Skype guide to the most useful options

When it comes to communicating remotely with family or friends or collaborating online with work colleagues or members of the same project, Skype is used. Skype is the main program to speak by voice or video with one or more people using the internet on your computer or smartphone, for free, even from one part of the world to the other. Skype also allows you to make calls abroad at lower prices than normal, fixed or mobile telephony rates.
If we have not yet used Skype on our computer, in this complete guide we will show you all the innovative functions that can improve the use of Skype at all levels, so that we can replace classic calls with a more immediate and simple means of communication. use.
READ ALSO: 10 best tricks for chatting on Skype

Most useful Skype options

Even if the free call and video call via WhatsApp and Messenger is now available, Skype has always been the best service to communicate with someone via the Internet, especially in the workplace (where Skype is still a point of reference). Let's see what are the Skype functions to learn to use it like real professionals.

Change the messages already sent

We sent a message but we made a few words or some punctuation symbols wrong ">
We will thus be able to modify the gross error that we made before it is noticed, stopping any misunderstanding in the bud.
From the same window we can use the Remove item to completely delete a message that we did not want to send or that we sent too soon.

Change the name of the contacts

Skype basically shows the names of the contacts as registered in the service, but it may be a good idea to modify them in order to assign more serious names or names that allow you to immediately recognize who is contacting us. To do this we press or tap at the top on the name of the contact in the chat, we press on the pencil-shaped symbol then we change the name with which the contact will appear from now on.

Once the changes have been applied, just press on the top right on Save to make them effective. From the same window we can also block the contact or remove it from our contact list, so that it no longer appears in chats.

Synchronize contacts

The contacts we have on Skype can synchronize them with our Microsoft account in a simple way by pressing on the top left of the icon with the three dots, bringing us to Settings and finally to Contacts .

By activating the switch next to Synchronize contacts we will allow Skype to synchronize all the contacts and chats on our computer or smartphone, so that we can view them within Outlook or other products related to the Microsoft account, without losing not even a number.

Skype translator

If you chat with a foreign person you can get an instant translation of what is written and spoken by voice in calls and video calls. The Skype translator with real-time audio voice interpreter for video chat and voice calls, as well as for written chat.

Share the screen in chat

Screen sharing is a feature of Skype which is useful in many situations especially for IT assistance and for common project work.

To use it, simply press the + shaped button at the bottom during a video or audio conversation and select the Share screen item, so that the recipient can see all the active windows on our desktop. You can share the whole desktop or only some selected windows. If you want to help a friend solve a problem or want to show the result of your work, this is one of the most useful tools!

How to ask and send money to contacts

Among the innovative features introduced in Skype there is the possibility to request and send small amounts of money directly into the chat. To do this, simply open the chat of the contact concerned, press the three dots at the bottom right and then select the item Money .

We can use the Request money button to request a sum of money or we can use the Send money button to send the requested sum. The system works via PayPal, so we will have to provide access to this service in order to carry out all transactions (we will not have to enter any credit card numbers or other bank details).
The system can be a valid way to collect collections or to pay your share of a dinner, a gift or a lunch with colleagues or friends.

Schedule a call

If we use Skype a lot for work, it can be useful to plan a Skype call or video call in advance, so that our interlocutor can organize and be ready for the requested date and time. To do this, simply open any chat, press the three dots at the bottom right and use the item Schedule a call .

In the new window we can choose the date and time, program the call waiting and give a title to the schedule, so that it can be sent to the contact by pressing the Send button. Our interlocutor will take care of confirming the presence for the pre-established date.

Integrate Spotify to Skype for music

From today you can listen and share the music on Spotify (via link and dedicated player) directly in Skype, we will only have to install the Spotify app on our device and then open the Skype chat, press down right on the three dots and select the Spotify item.

A window will open to authorize the integration of the music streaming service into the chat, so that you can share your favorite songs and playlists directly with the interlocutor.

Conclusions

Without having to spend wealth and waste money on videoconferencing programs and commercial applications, we can limit ourselves to using Skype in a professional and non-professional context, given the many functions that it offers compared to the competition.
You can download the latest version of Skype as a program or app or you can also chat on Skype, make phone calls and video calls via the web without installing anything on any PC.
If we want to record Skype calls, we recommend you read our guide on how to record Skype calls and calls for free, where we will show you the external programs to use for the purpose.
If, on the other hand, we would like to use Skype as a single telephone for calls and thus replace the home telephone or office telephone, just read our guide on how to use Skype as a telephone to call and receive .

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