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Skype

Objectives

At the end of this session, you will be able to,

Install “Skype” on your computer

Use the options provided by Skype for calling, video chatting, messaging and sharing.

Use the privacy settings in Skype.

Introduction

There are a number of tools which allow you to chat (textual or audio), and hold a video

conference for free. The websites for some of these tools have been listed below:

https://plus.google.com/hangouts

http://www.teamspeak.com/

http://www.icq.com/en

http://www.gotomeeting.in/

http://www.viber.com/en/

Skype is one such tool that allows registered users to converse through both instant

messaging and voice chat. Voice chat permits calls between two users and conference calls.

Skype's text chat permits group chats, emoticons, storing chat history and editing of prior

messages. The standard features are conversant to instant messaging users, user profiles,

online status indicators and others included.

Installation

Skype can be installed on Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. It can be installed on

devices such as computers, mobiles, tablets, home phones, televisions and others.

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To begin installations go on to www.skype.com.

1. Click on “Get Skype”.

2. Here we will be taking a look at installing Skype on a Windows PC. Among the

options provided, choose “Computer” and then “Get Skype for Windows desktop”.

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3. A dialogues box is displayed which allows you to save the setup on your computer.

4. Click on “Save"

5. The setup gets saved in the “.exe” format. Click on “Skypesetup.exe” to begin with

installation.

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6. This dialogue box is displayed on clicking on “Skypesetup.exe”; you need to keep

selecting “I agree, next, continue” for the next few dialogue boxes.

7. When you are done with selecting the last dialogue box installation begins.

8. Once installation is complete you need to create an account to begin using Skype.

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Creating an account on Skype

1. Let’s begin with creating an account for Skype.

2. Click on “Create an account” at the bottom of the dialogue box

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3. Fill in the required details to create an account. A Skype name and password also

needs to be given which will help you in signing into Skype. And then at the end Click

on “I agree – Continue”. You will be taken to the Skype sign in page.

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Signing into Skype

1. Click on “Skype name” in the below given dialogue box.

2. Type in your Skype name and password in the slots provided.

3. Click on “Sign in”

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4. When you sign in, the Skype interface dialogue box is displayed.

Menu Options

1. When you click on Skype tab at the top of the dialogue box. You can change your

online status, profile, account settings; you can also change your password and sign

out from your Skype account.

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2. When you click on “contacts” you get various options to choose from, such as adding

a contact, importing contacts, creating new groups and others.

3. When you click on “conversations” the options that are available to you are “Send”,

“Profile Panel”, “Save Group to Contacts” and others. Options such as “Send”, “Add

People”, “Leave Conversation”, these options can be used only when a call is in

progress.

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4. When you click on “call” the options available to you are “Call”, “Video Call”,

“Answer” and others. These options are available for use when a call is in progress.

5. When you click on “View” the options available to you are “Contacts”, “Recent”, and

“Voice messages” and so on. Clicking on either of these options helps you view the

contacts, the ones that are recent and others.

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6. When you click on “Tools” the options available are “Change language”, using “Skype

Wi-Fi” and “Options”.

7. When you click on “Help” the options available are “learn about Skype for windows”,

“Go to support” and others.

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Using Skype

Adding Contacts

1. To add a contact to your Skype account, go to the search section, type the name and

Press Enter.

2. The name and details of the contacts are displayed.

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3. To add a contact to your contact list click on the user that you want to add.

4. Click on Add to contacts to add that person to your list.

5. Click on “Send”.

6. Once that person accepts your invitation, he/she will be added to your contacts.

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Calling

1. Click on the contact that you want to have a conversation with. A new window

appears on the right.

2. To make a voice call click on “Call phone” option.

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Skype to Skype calling

1. On clicking “Call Skype” a different dialogue box appears which connects a call to

your contact.

2. This is the dialogue box that appears when the voice call is in progress.

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3. To end the call click on the “End” button.

Calls to mobiles and landlines

1. Calls to mobiles and landlines needs to be paid for. Right Click on the contact that

your wish to call.

