Skype® for Dummies®

Foreword

When we launched Skype back in 2003, our dream was to allow people around the world to talk to each other for free. To make this possible, we created a little piece of software that people could easily download onto their computers and use straight away. Today, talking over the Internet using Skype has become a natural form of communication around the world.

The response to our technology has been amazing. It has exceeded even our wildest dreams. Skype is now used by more than 113 million people all over the world and is available in 27 different languages. And people don't just use Skype to talk to one another. They can do all sorts of things with it — from instant messaging to sending photos to hosting conference calls.

When I found out that Skype was to be included in the popular For Dummies, series, I was delighted. This book explains how a good idea can create powerful connections between people and their friends, family, and business colleagues across the world. It also tells you about some of the new gadgets and software you can buy that make Skype really exciting to use. It's incredible to think that only a few years ago, if you wanted to call someone on the other side of the planet, doing so would have cost you a fortune. But now, with Skype, you can call whomever you want for free. And it's fun, too!

We are tickled pink by the way Skype has changed people's lives. And we hope to keep delighting our users just like you every single day. You make Skype what it is. ...