Canadian Personal Finance Blog

Well, if you are E-Bay, then yes it is (to the tune of over $4B wow!).

What is Skype? Skype is a “point to point” Voice over IP client that will allow you to talk to folks around the world for free. What do you need to do this?

1. Skype software client, get that from their web site
2. Preferably a high speed internet access link up (DSL, or Cable is just fine)
3. A sound card on your PC (most PC’s have them, and if you can play MP3’s on your computer you have a sound card), that has a microphone IN and Speaker OUT port
4. A headset is useful (you can get really expensive USB ones for around $50.00 or cheapy ones that plug into the sound card ports for $15.00).

That’s about it. Follow the configurations and GO! Don’t get hung up on SKYPE either, you can use this with Yahoo IM, AOL IM and MSN IM clients as well.

What does this have to do with Canadian Finances? Well, firstly, it’s part of my job right now (Voice Over IP at least), secondly this is FREE.

When I was in first year at my Alma Mater, I had a great roommate who had a girlfriend who was out of town. He called her diligently after 11:00 PM and he still racked up $120/month phone bills (yikes). With this, a co-worker is able to talk to her son in Granada for FREE (ok the quality ain’t fantastic, but for FREE what do you want?). Astounding how things have changed in 25 years eh?

Keep that money in your own pocket and reduce your debt.

–C8j