The Kazaa creators were no just sitting idle after they sold the revolutionary file-sharing software Kazaa to sharman networks. Using their P2P knowledge , they have now created a P2P telephoning software (VOiP) called Skype. Of course, there are many software pieces (Netmeeting, Net2Phone) which haven"t really "struck a cord" with long-distant PC callers. But Skype is different.
It uses a p2p data routing technology. That means Instead of connecting you directly to the caller . Both nodes are first connected via a chain of users (with fast connection) and then the call begins. For all you you worried of "Big-Brother" snooping , feel safe as it also uses Encryption before beaming the data. It has amazing sound quality. The most noticable diffrence is the NO-ECHO of your sound from the other persons computer. That way it feels as if you are speaking on phone.
This is a first PC-telephony software which work PCs with internal Ips / Behind firewalls/ and NAT. As almost half of internet users are behind some kind of proxy or firewall, this is a amazing feature. I also have Internal IP (even though i have a cable-modem, go figure) and Skype seamlessly connected to my friends and fellow editors in USA, UK and here in Bombay,India.