Modern technology has taken a big step forward. Today, people can call each other from anywhere in the world without spending a dime. Even a grandmother in her years knows how to make Skype calls, and certainly will not be surprised when her granddaughter's smiling face appears on the monitor. Let's look into all the intricacies of this opportunity, as well as the difficulties that may arise.
What is it, what do they eat with?
It is unlikely that anyone will be surprised by the fact that the Internet allows people from all over the world to communicate. Skype is a common computer program with which you can talk in video broadcast mode with any person who also has it installed. However, there must be several conditions:
1. Both parties have an Internet connection.
2. Skype is on at the time of the call for both opponents.
3. The necessary equipment is available.
Set of call components
This is worth devoting a separate paragraph to, because even if you have a computer,connected to the network, you may not always be able to make a call. Or rather, you can call, but you won’t be able to chat. At a minimum, you need speakers and a microphone, and another option is a webcam that already has a built-in microphone. By the way, in the latter case, the opponent will see you, but in the first - no. All these nuances become irrelevant if you have the most modern laptop, desktop computer or tablet in your arsenal. They usually already have everything you need to communicate. Often, even the desired program is installed by default.
Getting Started
Skype can be downloaded for free on the web and installed without any problems on any computer, tablet and even a modern mobile phone. After installation, you will not be able to call immediately, you will still have to register in the system. To do this, you need to create a username and password. Moreover, the latter must consist of Latin letters and numbers - this is a prerequisite. You will also need to enter an email address. This will help you recover your password if it is lost. By default, the program will be loaded at the same time as the computer is turned on. If this is not entirely convenient for you, the operating system settings will need to be changed. So, everything is ready, it remains to figure out how to call on Skype.
Looking for opponents
To call your distant relative, you first need to know his Skype username. After all, you have already come up with your own, which means that your opponent at one time had to makesame. Search by login is the easiest way to find the right person in the system. If you cannot get such information, enter everything you know into the search fields: first name, last name, email address, phone number. It is far from a fact that a person indicated all this or did not distort the data, so no one guarantees the exact result. Especially if the surname is not original. You can easily come across a full namesake and maybe even begin to communicate without understanding your family ties. To start the search, you need to open the "Contacts" menu and select the "Add contact" item. After entering the data, you will be given the number of matches from which you can select suitable people.
First call
So, how to call via Skype? Once you have found the people you plan to keep in touch with and added them to your contact list, they will always be located in your address book. You can delete them later if you wish. Near each opponent there is an icon indicating his status, by which you can find out whether he is online or not. If you see a green handset next to a photo of a relative, then you can call him. Also, as soon as the person signs in to Skype, you'll get a pop-up message to let you know. This option is very convenient, especially when you are waiting for a call.
So, let's call, for example, grandmother. Select the desired contact by double-clicking on it. There are 2 call options:simple and video call. Choose the right one, starting from whether you want the person to see you or not. Then everything happens just like when using a regular home phone that you are used to. As you can see, there are not too many nuances in the question of how to call on Skype.
Paid Features
It is foolish to assume that the developers, introducing such a wide range of opportunities for users, have not laid down the benefits for themselves. Let's talk about paid services. How to call from Skype for free, we have already figured out. To do this, you just need to make a call to another person on the same program when he is online. What can be done if it is not on the network, but you want to call? Or if you need to make a call to the landline number of an institution? There is also such a function! You can call from Skype to your phone at any time if you have money in your account. Indeed, this option is paid, but the rates are very low, easily competing with the offers of local operators.
Call mobile
If a person is not online, then when you click the "Call" button next to his photo, you will automatically be given the opportunity to call any mobile or landline phone number you entered. You can also call a mobile phone via Skype by simply dialing the desired number after selecting the "Calls to phones" item. This will open the dialer window, where you can, among other things, find out the rates, deposit money into the account and select the tariffplan.
Difficulties at work
An annoying problem can happen to any program, after which it stops working. If Skype does not call, what should I do? There is a very simple way to fix everything - uninstall and reinstall the program. And then don't forget to clean the registry. If you don't know how to do it manually, install CCleaner, which will do everything for you. After that, all that remains is to restart the computer and install Skype again. At the same time, you can master the newer version.
Additional features
Today, Skype is the most popular online phone with a number of indispensable features. You already know how to make Skype calls, but it should be said that you can do a lot more with it. For example, in the latest versions of the program there is a "Share screen" function. Using it, you can show any user from your contact list what you are working on and, for example, what difficulties you are experiencing in formatting a document. To do this, you just need to click on the "+" button under the photo of the person you are talking to. You will see a list of additional options, among which there is a "Screen Sharing". Also, using Skype, you can learn a foreign language - the teacher can not only monitor your pronunciation, but also give tasks by sending files or sharing links to various resources on the network. After completing any online test, you can simply show your screen to the teacher. It's very convenient!
In closing
New technologies open more and more doors for us. Discover the limitlessness of Skype as soon as possible. This is an incredibly useful program. And knowing how to call via Skype, say, to your grandmother from Germany, is not enough, we advise you to master all the available opportunities. Such technologies are our future! When in a couple of years your grandmother will appear in the form of a hologram in the apartment, and at the same time clean up the kitchen, this will not surprise you.
