Connecticut PC Users Group Meeting

At this month's meeting, CTPC members Bill Hart and Ed Fitzgerald will talk about Skype, the IP communications application created in Denmark in 2003, sold to eBay in 2005 and purchased by Microsoft on May 10, 2011.

According to Wikipedia, "The Skype service allows users to communicate with peers by voice using a microphone, video by using a webcam, and instant messaging over the Internet. Phone calls may be placed to recipients on the traditional telephone networks. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free of charge, while calls to landline telephones and mobile phones are charged via a debit-based user account system. Skype has also become popular for its additional features, including file transfer, and videoconferencing.

Unlike most other VoIP services, Skype is a hybrid peer-to-peer and client–server system. It makes use of background processing on computers running Skype software, and this is reflected in Skype's original proposed name of Sky Peer-to-Peer. 

Bill will give an overview of Skype and Ed will focus on the Microsoft's Skype integration, particularly as it affects Windows 8. They will demonstrate the process of making a call from PC to smartphone.

On a similar topic if time permits, Walt Graham will give an overview of an app combo that can help cut cell phone costs or fill in service where the cell provider's network is spotty but WiFi is available. Talkatone (good app, terrible name) along with Google Voice can enable a cell phone to make and receive phone calls through its WiFi and data connections.

Meetings are held at the Silver Star diner in Norwalk. We invite you to remain after the meeting for some socializing and to have pizza, salad and the beverage of your choice. Cost is shared and is normally less than $14/person. The Silver Star allows us to use their facility at no charge and we think they deserve some benefit for their generosity.