Save Money on International Phonecalls

If you have a good broadband connection, you are really missing out if you are not using Skype. This allows you to make phonecalls to landlines and mobile phones anywhere in the world for very little. For example, I recently spoke to a customer in Philippines on his mobile phone for one hour. The cost? Less than 10 Euros.

Wha's more, if your clients or business associates abroad have Skype installed on their computers, you can call them for FREE.

Installing Skype is very, very easy.

• You will need one small piece of equipment: A head phone with a microphone. You can get these in any computer shop or, you can buy one from Skype.
• The first step is to download the software. (Save the download to your Desktop)
• Next, double-click the icon of the Skype download. This will start the installation wizard.
• Make sure your headphone is plugged in and is working. Find a sound or music file on your computer and play it. If you can hear the sound, chances are, your headphone is working as expected.
• Now, try a test call. The software has a pre-configured test call that dials up a number with a response from a machine.
• At this stage, it is a good idea to get out your credit card and buy some credit. (10 Euros is enough to start). This will allow you to ring someone on their landline and see how your broadband connection performs.

The Skype interface is relatively easy to understand (not perfect). So, a little extra explanation might help:

How do you enter a phone number for the first time?

I generally ignore the keypad and the country selector. Instead, I go straight to the bottom of the window and type the number (or copy-and-paste it from my contacts database).

Enter the number like this +countrycode areacode number

e.g.. To dial a number in London: + 44 1 and then, the number

Notice: The plus sign at the start.. The area code without a leading 0. No need for spaces.

Once you have entered the number, click the Green button with the phone to dial.

To check that you have understood, enter your own landline number (you will need your country code) and dial it.

To hang up your Skype call, click the Red button.

How do you call another Skype user?

First, you need to ask the person you want to call for their Skype name and, ideally, give them yours. Both of you can add each other as a contact (the first tab of the Skype window).

Try ringing your contact. To do this, select the contact (click it once) and then, click the Green dial button.

How do you hang up?

Click the red button.

How do you let your contacts know that you are unavailable?

At the bottom left of the Skype window, there is a tiny arrow. Click this and choose the status you want to display to your contacts. Anyone who wants to ring you (Skype to Skype) will see this status next to your name in their contacts list.