Discussion of Challenges Skype

Who would you expect to be (or who are) the innovators and early adopters in your field of work for the innovation you are exploring? –Early adopters are students, who already have tested other conferencing tools the likes of Oovoo, and seek free communication alternatives. –Secondly, some instructors and distance education adminstrators, developers and trainers, seek and compare tools they can easily integrate with minimal disruption and maximum functionality.

What strategies are the most persuasive in convincing them to adopt the innovation? –One of the successful strategies Skype has used to convince more people to use the service is the company’s use of the word “free.” –Skype’s free standard features have expanded, but so have the upselling features. –These technique is successful because people are will to pay a premium since they believe they are already getting so much for free.

A comparative example is how Jing (which enables users to make videos (5 minute time limit) and screen capture) offers the software download for free. If you’d like to include yourself (screen within a screen) by using your webcam in the videos developed, then you pay a yearly fee. (

Who do you think would be (or who are) the laggards in terms of rejecting the innovation? –Faculty who are not actively engaged in using the Learning management systems provided in their academic institutions. –If they resist or have delayed using the education technology tools available, the addition of another communication option can seem overwhelming.

What strategies would be best to help move them toward adoption? Observability and Trialability (Rogers, 2003) –Exposure and practice can help draw the attention of laggards. –Participation in meetings that employ this innovation can demonstrates Skype’s versatile and user-friendly format and capabilities.

Which combination of perceived attributes would be best for helping your innovation meet critical mass in your industry? –Compatibility, Complexity and Observability- will help to optimize Skype diffusion and adoption.