Skype
For every reason that you give me why we shouldn’t use Skype, I can give you 2 reasons why you should. First of all, if you are interested in video conferences using your computer and a webcam, there is no other application that can handle the challenge better than Skype. Trust me, I have tested this application over and over again and video quality is amazing, simply because the images move in real time and you don’t get any annoying pauses, as you do with other application that allow webcam chatting.
Skype
Aside from providing you with real-time video images, there are other benefits that Skype can bring, especially if you have a decent set of headphones and microphone. Calling quality is also great and you can use this application to make international calls just as you would use a regular phone. Depending on who you are calling, international calls have a starting fee of 0.017 euro per minute. It can’t get any cheaper than this. It can do pretty much what every other instant messaging program can do, you can play games with friends, send files, use emoticons, modify your status, set up an avatar and create conferences between yourself and different other users.
Skype
Skype Calls is one of the most powerful features of this application and you have the benefit of being able to make free phone calls to other Skype users. Don’t worry; there are only about 380 million of them! That’s right; Skype-to-Skype calls are absolutely free. Aside from being able to call another person on their cell phone or home number, you can also send text messages. It is like having a huge mobile phone. You can set up your voicemail for when you are not logged onto Skype and people can actually leave voice messages that you will be notified of once you log-on. There is also the possibility for you to forward calls to a phone when you know you are bound to receive important calls but do not have access to a computer to get online and use Skype.
Even if some of its features require you to pay a fee, most other features are absolutely free and since I never experienced any trouble with Skype (calls on cell phones were always very clear even if I was calling the other side of the world, video images were accurate even if my webcam is quite a cheap one) and never got any bugs or errors which I usually saw in other similar applications. Click this link if you wish to get your free version of Skype, courtesy of one of the best software websites in the world: Brothersoft.