Why is Skype so popular?

Idunno about the USA, but here in Australia there are much more attractive VOIP providers offering far better call rates then Skype. Most of the other alternatives offer 10 cents untimed calls to landlines, whereas Skype has always been something like 2.5 cents per/min to landlines. Charging per minute to a landline seems outrageous to me.

Am I missing something here, or does Skype just have a very brandable name?

 

What makes you think it's so popular?

 

I use Skype everyday with the "messenger" like feature. It dosen't cost a dime and you can talk to you friends.

I must say that I tried a lot of softwares to converse with people and Skype is, by far, the best of all. Clear sound and almost no bandwith used. I honestly don't know if the VoIP technology uses bandwith or not, but if it does, it may be one of the reason why people like it.

 

Idunno, just the perception I have I guess. Most people would associate VOIP with Skype... or do they?

 

Most people wouldn't use VOIP to call other VOIP users, so call rates and quality of the provider with be the most important issues I reckon.

Yes it does use bandwidth, as your sending voice data packets through the internet when talking.

 

Not really, the home market is rather new. Most installations are still at business level. I would think the more popular home use providers would be companies like Vonage. You can run then through your existing phone and they have thier ads on every site running YPN

 

Ok, wasen't sure on how the VoIP technology worked, thanks.

Anyway, as I said, clear sound and up to 5 people in the same conversation are definitly a must and a good reason to adopt Skype.

 

Mostly likely. Its the most known, so people naturally gravitate to them. And the name is easy to rememebr and easy to say. And sounds cool

 

The power of branding, aye

 

I found Skype so useful until that I knew a local voip provider here in Italy, offering the same services for lower fees and free local number but I still use skype to call other people using this software

 

i just use skype when communicatin to my relaitves abroad...free pc to pc call..hehee

 

The hardest part is make your relatives use a pc never succeded in this

 

I know how you feel

 

My last hope is that buying voip phones they will make me save... hopefully!!

 

Cool thing I like about Skype is the conference call thingy.

Now with their 2.0 version video calling is possible

Show me, show me, show me!!!

My only downside to the whole Skype thing is getting ppl I know on board to download the software and actually use it!

 

I use skype to call tool free number in the US from Europe