Freeware February: Skype 1.0
The free internet telephony software Skype would certainly have been on my list anyway, but with the timely release of version 1.0 yesterday they become the first-featured app in our Freeware February series. Skype for OS X has been in beta since August of last year, and after nine updates emerges into a full release, adding many features previously found only in the Windows version.
Skype is a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service that allows you to make free local, national or international calls on your Mac. The party (or parties, up to a 5-person conference call) on the other end must also have a computer running Skype (on any platform), but there is also a pre-pay service called SkypeOut that allows you to call any landline or cell worldwide at the same cost as a local call.
The software offers a host of other features, including a global directory, cross-platform instant messaging, file transfer, end-to-end encryption, call logs, presence and customization features, and more. Having used it myself I can safely say the call quality tends to be excellent – occasionally a digital artifact here and there but overall, better sound and more reliable connection than reception with any cell phone I've had on any provider.
Internet telephony threatens to put the traditional telcos out of business. Skype already has 23.9 million registered users and is signing up 130,000 new users per day. Competitors are already springing up, including traditional long distance providers AT&T, MCI, and Sprint, broadband providers such as Time Warner, as well as newcomer startups like Vonage (my chosen provider at home). Google is set to become the next player in the VoIP market, which is sure to shake up the state of internet telephony.
Tired of paying through the nose for long distance charges and phone minutes? Skype is well worth a look. Besides, if you don't adopt some form of internet telephony soon you run the risk of being, like, so 2004,
dude.
(thanks to Pedro for sending the tip on the 1.0 release!)