If you’re one of the more than 20 million users now getting your chat on through Skype, we think there are a few things you should know. We’ve put together a list of the top five biggest game changers that Skype has to offer. In no particular order:
Screen Sharing
This has been available to Windows users for some time, but with the latest version of Skype for Mac, users are now able to securely share their screen with callers on the other end of the line. That is to say as long as they’re also on desktop / laptop. The screen sharing only goes so far as to allow the presenter to control the connection, so it makes remote support a little tricky. However, being able to see what your call partner is talking about is always handy! You can make us of this feature by clicking the light blue button at the top left of chat window. Find out more.
Online Numbers
We all know that Skype-to-Skype conversations are free, but what if you want to have a local land line for your friends to call you, who don’t have access to the internet. This kind of setup is perfect for families with loved ones abroad. Simply setup an online number local to their country and they can call you at local rates, which in most cases means free! To find out more about online numbers and how to get started, check out the info page.
Voicemail
You can’t always be by your desktop or laptop, so for those times that you’re away from Skype, there’s voicemail. Being logged out or not answering an incoming call will automatically divert your incoming call to the Skype voicemail service, so that you don’t have to miss that all important chat. You can either purchase a voicemail package separately, or one comes free with all ‘Unlimited’ subscription packages. Find out more.
SMS
You might be surprised to learn this, but you can actually send SMS directly from the desktop app. All you have to do is open the dialer pane, enter the desired number and select the SMS option. Find out more about this great features on the Skype info page.
Skype Access
This is a new scheme in partnership with WiFi providers, allowing Skype users to pay for their WiFi usage on a minute by minute basis, using their Skype credit. That way, if you only use 20 minutes of internet, you’re not being billed for the full hour. Find out more.
