The latest technology of Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) has been used in developing Skype. This innovation has completely revolutionized the concept of making phone calls and even of video conferencing, by using your computer. Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, who had also developed Kazaa, the file sharing site that was later procured by Ebay in October 2005, developed this concept. The popularity of Skype has increased tremendously, due to its cost effectiveness, good sound quality, and other conveniences. However, many other salient features make Skype a very useful tool.

Speed Dialing
Gone are the days when one had to consult a diary to check out a telephone number and then dial it manually. Even the regular phones now have speed dialing facilities and Skype has adopted this facility in its speed dial function. All that you need to do is, enter the name of the person that you wish to call and press 'Enter'. You will most likely be talking to the person the next moment.

Cordless Operations
There might be many apprehensions that unlike the cordless regular phones, Skype might not enable you to move away from your computer and do other chores of life, while making a phone call and talking to your friends, relatives or business associates. Skype has offered many solutions, starting with an adapter that can be used with your existing cordless phone, but the quality of the sound might not be very good. You could go in for a specific cordless phone that is exclusively made for use with Skype, but that will necessitate having two phones, wherever you need to use a phone. The best option, however, is to buy an Internet Phone Wizard from ActionTec. This device enables any regular phone to be adapted with Skype and its sound quality is very good.

Recording Phone Calls
It is possible to record phone calls that are made through Skype, in a number of ways. One of the options is to use a software program called HotRecorder. The free version of the program, does not allow the consumer to convert the voice files into another format. However, you can purchase another version of HotRecorder, which is available for only $15, and enables conversion of voice files to an MP3 format that can be used whenever and wherever, the need arises.

Saving Messages
It is also possible to save the messages that are sent through the computer. Skype enables the user to save such bookmark chats, and it is possible to refer back to these saved chats and supplement the same with further conversations.

Skype on the Move
It is also possible to make phone calls through Skype, even when you are on the move, if you use a pocket personal computer (PPC). For best results, you should use 400 MHz to 624 MHz PPCs, but you might not be able to use all the functions of Skype.

Skype and the Skype logo are trademarks of Skype Technologies S.A. U3