1. Skype
Tamara Taylor

2. Why is it innovative and important
Important Facts
Background
How it works
Why is it innovative and important
Question
Activity
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3. Background Released in 2003
Voice over IP service and Instant Messaging client
Developed by the makers of Kazaa
Name comes from “Sky” and “Peer”
In 2010 Skype had 663 million registered users
Purchased by Microsoft in 2011 for $8.5 billion
Background

4. Skype is a Voice over IP (internet provider) (VoIP) service that allows you to video chat with anyone who has a compatible device.
It can be used for Calling, Video, Messaging, and Sharing
It is free!* (to non-landline telephones or mobile devices not on Skype network)
Unlike other VoIP services, Skype is a hybrid Peer-to-Peer and client server system
Skype supports conference calls up to 25 people at a time. Skype also supports video chat between two people for free. Screen sharing and group video calling is available for Premium subscribers between a maximum of 10 people
Important Facts

5. What is Skype? Calling, seeing, messaging and sharing with others – wherever they are.
What devices can use it: Apple, Android, Windows, Linux. Basically all of them.
Registered users
Unique Skype Name
You’ll need:
Webcam (so you can be seen)
Computer or mobile device with microphone and speakers
Internet connection
Registered users of Skype are identified by a unique Skype Name, and may be listed in the Skype directory.[33] Skype allows these registered users to communicate through both instant messaging and voice chat. Voice chat allows telephone calls between pairs of users and conference calling, and uses a proprietary audio codec. Skype's text chat client allows group chats, emoticons, storing chat history and editing of previous messages. Offline messages were implemented in a beta of version 5, but removed after a few weeks without notification. The usual features familiar to instant messaging users — user profiles, online status indicators, and so on — are also included.
Skype supports conference calls up to 25 people at a time. Skype also supports video chat between two people for free. Screen sharing and group video calling is available for Premium subscribers between a maximum of 10 people
How it works

6. What can Skype be used for?
Long distance communications
Collaborative projects
Tutor sessions
Meetings
Call mobile and Landlines
What can Skype be used for?

7. Why is it innovated and important?
Uses Background Processing that is a hybrid P2P Network and a Client-Server model.
Saves money for business that require collaborative teams working long distances.
Allows one on one training or feedback sessions without delay for responses
Ability to “see” the problem or result instantly
A peer-to-peer (P2P) network is a type of decentralized and distributed network architecture in which individual nodes in the network (called "peers") act as both suppliers and consumers of resources, in contrast to the centralized client–server model where client nodes request access to resources provided by central servers
The client–server model is a distributed application structure in computing that partitions tasks or workloads between the providers of a resource or service, called servers, and service requesters, called clients.[1] Often clients and servers communicate over a computer network on separate hardware, but both client and server may reside in the same system. A server is a host that is running one or more server programs which share their resources with clients. A client does not share any of its resources, but requests a server's content or service function. Clients therefore initiate communication sessions with servers which await incoming requests.
A background process is a computer process that runs "behind the scenes" (i.e. in the background) and without user intervention
Why is it innovated and important?

8. To see what someone sees when they are Skype-ing: Take out your phone, turn the camera around to face you and say “HI” to your imaginary Skype person. Now make a silly face. That’s how you look on Skype.
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9. In what ways do you think Skype has helped people separated by distances?
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10. References Wikipedia: Skype, P2P, Client Server
Skype.com/What is Skype
Skype on YouTube
References