Worksheet7 Skype


Free conference calls with Skype | 7.2

 

Getting meetings of cluster members together can be problematic – by the time travelling time and general milling about have been factored in, they can take up a lot of time, and consequently finding a time when everyone is free can be difficult.

While there is no substitute for face-to-face contact in developing the group, and for managing its overall programme, there can be times when all that is needed is a half-hour discussion to take forward a specific project. This is when conference calls can come into their own.

Skype is an internet-based telecommunications programme that allows you to make free voice calls to other Skype users. You can also use it to make cheap calls to landlines.

The most useful feature of Skype for clusters is that you can hold conference calls for up to five people and – as long as they are all on Skype – it is absolutely free.

Beginner’s guide to Skype

Step 1 - download the software from the Skype website

Go to the Get Skype page on their website.

Click the Download Skype button on the right hand side of the page

Your download should start automatically in a few seconds. If not, click the restart download link.

Click the link that says Check out the step-by-step installation guide for further steps in setting up Skype. The software will guide you through the process.

Make sure the people you want to call also have Skype installed.

Step 2 - get yourself a headset

You can use your computer’s built-in microphone and speakers to talk to each other, but you can really improve the sound quality of your calls with a headset; you can get a decent quality one for under £10 on Amazon.

Step 3 - make a Skype call

Add the Skype users you want to call into your Contact List; this link explains how to do it

Once you have someone in your contact list, you can call them by following these steps

Step 4 - setting up a group for a conference call

Log into Skype; on the bar at the top of the page, click on Contacts and then on Create New Group. A grey box will appear towards the top right of the page with Empty Group above it, and Drag contact that you want to add here in the box.

In the Contacts column on the left hand side of the screen, click on the first person you want to add to the group and drag them into the grey box. Their name and icon should now appear in the box, and their name will also appear above the box where Empty Group used to be. Do the same for each of the other people you want to add to the group.

Once you have added everybody, click on the button marked Save Group In Contacts at the top right of the screen. A box will appear in the middle of the screen; type in the name you want to give the group, and click OK. The group will now appear in your contacts list.

Step 5 - making a conference call

Make sure that everyone knows what time the conference call is to take place, and has their computer switched on with Skype running.

Log into Skype; the Contacts column will appear on the left hand side. If you don’t already have a group set up for this conference call, follow the instructions in the previous section.

Click on the name of the group that you want to hold the conference with. The group’s details will appear in the grey box at the top of the page.

Click on the green button with the phone icon marked Call group which appears immediately under the grey box. The conference call should start.

There's more information here about how to make a conference call.