Skype

   Several years ago, MSN instant messenger was the online craze that many kids used to stay socially connected to friends outside of school.  MSN instant messenger, or Windows Live Messenger, is a computer program that allows people to message and chat online – text messaging through the computer. Now however, a new instant messenger has recently erupted in popularity among teenagers and college students: Skype.

   Like MSN, Skype is an instant messenger but it also allows the user to video chat through a webcam.

   “I started using Skype this year because my sister is going off to college soon and I wanted to be able to talk to her,” GBHS senior Morgan Geiger said, “I enjoy that you’re able to see the people and their reactions to what you’re saying.”

   Skype has become the dominant force among online messengers. It not only lets users’ video chat for unlimited free minutes, but it also lets them call a landline or mobile phone for only two cents a minute.

  “Msn is really impersonal,” Geiger said, “Skype is better because you can actually see the person and it feels more like a real conversation.”

   Many mobile phones come preinstalled with Skype and applications for the program are downloadable for the iPhone, which has helped Skype become the number one source for video chatting.

   “When I first got my laptop, it kept sending me messages advertising Skype,” GBHS junior Brianna Matheus said, “I eventually gave in and signed up so I would be able to video chat. It’s a lot simpler and faster than MSN.”

   However a couple lesser known webcam programs are beginning to challenge Skype, providing more complex video services – Oovoo and Tokbox.

   “Oovoo is way better (than Skype),” GBHS senior Kevin Kong said, “You can chat with six people at once, compared to Skype where you can only chat with one other.”

   Kevin also enjoys Oovoo ability to record the video chat and post it on sites such as Youtube and Facebook.

   Oovoo’s downside though, is its pricey monthly fees, each increasing in value the more people you chat with; from free two-way calls, to $20 a month six-way calls.

   “Skype is only one-on-one so I don’t Skype,” GBHS Sophmore Chiyoh Arai said, “Oovoo is okay but it charges you so I don’t really use it.”

   Tokbox has raised the bar even higher for Skype, allowing up to 20 participants to video chat at the same time.

   “Tokbox kind of lags, but since you can talk to so many people; it’s a lot more fun.” Arai said, “You can also connect it to Facebook, so whoever’s on Facebook you can send them a link online and they can join the conversation.”

   Despite Tokbox and Oovoo’s advantage in number of participants allowed to chat at once, Skype still reins king, due to its simplicity of use and successful marketing.