- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: October 31, 2006
- Total Downloads: 4,552,928
- Downloads last week: 20,639
- See full specifications
A newer version of Skype is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 1076 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
Skype is well regarded for offering stable, free VOIP to other Skype users and affordable calling from a PC to a phone, be it a landline or a cell phone. The most recent upgrade makes getting in touch with friends and family--and even complete strangers--much, much easier.
Functionality still varies depending on your Internet connection and what else you're doing with it while using Skype, but they are making some efforts to improve that. When you finish a Skype call, a Web page opens and asks you about the conversation's sound quality. The clean layout combines familiar chatware functions with a dialing interface, so that calling a phone is as simple as entering the desired number and hitting the dial button.
Improvements include conference calling with as many as nine people, video calling, and a browser plug-in that turns phone numbers on Web pages into links that automatically dial via Skype when clicked. There are also Skypecasts, throwbacks to the party-line multiperson telephone conversations from the mid-20th century.
Overall, we think Skype is a strong contender in the Internet Telephony category, and anyone who's interested in talking for free should give it a try. For international callers who have computers, this program is a no-brainer solution for long-distance bills.
Watch the CNET video review of Skype:
Publisher's description
From Skype :Skype is software that enables you to make free calls anywhere in the world. Skype uses innovative P2P (peer-to-peer) technology to connect you with other users. It offers several features, including SkypeOut calling from Skype to regular and mobile phones worldwide, conference calling, and secure file transferring. Skype calls have better sound quality than your regular phone and are highly secure, with end-to-end encryption.
Version 2.5 offers improved calling, free calls to phones within the US and Canada until the end of 2006, the ability to send SMS messages, and new Outlook compatibility.
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User reviews of Skype 2.5
- Average user rating: 3.9 stars out of 1076 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 13 user reviewsSee all 13 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
11 out of 13 people found this review helpful
Version: Skype 2.5
Pros: Easy to download and set up. You need a handset or headphones to make the calls which plugs into a USB port. Talking to other skype users is 100% free for as long as you want.
Cons: Not cons as such, but you do have to put an amount of credit into your account, for me it was 10 euros. Calls to non skype users are not free but some of the cheapest around.
To a non skype person you can sound like you are talking in a large empty chamber.
I would suggest you try it and see for yourself as I am very happy with it.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: Skype 2.5
Pros: its awsome cause you can not just conference up to 4 people with video and audio! but you can also conference call lan line phones and cell phone witch means you can conference your home phone and a long distance number and you just pick up your home phone before they pick up thears and then you can leave your computer and when you are done you disconect your computer!
AND ITS FREE!!!
Cons: nothing! I cant recemend this high enough
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Version: Skype 2.5
Pros: Skype is perhaps the best free VOIP product available on the market today. While better ones may be out there, only this one comes without the expensive price tag. Voice calls are seamless (even on slow internet connections). Skype out is a great feature which rivals some of the cheapest international call rates, and the ability to buy your own phone number for people to ring means that Skype is definitely a great product.
Cons: Video calls tend to suffer even with high-speed internet connections and customer service is a bit lacking (especially to non-US and Canada countries). Other than that, no real complaints.
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Version: Skype 2.5
Pros: Canceling the service!
Cons: Computer to Phone Service:
Never got to use it except to test the voice. Their audio was breaking up (no I'm not on modem). Billing sucks! Tried to do Bank to Bank and nothing ever happened to transfer money. My bank said they never processed bill. Tried to use Master Card and they said they couldn't process it. ($0 charged on card at that time). Tried to contact them for help and got a computer email back saying they "may or may not" reply. HA! They never did reply. Bottom line: CUSTOMER BEWARE!
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0 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Version: Skype 2.5
Pros: U get to talk for free (only comp-to-comp)! It has a really cool interface! Definitely brought technology to a higher level!
Cons: Nothing!
- See all 13 user reviews Write review
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