Communicating on Skype

I’m a big fan of Skype. It was first introduced to me as a cheap way to call home during my semester abroad, but I’ve many more uses for it. I think we’ll continue to see more uses for this tool as home phone numbers grow obsolete and when Skype introduces multi-user video calling next week. It has certainly made communication easier for me. Here are some of the ways I use Skype on a day to day basis:

Skype Study Abroad

I spent four months in Australia. I used Skype almost everyday and it wasn’t just because I was calling home. Even though I had an Australian pre-paid cell phone it was actually cheaper for me to use Skype when making calls to local Australian numbers. In some ways it served as my apartment phone. I also used it to make plans with my friends. We used the instant messenger chat feature to stay connected instead of constantly texting and using up our pre-paid minutes during the day.

Skype Staying Connected

Since being home I still talk to my close friends that I made studying abroad. A lot of us still use Skype and it’s an easy way to chat and stay in contact with those people. We’ll have spontaneous group chats every couple of weeks when everyone is online.  I think it’s played a huge role in continuing to keep us close almost two years later. We live all over the US and probably have had the chance to meet-up in person about every 4-6 months.

Skype Serious Work

Skype is now a tool I use for work. I’m a student and work part time. My boss travels a lot and I’ll go for weeks or months without seeing him in person. We usually talk online or on Skype everyday or every other day. That constant communication is important to keeping on task. I think it would be a lot harder if we depended on phone calls to get work done. Phone calls interrupt your work flow but somehow Skype works with you. I don’t feel like I have to stop what I’m working on when I get a call on Skype.

Skype Social

More than just my study abroad friends are on Skype now. It’s growing more popular and suddenly I’m adding new contacts even locally. Everyone used to be on AIM, but that group has shifted. I use the IM chat daily to talk with friends I know well and people that I’m slowly getting to know better. Feel free to look me up and add me to your contacts. Just make sure you let me know how we’re connected or that you read my article on Skype.

Photo Credit: pt