart) you can make a video call. They can see you, and if they have a web cam, you can see them. Very cool! And, very FREE! Anyway - in case you couldn't tell - I really like Skype. Here are my ratings:

Coolness Rating: 8.5
Usefulness Rating: 8.9
Cheapness Rating: 8.9