We Experiment with Skype as a Business Tool
Great discoveries and improvements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds. – Alexander Graham Bell
Skype is Internet telephony software. The software is free to download and allows free telephone calls, video calls, and conferences to other Skype users. It can be used to make calls to regular phones and mobile phones for a pay-as-you-go fee that is very reasonable.
I do not know why, but Skype is not as popular in the U.S. as it is in the E.U. An older article on Skype Journal noted that 46% of Skype users were in Europe and only 10% in North America. We conducted an impromptu poll at a local bar and found two people who had heard of Skype out of thirty or so people. The Borderless Communicator keeps a daily and detailed blog about Skype usage noting it has passed the twelve million user mark.
We decided to look at the video conferencing aspect of Skype with more focus. Could we "meet" with clients online? Could we interview potential witnesses online? Could our family members stay in touch? All important considerations. Of course, as a small business, cost is an important consideration as well.
The software was easy to install. Configuring the microphone and camera was a little more difficult, but we got it working in under an hour. The price is great – free. There is a business option with 10 Skype Pro accounts and $33 of Skype credit for $68.
Then it occurred to me. The true value of Skype for a business was in marketing the fact you use Skype. Skype allows you to create a profile when you sign up. In that profile you can post your website and a description of yourself. You are also assigned a Skype identification. I did a quick check and could not find any local attorneys that had profiles. My partner and I did a quick redesign of our letterhead to include our Skype contact. We will add a page to our website with a link and quick tutorial on how to install Skype and offer video conferencing.
I would be interested in any comments or tips on using Skype as a business tool.
Technology | admin | 20 February 2008 |
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By J.A. Watson, February 19, 2008 @ 6:16 am
Please be very careful when you imply that Skype allows video conferencing, because it does not. It allows only one-to-one video, although Skype Staff and the Skype Journal have been propagating “rumors” of video conferencing coming “real soon now” for well over a year, most likely to try to keep current and prospective users from deserting Skype for one of the alternatives which actually does have multi-party video conferencing.
ooVoo supports up to six-way video conferencing, in their free version. SightSpeed supports up to four-way video conferencing in their paid versions, and has a special version for businesses with a lot of other business-friendly features and management options. Both can be installed and working much less than the hour it took you to get Skype going – although you did well, there are many, many people who are unable to get Skype video, and even audio, working at all, no matter how much time they spend on it.
It would benefit you, both as a business person and an author, to have a good look at some alternatives to Skype.
By Pat, February 19, 2008 @ 6:57 am
We have found Skype to be a fabulous business tool. You are spot-on regarding its use as a marketing aid. Our contact center customers use Skype presence as a means to advertise their availability to do business on-line. Over 70M businesses around the globe use Skype.
http://www.on-state.com
By jon, February 19, 2008 @ 10:02 am
You are correct, Skype is great for business, but it is still an “unknown” in the U.S. market as telecommunication costs are much lower. http://www.fusepad.com
By Anthony Russo, February 19, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
Skype is a great tool for consumer use. It is also a good tool for business use. I use it myself for others to be able to contact me who are already members of Skype. The downside would be the people you wanting to use it with not having Skype installed, or a Skype account. The same goes for Oovoo or Sightspan or any of the other free options for conferencing.
The real power is when you can have just about anyone with a computer and Internet connection join a conference with you immediately with no sign-ups or downloads for them. This is what makes conferencing useful, and it is only available in the business realm as of now.
My company, Great America Networks Conferencing offers simple, affordable WebConferencing, VideoConferencing, and TeleConferencing.
You can see the software interface and sign up for a free 1 on 1 trial or a full featured demonstration free as well.
Compare to other popular products here: http://www.ganconference.com/web.html
View the software here: http://www.ganconference.com/quickvisuals.html
Sing up for a free trial here on the right side of the page: http://web.ganconference.com/
Have a free guided tour of the software here: http://www.ganconference.com/demo.html
I’d be glad to go over more with anyone that contacts me.
Anthony Russo
Conferencing Consultant
Great America Networks Conferencing
arusso@ganconference.com
http://www.ganconference.com
Phone: 312-432-5377
Fax: 312-492-2577
Skype: anth.russo
By J.A. Watson, February 20, 2008 @ 3:55 am
Well, there are three resounding endorsements of Skype – from companies who want to sell you add-ons for Skype. What a coincidence.
By Thomas Anglero, February 21, 2008 @ 6:53 am
Do not be to reliant upon Skype for business. Skype is not as dependable as the standard telephone.
Skype relies on your internet connection, so if you don’t have enough bandwidth at your office or your bandwidth is being consumed due to someone else in the office or the office building uploading or downloading files, the quality of your Skype call will be drastically reduced. In an office environment, it is difficult to make sure everyone is not using up all the bandwidth every time you receive or about to make a Skype call. Note, the bandwidth problem is further aggravated when you use Skype for video conferencing.
Also, Skype’s software is not stable. This is how Skype has been since it started. It has gotten much better but it will still crash on you or another person for no reason. It will hangup calls while you are talking, it will ring on your PC and not allow you to answer the call, etc.
One of the most frustrating Skype bug is how it routes messages. It is common for a text message that a customer has sent you will not reach you for a few minutes to a few weeks. I have received text messages that were as old as 3 weeks on Skype.
Lastly, if you looking for cheap calling programs there are many around and Skype is not the cheapest. I don’t work for Rebtel but they offer typically 30% cheaper calls then Skype and you don’t use your PC but your mobile to use their service.
Skype is a very good consumer service and acceptable business tool but you should not disconnect your PSTN line for Skype. After 10 years of VoIP we still have not reached a point where it replaces the dependability of the normal home phone.
I hope my thoughts have contributed to your discussion.
Thomas F. Anglero, Father and CEO
WiHood LLC
http://www.WiHood.com
(WiHood – web filtering and virtual PC service for children)
By Jack Crawford, February 21, 2008 @ 8:49 am
I have used Skype for 2 1/2 years for teaching English as a Second Language. Most of the people who use it do not want to pay the relatively high fee that I want for my services but it is a good way to contact people that you do not already know. I use it from home with Verizon FiOS and have no bandwidth problems at all. Chat messages will only be delivered when both parties are online, which answers the problem expressed above. I frequently leave myself in the “SkypeMe” mode so that people can find me and leave me messages. It is a fine marketing tool but the audience for paid ESL lessons is not there yet.
By Greg, February 21, 2008 @ 11:13 am
Thanks for all of these comments! Just to follow up, putting “Skype: *****.****” on my letterhead has already generated some questions from colleagues. Keep in mind, I’m a U.S., Midwest based small firm – not an E.U. cutting edge tech firm. The “coolness” factor, the marketing factor, and the “I-am-cutting-edge” factor is still a plus for us.