Have you heard of Skype instant messenger software? If not, it is high time you checked in to it. Sure, we have all been using instant messenger tools, and between Yahoo, MSN, and AOL software, why should you bother with another alternative?
That's what they said about Google at first, but Google succeeded because the do the best job of providing you search engine results. Skype is taking the same approach to instant messenging.
First, Skype was develped as a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) tool. For those of you that still don't know what that means, that is simply using the telephone to talk over the internet instead of using dedicated service from a wired or wireless carrier. VOIP will continue to grow and compete with other technologies, but that discussion is for another day. For now, you just need to know that Skype's internet phone service is awesome. NeoNexus uses it on a regular basis to have phone conversation's with other Skype users across the United States and in Europe, and we can testify that the service is as good as using a hardline. We have introduced it to a multinational corporation, and they are now using it to communicate between their offices in several countries. Why? Its free. That's right, it is 100% free, just like Yahoo, MSN, and AOL. But unlike those other IM tools, Skype's voice quality is so good, it is suitable for business use and not just kids talking to their grandparents on holidays.
The basic funtions of IM chat in Skype are similar to the other IM tools, except NO ADVERTISEMENTS. Also, they haven't cluttered it up like the others with 400 ways to say "What's Up?" There is also a video component that is in testing phase.
Here at NeoNexus, while we can't yet rave about the video, we believe the chat and audio conferencing functions are superior to the others, and it is professional enough to use in a business. In mid 2005, Skype was purchased by Ebay, and while we can't figure out yet exactly what Ebay is going to do with it, we certainly know that it is now well funded.
Give it a try at your earliest convenience. You will start dumping those other IM tools faster than you can say "Dinner is Served.".