Skype A Huge Advancement in Communication Systems

Skype A Huge Advancement in Communication Systems Introduction Skype can be considered a significant advancement in information technologies because it offers a number of efficient communication devices promoting interaction between people (Skype, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Skype: A Huge Advancement in Communication Systems specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The software has a number of useful functions ensuring successful information exchange, including video calling, conference calling, calling from ordinary phones and calling from Skype to telephones (Skype, 2012). Instant messages are also possible and, people can communicate freely regardless of the distance and location. What is more important is that Skype allows communicating with friends and relatives for free. Background The emergence and development of Skype dates back to 2003 when Janus Friss and Niklas Zennstrom founded the communication system (Mohr et al., 2009). At the end of 2005, Skype wa s purchased by eBay for assisting the company to increase the number of users, as well as extend its revenues (Mohr et al., 2009). Three years later, about 276 million users all over the world communicated via Skype using free video and voice calls. However, the software owners were not satisfied with the number of registered users because of poor revenues received from the service. Main Discussion Potential Benefits Zennstrom and Friss’s invention introduces voice communication of exceptional quality to any user having Internet connection all over the world. Easy download and installing is among the main benefits of the Skype software. Other than that, the program ensures free video and conference calls online. The software services also offer low-cost connectivity to mobile and ordinary telephones. In addition, Skype also provides a variety of features, including instant messaging, voicemail, and call forwarding.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media ? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Apart from these functions, the Skype has gained popularity and leadership in almost every country. According to the software founders, â€Å"†¦vision for Skype has always been to build the world’s largest communications business and revolutionize the ease with which people can communication through the Internet† (Furrer, 2010, p. 66). The program, therefore, is a good media platform which manages to fulfill the needs of registered users. Legal and ethical issues EBay, as the current owner of the Skype service, can face serious legal issues leading to the termination of service in future, despite the fact that the company’s officials reject to the possible closure of the software. Specific attention requires the licensing agreement between eBay and Joltid (Randomus, 2009). According to eBay officials were accused by Joltid for violating the agreement. The representa tives of EBay Company put similar counterclaims against Joltid. In 2009, the Skype producers started developing popular video and audio services and they were eligible for launching the service in case the licensing agreement was not concluded (Randomus, 2009). Due to the fact that introducing a new software product is quite time consuming and costly, cooperation with Joltid could significantly forward the introduction. The conflict between two companies eventually prevented eBay developers from fostering their product, despite the fact of possessing over 480 million registered users.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Skype: A Huge Advancement in Communication Systems specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, the Skype producers are concerned with their position because they should introduce the product before the decline in consumer demand. Skype producers have no doubts concerning the legality and ethically of the ir actions, but still there is a possibility of facing negative consequences because of the failure to negotiate with Joltid officials. The point is that Skype initiated the development of alternative software licensed through Joltid. The software can fail as a result the loss of functionality and, therefore, there is a potential threat to lose consumers. Security Concerns The Skype, as a vast VOIP setting, is under the strict focus in terms of security. In particular, the possibility for all people to interact via Skype does not guarantee safety because many of conversations and calls can be carried out for different purposes. According to Svensson (2006), the Skype company is able to introduce 256 but encrypt keys, which are extremely difficult to crack. The encryptions are processed on credit cart numbers during transactions. Although there are certain aspects of the software to be considered in terms of security, Skype continues improving security of communication and informatio n exchange. While talking about Skype as a world-known online social network, it is hard to consider the issues of privacy and security because the software is primarily oriented on the possibility of communicating and making calls from all over the world and, therefore, there are not actual restrictions imposed on performing such a function.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The most problematic issue about Skype is the possibility of seeing still images without the consent of the recipient (Rogerson, 2008). Once captured, the recipient can experience unlikely endeavors of other users to disturb and manipulate information (Rogerson, 2008). The vulnerability of Skype users is under greater threat due to the risk of using information in unsafe and questionable ways. Despite the potential challenges, there is a still a chance to protect users from possible interruptions. The security is ensured by the possibility for users to either portray or hide their profiles for people they want to talk to. The Skype also allows users to add some personal information, including gender, date-of-birth, location, and some interesting facts (Rogerson, 2008). Details about social interests and hobbies, as well as sporting interests, are also possible to fill out in a user’s profile. However, the users may leave these spaces unfilled to protect themselves from privac y interventions. Social Problems Certainly, the variety of function offered by the Skype producers allows customers to put away their cell phones. As a result, the software can become a potential rival to the producers of telephone communications and technology (Furrer, 2010). However, the Skype also introduces relatively new services that had never been practiced before. In particular, the software is better known as the most effective one in computer-to-computer communications (Furrer, 2010). Unfortunately, some of the functions offered by Skype are not always beneficial in terms of interaction and confidentiality. This is of particular concern to the information represented in a user’s profile. Further Research It has been discovered that Skype has been sufficiently considered in regards to its cost-effectiveness and usability. It has a number of unique functions that other programs never had. However, little research has been done on social value of the VoIP, as well as h ow it influences various spheres of social and cultural life. This is of particular concern to educational field since it can significantly benefit from using online communication, especially video calls and conferences. Conclusion Skype is considered as the most popular social network and communication technology offering a variety of opportunities for online users. Possibility to make video calls and creating conferences is a unique function that users all over the world may take advantage of. Despite the legal and ethical concerns, the Skype still operates in many countries because other related social networks have similar concerns as well. References Furrer, O. (2010). Corporate Level Strategy: Theory and Applications. US: Taylor Francis. Mohr, J.J., Sengupta, S., Slater S.F. (2009). Marketing of High-Technology Products and Innovations. US: Jakki Mohr. Randomus. (2009). Skype Faces Legal Issues; Possible Closure, Myce. Web. Rogerson, S. (2008). VoIP Ethics. ETHIcol in the IM IS Journal. 18(2). Web. Skype (2012). Skype Explained. Web. Svensson, P. (2006). Skype Innovation and Security. Legal and Ethical Issues with the Internet. Web.