Skype: A Good Business Tool?
Millions of users have already found Skype, a peer-to-peer internet telephone system, for their personal use. However, more and more businesses are also signing up, hoping to find a low cost way to call clients and business associates and make it easier for customers to contact them. Skype makes it easy for companies and individuals to make and receive international calls.
Over the last several years, Skype?s popularity has exploded. In June 2007, over 220 million user accounts had been created. As users can register more than one account, the estimated number of individual users is over 9 million individuals world wide during peak hours. Although the numbers seem high, they represent only a fraction of the total communications that take place.
Some small businesses began using Skype as a way to connect with customers and save on their long distance bills. Employees could call countries all over the world and receive calls when they were traveling. It is estimated that around 30 percent of Skype?s users do so for business purposes. Many of these are businesses with fewer than 10 employees.
Many businesses like that the internet system can be used for video conferencing, calls to mobile phones, or to set up local phone numbers in various parts of the world to make it more convenient for customers. The Skype for Business service targets small businesses and helps them improve their communications.
However, Skype does not come without its problems and businesses should be aware of them before deciding to use Skype for their business. An August 2007 outage left many users high and dry, without any communications outlets for around two days. For small businesses that used Skype as their only telephone, the situation caused many problems and lost revenue.
Some small businesses have also experienced dropped calls or calls with low sound quality. While these problems may not be a big deal for the average user, for small businesses they can be deadly. The service, because it relies on the internet, can also be problematic because of connection problems.
Security is also an issue that businesses should be aware of. Although Skype claims that the service is encrypted and safe to use, other experts have questioned whether outside sources could hack into telephone calls or user information.
Experts suggest that small businesses not give up their land lines or cell phones too quickly. These alternative communication lines can serve as backup in case a problem occurs, like the outage in August 2007. In cases where Skype is unavailable, businesses can still use their land lines or cell phones to conduct business and contact clients.
For some small businesses, Skype will provide much needed services and communications. However, the system isn?t for every business and before you ditch your land line, you should look carefully at both the pros and cons of using Skype for your business.
frank j vanderlugt owns and operates http://www.skype-wow.info 2 Skypewowinfo