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Skype and other VoIP Technologies. Presented by Kathleen Ritchie COMP 1631 – Winter 2011 Mount Allison University. What is Skype?. Skype is a software used to make voice and video calls over the internet.
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Skype and other VoIP Technologies Presented by Kathleen RitchieCOMP 1631 – Winter 2011Mount Allison University
What is Skype? • Skype is a software used to make voice and video calls over the internet. • It doesn’t stop there, it has many other features that users can utilize for a fee or quite often for free!
Features • Calls to landlines and mobile phone • Screen Sharing • Send Files • Video Conferencing • Voice and video calls • Voicemail • Instant Messaging • Text Messages
Skype Facts • Founded in 2003 by NiklasZennström and Janus Friis and developed by AhtiHeinla, Priit Kasesalu and Jaan Tallinn • The headquarters is in Luxenbourg, however, most of the development team is in Tallin, Estonia • Owned by an investment group by the name of Silver Lake. Included in this group are some familiar names such as eBay and Canadian Pension Plan Investment • Skype reported 124 million users per month in the second quarter of 2010 • There are currently 83 jobs available with Skype world wide!
The Technology Behind Skype • Skype uses a technology referred to as Internet telephony, peer-to-peer, P2P, IP telephony, broadband telephony, voice over broadband and many others. • For the purpose of this presentation we are going to refer to it as VoIP.
The Technology Behind Skype -continued • Skype also uses a technology called Peer-to-Peer. Skype.com explains: • “A true P2P system, in our opinion, is one where all nodes in a network join together dynamically to participate in traffic routing-, processing- and bandwidth intensive tasks that would otherwise be handled by central servers”. • For the purpose of this presentation, we are going to focus on VoIP
What is VoIP? • Voice Over Internet Protocol • VoIP allows you to make call over the internet instead of over a traditional telephone, also referred to as Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). • Can be used to call local numbers, other computers, all by using your computer (with microphone and sound card) or your home phone with a VoIP adapter
How it Works • It converts your analogue voice signal to a digital one and transmits it over the internet • High Speed internet is required! As well as, • Software such as Skype • Microphone (sometimes camera) • Or telephone with VoIP adapter
Consequences of VoIP - Pros • The costs to the provider and the user are significantly less than PSTN • The infrastructure is already in place • All that is needed is an internet connection which the user pays an internet provider for • There is no such thing as long distance because it is all just “internet” • It is because of this that it is possible that area codes will become obsolete • It converges voice, image and data • Offers a portable telephone number • Makes moving much easier • Can be used while travelling
Consequences of VoIP - Cons • There is trouble with 911 calls • Your location cannot be know unless your VoIP provider, ie Vonage, has your home address on file • 911 calls made are automatically rerouted to a national emergency dispatch then forward to your local emergency dispatch centre • Service being interrupted by power outages • The threat of viral attacks • Such as call flooding attacks • It threatens companies that offer traditional phone service • It isn’t a guaranteed that a call can be traced to a specific location
What is to come • VoIP over mobile phone becoming increasingly popular (both voice and video) • Firmer government regulation • Increasing number of users and increasing popularity • More competition in the VoIP market, therefore offering consumers more choice and better rates • Increasing business use • Increased security threats with increased use • What are your predictions?
References • About Skype (February, 2011). Skype.com. Retrieved on February 1, 2011 from http://about.skype.com/ • DBJ's Most-Read Stories 2010: OoVoo vs. Skype: Tech firm gaining ground on larger rival (February 1, 2011). Dayton Business Journal. Retrieved on February 1, 2011 from http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/feature/top read-stories-2010-2.html • Rabeau, Yves (May 2005). Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP): A Unique Opportunity for Genuine Competition in Local Telephone Service. Retrieved on January 21, 2011 from http://www.videotron.com/en/pdf/etude_rabeau.pdf • Sudhir R. Ahuja, Robert Ensor (2004). VoIP: What is it good for? From ACMQueue. Retrieved on January 21, 2011 from http://queue.acm.org/detail.cfm?id=1028897 • Voice Over Internet Protocol (2010). Federal Commutations Commission. Retrieved on February 1st, 2011 from http://www.fcc.gov/voip/ • Vonage. Retrieved on January 30, 2011 from http://www.vonage.ca/ • What is Voip? (September, 2010). Retrieved on February 2, 2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsgWz_0Ul_w