Many people ask about how to stay in touch when traveling. We like Skype, for very inexpensive communications. The problem is finding a place that has it or would let you install it. Skype is owned by eBay and has about 400 million subscribers, worldwide. It provides the ability to speak to other Skype users for free or to act as a global telephone system, regardless of your actual location.

What many people don't know is that Skype can be run on any PC, using a USB Flashdrive. We have put together a zip file that contains the Skype program plus a little control file that tells Skype to put its data on your flashdrive and not on the computer you plug the drive into. This doesn't install the program on the host computer, but runs it completely from the flash drive.

The normal problems with using Skype from an internet cafe is

1) finding a cafe that has Skype installed and

2) your data is stored on that cafe's computer.

Well, with this little trick we get around both of those. Skype runs from your memory stick and data is only stored on your memory stick. Since nothing is installed on the host computer, there is usually no problem in using it.

The download for this file is about 15 megabytes in size, since it contains the normal Skype program, so give it time to download to your computer.

Unzip the file to your USB flashdrive ( an MP3 player also works). This creates a folder called "Skype". Inside that folder you will see 2 files (Skype.exe and StartSkype.bat) You will also see another folder called "data"

To use this, just plug it into a USB port and wait for the PC to recognize the drive. Go to the Skype folder on the drive and select the StartSkype.bat file.

Skype.exe is just the normal program that Skype uses to run. The version contained in this zip file is the most recent version of Skype.

StartSkype.bat is the control file that tells Skype how to run. Its only real functions are to tell Skype to save the data on the stick and that you are using removable media and not the computer's resources. This is the file you want to click on when you want to start skype, NOT Skype.exe.

The first time you run it, you will need to log-in and set all of your normal options. Your data is now stored in the data folder on your flashdrive, if you want it to be saved. From then on, when you start Skype from your flash drive, it has all of your info ready.

Be sure to carry a small headset/microphone, you can get a great one from RadioShack for about $20.

Now you have global telephone communications, dirt cheap!!! How Cheap? As an example, using the SkypeOut feature you can make calls from Europe to the U.S. for about 3 cents per minute. You may also want to purchase the SkypeIn feature of Skype. This gives you a U.S. based phone number, that you can check things like voicemail for free. So, someone in NY calls you on your NY number, if you have Skype running, your computer rings. If you are not online, the call goes to voicemail and you check it the next time you are online. 

Just remember to take your USB drive and headphones with you when you leave.

To learn more about Skype, click on this link...

http://www.skype.com