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Skype
What's that?
Skype (http://www.skype.com) is a software that lets you make phone calls through Internet with your SISSA linux workstation. It is gaining more and more popularity due to its good voice quality and the fact it is available for many platforms (Windows, Linux, MacOS). It allows you, once you have bought some credit, to call landline phones all over the world at a very cheap rate.
What is even more interesting is that you can call another skype user that is online completely for free, without having to buy any credit. And it lets you have conference calls with up to 5 people. This last feature makes it particularly interesting for scientific purposes, as it let you organize conference calls all over the world for free.
How can I use it?
On Linux SISSA workstations you can find it installed.
To use it you need to have an account on skype, that you can open for free, and obviously to know the skype contacts/username of your correspondents. Let's see a step by step procedure.
a) In the upper panel bar (in the left corner) select:
1) Applications –> 2) Internet –> 3) Skype.
b) In the End User Licenze Agreement window: click on Accept.
c) If you already have a skype name:
- 1) insert your skype name in the Skype Name field;
- 2) insert your skype password in the Password field;
- 3) put a check in the Sign me in when Skype starts box;
- 4) then click on Sign in, then go to the step ….g) Test sound devices.
OTHERWISE, if you do not have a skype account:
click on Don't have a Skype Name yet?.
d) If you have to create your Skype Account:
you need to choose an skype name that is easy to associate with you, that is at least 6 characters long and doesn't contain any space. You need to choose also a skype password. Usually it is not a good idea to have the same password everywhere. Keep in mind that in case you lose it, you can ask it to be mailed to you. Another thing to note is that you won't be able to continue unless you accept the end user license agreement and terms of service.
In the Create a new Skype Account window:
- 1) insert your full name in the Full Name field;
- 2) insert your e-mail adddress in the Email Address field;
- 3) insert your skype name in the Choose Skype Name field;
- 4) insert your skype password in the Password field;
- 5) insert againg your skype password in the Verify Password field;
- 6) put a check in the Yes, I have read and I accept… box;
- 7) then click on Sign up.
e) Skype will check if the skype name you choose is available…
f) If you will be lucky, in the Create a new Skype Account window, you will be able to read
the message “ Congratulations! ” , you can click on Close.
If you will not be lucky, Skype inform you that skype name you choose is already used,
and 1a) it will suggest some skype names… you can choose one of these checking the corresponding box…
OR
1b) you can try with another one, checking the Other box and then 2b) filling the Other field.
3) Anyway at the end, you have to click on Try Again.
When in the Create a new Skype Account window, you will be able to read
the message “ Congratulations! ” , you can click on Close.
g) Test sound devices
Now a new skype window will appear. Click on the green phone icon to have a test call.
Then during the test, it will appear a new window.
You have to talk and to hear a voice transmission,
so your microphone and speakers have to be available.
Troubleshooting
If the test fails, or worse if you are unable to perform it, here it is a quick checklist:
- 1) check the microphone and headphones connection. Usually the microphone jack is pink and the headphone jack is green or they have some meaningful symbols printed on. They must match the connectors on your pc.
- 2) check the mixer volume settings: to hear something the master and PCM volumes must be unmuted and to a reasonable volume, to be able to record you need to check the microphone isn't muted, and sometimes the volume of a “ capture ” channel must be raised.
- 3) a problem may occur if two programs try to access the sound hardware simultaneously. Please stop any software which play sounds and close any web page that uses the Flash plugin.]
Please note: some webcam models are not supported by the actual version of SISSA linux workstation.
Add a new contact
a) To add a new contact, in the main skype window, select the green icon at the bottom of the window.
b) In the Add a Skype Contact window:
- 1) write his/her skype username in the first field,
- 2) then click on Search.
c) In the Add a Skype Contact window:
- 1) click on the skype username/contact name and then
- 2) click on Add Contact.
d) In the Say Hello to… window: click on Ok.
e) In the main skype window, the new contact/username name will appear.
Call a skype contact
a) In the main skype window, select a contact/username, then click on the green phone icon
to call.
b) A new window will appear (titled Call with …).
c) In the Call with … window: the message 1) “ Call Duration:… ” will inform you when
your call is active.
To hang up the call, 2) click on the red phone icon.
Close skype program & info
To close skype program:
in the main skype window, in the bottom:
- 1) select the cyan icon with a white “ S ” inside;
- 2) then click on Quit.
We suggest to check the content of this new menu, because it can help you for solve troubleshooting and set correctly other options.
I want skype on my laptop
You can install by yourself skype on your laptop. Simply go to http://www.skype.com/download/ and choose the right version for your operating system. For video calling you need a webcam on your laptop.
One thing must be kept in mind. Skype uses a peer to peer protocol, that means that sometimes you can find yourself acting as a server for other people on the internet. So it is critical to keep the software up to date, particularly for the windows version of the software.