Skype and Study Abroad: A Match Made in Heaven
I’ve gotten a few visits to the site lately from people who are looking for info on using Skype while abroad. First off, I
just want to stress how great Skype is. It’s easy to set up and free to use. All you need is a web cam and you’re good to go.
Never heard of Skype before? Here’s a description that I ripped right off the website:
“Skype is software that enables the world’s conversations. Millions of individuals and businesses use Skype to make free video and voice calls, send instant messages and share files with other Skype users. Every day, people also use Skype to make low-cost calls to landlines and mobiles.”
This is what it comes down to. You can use Skype to make video calls for free, and you can make calls to landlines for a fraction of a penny – seriously.
Why is this great for people studying abroad? It’s a pretty easy question to answer. International calls to your friends and family back home will cost a small fortune, and it’s also useful to call your friends at your abroad University. (If you do get a cell phone overseas – highly recommend that you do – you’re probably going to have to sign up for a pay as you go plan which can still cost you up to 15 to 20 cents a minute.)
Here’s how you get started on Skype. Head over to Skype.com. You’ll land on a page that has buttons galore that read “Download Now”. Click any one of them. The setup and installation will probably start on its own. Don’t worry if it doesn’t. Skype has put dummy proof instructions at the bottom of the page for self installation. It literally takes about a minute and a half. That’s it, I’m pretty sure the only thing you should have to do is pick a username and write down your email address. When the installation is complete, it should put a shortcut on your desktop so all that’s left to do now is launch it.
Now that you have Skype installed, you’ll need a video camera so people can actually see your face when you call them. I recommend Logitech for the simple fact that I’ve never had a problem with any of their products, whether it was a web cam or anything other of the 20 things I’ve bought from them
If you’re not rich, don’t worry about going out and buying the most expensive one. But just a warning, I wouldn’t go out and buy the cheapest one either. The picture will be extremely blurry and will freeze often. Here’s what I would consider taking a look at. A lot of my friends use the Logitech Webcam C500, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. If you’re looking for something strictly for laptops, try the Logitech QuickCam Deluxe for Notebooks. I’d suggest buying them from Amazon because I’ve found they’re a few dollars cheaper than on the actual Logitech site. Once you get your cam, plug it in and video chat away.
Tagged with: communication • Skype
Filed under: Strictly Study Abroad Support
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