What is "Skype" all about?

I’ve only heard about it when English people have mentioned it with regard to podcasting, so I don’t know if it’s an England thing or available in the US. What is it exactly?

Peer to peer voice service. Usable anywhere in the world.

I suppose I should have just googled it…

<sheepish grin>

thanks!

Skype is fantastic, I use it all the time to talk to my UK friends for free (I’m in New Zealand).

There are a couple of ways you can use it. From computer to computer, it’s just like MSN Messenger but with talking into a headset rather than typing.

But you can also use it to make actual phone calls, i.e. from your computer to their phone.

Computer to computer is free, but making a call to a phone isn’t.

Aplogies for lack of technobabble, I’m a bit of an IT dolt!