Mobile media – ready, steady, skype

There used to be a time where international calling was a deed so expensive that you could literally hear the money draining away with each passing second.

I remember vividly the time when my dad had to go to UK for work and it was vital, absolutely vital, that the whole family had to be around at the precise time he had arranged to call home.

After that, each member was only afforded a few precious seconds to say and hear their piece before hanging up to ensure that the family was still financially adequate.

This was the scene a mere decade ago.

How things have changed!

Enter Skype.

It is literally a god-send to people working or studying overseas.

You can make hour-long calls through the programme, and if it is through a PC, it doesn’t cost much more than the electric juice that is needed to power your computer.

Basically, it is almost free.

This programme has personally saved me a small fortune since i’m an international student so i do have a soft spot for it. 

Now you may say that skype has been around for quite a while now so why am i blogging about this.

Well, that may be but its popularity and usability has been enhanced most recently with developments in wifi, or wireless internet networks.

Riding on that wave are many companies such as Phillips, Sony and Aztech trying to cash in on skype-enabled gadgets.

Most popular are the skype wi-fi phones that are rapidly making their presence known in the market.

In Australia, telco 3 and skype are heavily promoting their collaboration phones.

Heck, you don’t even need a PC nowadays to be hooked on to skype.

All you need are wireless hot spots that can be faithfully found dotted around the city.

Now that is impressive.

In fact, the media buzzword of convergence can be duly applied here.

Skype phones enable you to call both landlines and skype numbers!

And if you’re using skype on the PC, just shove in a webcam and you’re all set for a video-audio experience, all free-of-charge.

Now, who doesn’t like free things?

I know i do.

In keeping with being an academic entry, skype probably encapsulates what Rheingold says about wireless internet devices becoming increasingly sophisicated nad moving away from the big bulky PC or laptop for that case.

Convergence is also mentioned.

Besides being available on phones, skype can also be found on the Sony Playstation Portable (PSP).

This nifty device can not only offer gaming pleasure but doubles up as a handy mobile phone.

Rheingold’s rather pessimistic view on the loss of privacy and forming of mobs doesn’t really do it for me, but it’s still valid with privacy concerns and measures being actively addressed and implemented varociously.

And it must be noted that such developments in wireless technology does present a case and concern for the growing digital divide between continents, countries, and even within societies such as the youth and the aged.

All in all however, wireless technology and the development of skype suits me just fine in where i am and what i’m currently doing.

I say bring it on.