2. Click on “Call” option

3. Select “Mobile” option

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Group calls

1. Click on one contact that you want to call.

2. Click on “Add people” at the top right of the page next to the call option. Check the

names of the people whom you want to add to your group call and then click on “Add

to Group”

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3. And then click on “Call Skype” option from the drop down menu next to the “Call”

option.

4. Once this is done a new page opens, here the calls gets connected between you and

your contacts.

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Messaging

Video Messaging

1. Click on a contact.

2. Right Click on the Contact and select “Send Video Message”.

3. A new dialogue box opens; here you can record your message by clicking on

button. Once you are done with recording your message click on the same button to

stop recording.

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4. To discard a message which you have recorded click on select the button and

to send the message to your contact click on button.

4. The Message once sent appears on the chat page. You need to wait till it loads

completely and then it gets sent.

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Instant Messenger

1. By clicking on the Conversation – Send – Instant Message (IM) you can chat while a

voice call or video call is in progress.

2. The instant message interface is at the bottom of the audio/ video chat interface.

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3. There are various emotions which can also be used while chatting.

4. You can also chat with a contact on the main Skype page without using the calling

option.

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Send text

1. Send SMS feature can be used to send quick instant messages to your contacts. This

needs a Skype credit which you need to purchase.

2. Right Click on the “Contact”

3. Choose the “Send SMS Message” option

Voice messages

1. A voice message can be sent to a contact when an audio or video call is in progress

2. To send a voice message, right click on an online contact and select “Send Voice

Message”.

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Video Calling

1. Video calling is another facility available in Skype. People can share screens, files and

also audio chat and type while a video call is in progress. To video call a contact in

your list, select the contact and then click on “Video call”.

2. When you click on the video call option, at the receiver’s end a small dialogue box

appears. The receiver needs to click on “Answer with video” to receive the call.

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3. Once the receiver clicks on “Answer with video” a new dialogue box opens, which

consists your video and your contact’s video. (this window can be seen by both the

caller and the receiver)

4. Along with video and audio chat, you can also text chat with your contact. As in

instant messenger, the chat option appears when the video chat is in progress.

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5. To mute video, click on video button, to mute audio, click on the audio button, to end

a call click on the red end button.

Group Video call

1. Click on contact that you would like to call, Select the “Add people” option at the top

right of the page next to “Call” Option.

2. Select the contacts and click “Add to Group”.

3. Once this is done the contacts get added to the group call. Click on the “Video call”

option to begin a group video call.

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4. The call begins to get connected to your contacts. To end the call click on the

button.

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Sharing

Send files

1. You can send files when a chat or a video or voice call is in progress.

2. Select a contact.

3. Click on “U Pin” option on the page when the chat is in progress.

4. Select the “Send File” option.

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Screen sharing

1. While video chat is in progress, Click on the “Plus” sign provided

2. Select the “Screen share” option

3. A new dialogue box appears, to begin click on “Start”

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4. To Stop screen sharing click on the small dialogue box at the top right of the page

and click on “Stop Sharing”.

5. The process for individual and group screen sharing is the same.

6. When you share your screen with your contact, everything that you do on your

computer is visible to your contact.

Send contacts

1. Select a contact

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2. Choose the “U Pin” option on bottom on the dialogue box

3. Choose the “Send Contact” option

4. Select a contact from the list that appears.

5. Click the button. Your contact will be sent.

6. When a voice or video call is in progress, you can send a contact by clicking on the

button and then on “Send contact”, select the contact of and it gets sent.

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References:

Easy Online Meetings With HD Video Conferencing | GoToMeeting™ | GoToWebinar™ |

GoToTraining™ India. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2015, from http://www.gotomeeting.in/

Hangouts. (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2015, from https://plus.google.com/hangouts

How to Set Up Skype. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2015, from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzU7tUldE7s

ICQ with video calls, free messages and low-cost phone calls. (n.d.). Retrieved April 6,

2015, from http://www.icq.com/en

Skype for Beginners - Getting Started. (n.d.). Retrieved April 7, 2015, from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhwens7f_tg

Team speak. (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.teamspeak.com/

Viber - Free Calls and Messages. (n.d.). Retrieved April 5, 2015, from

http://www.viber.com/en/