In today’s information dependent society, long distance communication is just a phone call away and is getting faster daily with the growing popularity of communication programs, including Skype, Fusion Telecommunications and Gizmo Project, allowing Boston University students studying abroad and other users to include computers in conversations.

Skype and the services like it are primarily Voice-Over IP, which involves computer recognition of voice signals. The computer then takes the sound bites and digitally transmits them via the Internet to another computer where they are reassembled back into recognizable voice bites.

Skype appears to be the dominating force in the market with 171 million users around the world, said Skype Corporate Communication Director Jennifer Caukin.

“There’s a lot of competitors and we’re definitely the leading number one internet communications company,” she said. “We’ve got excellent call quality. It’s terribly easy to use Skype.”

Caukin said Skype’s accessibility is the key factor in its exponential growth in customers.

Caukin explained Skype has many options for its customers, including a basic download for free conversations computer-to-computer. Users can also use the video calling, instant messaging and conference calling options that all come built in with the Skype software.

They also offer other “Internet experiences,” allowing consumers to pay extra fees for the ability to call landlines or mobile phones through Skype from computers. Some users may also use the video calling and instant messaging options that all come built in with the Skype software.

“We have these different kinds of services for a while and allow Skype users to take advantage of what Skype [has] to offer,” Caukin said.

Skype places a high priority on staying up to date with the inner workings and advancements in the industry to ensure they know what they need to do next to keep customers using their features.

Caukin said Skype is also dedicated towards customer privacy issues but hopes to educate its consumers about common sense in the online environment.

“In terms of . . . any sort of files that are [on the] Internet, the files remain safe. They’re private.”

FUSING GIZMOS WITH GADGETS

Fusion and Gizmo recently emerged as alternatives to Skype, and may not have a large market presence yet.

Chief Executive Officer and President of Fusion Telecommunications Matthew Rosen said Fusion is similar to Skype because both services allow consumers to speak to each other for free, but he pointed out key differences.

“Whereas in Skype you use a username, with our service you are able to use an Internet phone number that is the same as your existing phone number,” Rosen said. “We have created the first worldwide Internet area code. You would dial 10 before the phone number.”

Rosen said this worldwide area code helps users to “maintain existing calling habits” and is therefore easy to use. Fusion can be accessed from more than just a PC to include many different hardware devices including a special mobile phone.

Although many BU students said they use Skype and are unaware of Fusion’s services, Rosen attributed this to the fact that Fusion was only launched last June. Rosen said compared to Skype’s progress at the same time in the company’s history, Fusion is more successful than Skype, with more than 750,000 users.

On the university and corporate level, Rosen said Skype’s peer-to-peer network could potentially lead to some questions over whether the system has enough protection from those authorized to be in the network.

“Some [universities] have banned use of [Skype] in the campus because it could allow people to get through PC [security],” Rosen said.

Rosen said Fusion has developed its own technology that is safer for customers because it does not use other people’s Internet access.

“We have our own proprietary technology that does not require the use of your PC,” he said. “We actually handle all of that. We have invested in our own.”

A key part of the Fusion approach is similar to Skype, Rosen said, but clearly important for any business in this communications market is a worldwide, far-reaching approach.

“We actually focus around the world,” he said. “We have customers in over 100 countries. We base our entire services on consumers as well as their family who live abroad. We focus to, from, in and between.”

To try to attract new customers to use Gizmo the company is offering attractive special features, including consumers’ ability to record conversations for future reference or for possible use as podcasts.

“Record a single conversation or a conference call with crystal clear quality at free or extremely low rates,” Gizmo’s website says. “Replacing hardware-based systems that might cost thousands of dollars, Gizmo Project enables podcast-quality audio content to be quickly recorded and integrated with other audio content using a variety of audio editing tools.”

SKYPING ABROAD

As BU students head toward international locales for extended periods of time, they must choose how they plan to stay in touch with family and friends back home in the least expensive, most practical way.

“Many study abroad students use Skype to communicate with family and friends back home, largely because it’s a free service,” said BU Department of International Programs Enrollment Manager Deborah Miller in an email. “Students abroad often have cell phones rather than land lines, and calls to a cell phone from overseas can be pricey.”

Miller said the BUDIP tells study abroad students they can communicate via options including Skype, temporary cell phones, personal international cell phones or calling cards, although Miller said calling cards “are becoming obsolete.”

Although Miller said the BUDIP provides communication materials for study abroad students, College of Communication junior Jen Murphy – who is currently studying in Sydney, Australia – said they did not get any specific information about communication until the second day of orientation after arriving in Australia.

“We didn’t get much information on how to keep touch before leaving which might sound odd, but I think it was because communication is very specific to each place you study at,” Murphy said in an email.

Murphy said she uses Skype sometimes and email other times, but when using Skype she has to set up a time to talk ahead of time.

“I think email is most popular and then Skype,” she said in an email. ”Skype just takes a lot more effort because of the time change so it’s excellent form of communication if you make it a priority to use it.” 

Murphy also voiced a common complaint among Skype users communicating internationally – a delayed connection. Skype and Fusion offer their users the option of buying extra accessories to improve connectivity, but Murphy said she has not purchased any extra features and was impressed with the service even with or without the extras.

“My roommate here . . . uses Skype all the time,” Murphy said. “She even has an actual phone that plugs into the computer specifically for the use of Skype. I would say the technology is there to make [it] a preferred method of communication. As long as you’re willing to invest the time and money in it, it can definitely rival the actual telephone.”

TOO MUCH TALKING?

Although Skype and its competitors help to make international communication easier and less expensive, Miller said the BUDIP informs students of the potential disadvantages of these services because they all the students to be in constant contact with friends or family back home. This could make the student, “miss out on many experiences and may not fully experience life in the host culture.”

“I believe that it does limit a student’s independence, and this is an issue that study abroad offices and universities and colleges across the country are facing,” she said. “As a study abroad office, we are concerned with a student’s cultural adjustment.”

When communication issues causes problems Miller said the BUDIP suggest students work with staff on-site who can help students better than people on the other side of theglobe.

“We stress the importance of individual problem solving and closing the communication gap,” Miller said.

Although Miller said she worries about Skype contributing to student’s dependence on their parents, Caukin said communication is vital to maintaining relationships because it is “bringing people together.”

“I can’t speak for how people spend their own individual time, but I just think that wherever we are wherever we go it’s important to stay in touch with your friends and family,” she said.

Staff Reporter Philip Goldstein contributed reporting for this article.