Talk about viral marketing! Recently a friend of mine told me to check out some new software that makes it possible to make VoIP calls (VoIP = Voice over IP) to anyone on the internet. Now, this has been around for years already but usually its a big hassle to set it up especially if you have a firewall our router.
Without getting to technical; VOIP (which is also possible with MSN Messenger, Netmeeting etc.) uses so called port numbers to communicate (a port is an endpoint to a logical connection and the way a client program specifies a specific server program on a computer in a network). Usally the ports are blocked by your firewall or router. And if you have more than 1 PC behind a router, it’s even almost impossible to use VOIP programsbecause of problems with NAT (Network Address Translation).
Besides that: usually these programs use some central server (i.e. Netmeeting) to find other users. Now there is a new program called Skype, from the makers of KaZaa which promises a zero-configuration VOIP, P2P telephony solution that should work with any firewall and should be completely hassle-free. Off course I was eager to find out if it works and I downloaded it immediately.
As the makers promised, the installation was completely transparant: even the usual tweaking of the microphone and headphones didn’t occur. Just a straighforward install. Then my firewall (I installed it on 2 of my 4 PC’s) asked if the program was allowed to connect to the Net and off course I answered yes. Ok, so fa so good. Next I called the guy that told me to get it. Now he lives in Holland so it wasn’t a real long distance call with lots of traffic on the net.
To my suprise the quality was as Skype promised: crystal clear with no delays or echo’s. Next I called two other guys I know: one in Sweden and and in the UK. Again: no delay’s and a crisp, crystal clear sound. We even experimented with talking to each other while downloading some huge 40meg file. Although we experienced some little hickups (much like with a GSM phone) the quality still was excellent. Later I talked to a guy that has a 64k ISDN dial-up link and it still sounded perfect. According to the makers of the program it should work even on a 33k3 modem connection. All in all: impressive, even though this is still just beta-software.
In conclusion I would like to recommend people that want to save money on their long distance phonebill to get this program. If you have a broadband connection thats on 24/7 anyway, just download it and be amazed by it! Its worth your try.
Oh, and did I mention yet that all calls are fully encrypted against evesdropping?