I have a large family and we live far enough away that we only get to see each other in person once or twice a year. That used to be really hard on me, but Skype has made it so much easier!
I’ve been a Skype user for a few years now, and I’ve just recently started exploring some new features of Skype.
GROUP CHAT
Did you know you can group chat with multiple people? My family just did it for the first time on Mother’s Day to talk to my youngest brother who is serving as a missionary for our church in Russia (this was the last picture we took together before he left – we’re missing quite a few people – one sister and a bunch of in-laws and nieces and nephews).
We get to talk to him on Mother’s Day and Christmas, and since I have family members in Oregon, Washington, California, Utah, Idaho, and now Russia, Skype is the only way we can all talk to him at the same time and it was almost as perfect as being together in person.
With a free Skype account group calls are voice only but with a Skype Premium membership (right now for $4.99/month) you get
- Unlimited calls to a country of your choice
- Group video calls with up to 10 people
- Group screen sharing
- Live chat customer support
Maybe by Christmas we’ll all have upgraded and we’ll not only be able to talk but see each other too!
LOW-RATE CALLS TO PHONES & SMS TEXTS
This is another Skype feature I just learned about – you can call mobiles or landlines anywhere in the world starting at $.023 per minute with Skype Credit, which is easy to purchase and use. With a subscription, Skype Credit is even cheaper!
You can also send international text messages using your Skype Credit and your computer keyboard. Texting via Skype saves tons of money on your mobile phone bill and you can still let everyone back home know what a great time you’re having.
SKYPE APP
The newest Skype feature I’ve discovered is the Skype App. I now Skype almost exclusively with my iPhone – I can video chat with my sister while I’m out shopping to show her the great deal I just found or show her a gift I just found for Dad for Father’s Day.
Skype makes my life easier by keeping me more visually connected to my family. I need my mom and sisters help and opinions, and I need to see their faces! I feel so much happier when I can talk to them face to face and keep up with them and their families and their lives.
Here’s how other Moms view how technology affects their daily lives:
I absolutely rely on Skype to make my life easier by keeping me connected to my family. How does Skype technology make your life easier???
I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Skype. I received Skype credits to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.
