PC running Windows 2000, XP or Vista. (Windows 2000 users require DirectX 9.0 for video calls).
Internet connection – broadband is best (GPRS is not supported for voice calls).
Speakers and microphone – built-in or separate.
For voice and video calls we recommend a computer with at least a 1GHz processor, 256 MB RAM and of course a webcam.
For High Quality Video calls you will need a high quality video webcam and software, a dual-core processor computer and a fast broadband connection (384 kbps).
Version History of Skype 4.0.0.226
What's new in Skype 4.0.0.226
bugfix: Extras Manager was not installed to some users
bugfix: Skype incorrectly advised users of new Audio Devices available
bugfix: When adding a new number the phone type was incorrectly labeled
bugfix: Re-adding contacts to a existing conversation did not display the contact in the Add contacts drop down menu
bugfix: Video did not always scale correctly
bugfix: Skype occasionally crashed when uPnP port forwarding f
Skype is a little program for making free calls over the internet to anyone else who also has Skype. It’s free and easy to download and use, and works with most computers. Now it also supports video conferencing over the net.
Skype is a proprietary peer-to-peer Internet telephony (VoIP) network, founded by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, the creators of KaZaA and competing against established open VoIP protocols like SIP, IAX, or H.323. The Skype Group is headquartered in Luxembourg with offices also in London and Tallinn. The system has a reputation for working across different types of network connections (including firewalls and NAT) because voice packets are routed by the combined users of the free desktop software application. Skype users can speak to other Skype users for free. Skype also has paid services allowing users to call traditional telephone numbers (SkypeOut), receive calls from traditional phones (SkypeIn), and receive voicemail messages.
Skype Features:
SkypeOut allows Skype users to call traditional telephone numbers
SkypeIn (beta) allows Skype users to receive calls on their computers dialed by regular phone subscribers
Skype Voicemail allows callers to leave voice-mail messages for Skype users who are indisposed
Skype supports group text chat with an interface similar to IRC with 150 People
Skype Me has opened up a wellspring of people who want to communicate with people from other countries