To clarify, you ONLY need
- a PC, Mac or Linux box
- speakers or headphones and a headphone socket
- mike and/or a microphone/line socket
You can then download and install Skype and make yourself an ID, like gyles_williams, for example. You can then talk free to anyone with Skype, and make low-cost calls to real phone numbers by purchasing 'SkypeOut' credits; all of this only works whilst your computer is on.
You can also;
- use a webcam
- purchase a Skype USB phone (several models available, PC and maybe Mac compatable) which means you can use a normal phone handset instead of yodelling into a mike and using your speakers or headphones
- purchase a cordless Skype USB phone (several models available, PC only) which means you can use a normal phone handset instead of yodelling into a mike and using your speakers or headphones or being in front of your computer
- purchase a SkypeIn number which gives you a normal phone number; for example, I could have an American NYC number ringing in London if I got one off Skype
Again, all the above requires your computer to be on.
As pointed out, quality of service depends on connection speed of the client, i.e. your computer, and a bad WLAN link can bugger up a good Internet connection...
