Skype Policy
Skype is a free peer-to-peer application that facilitates audio communication between computers - effectively providing the ability to make telephone calls over a data network. Whilst Skype is free to download, it isn't free to use and so any savings in telephone charges are merely transferred to our network fees. An inappropriately configured Skype system can potentially cost much more if the application is set to run when the computer starts up.
Using Skype on the University's network causes many more problems than using it with your broadband connection at home because of the way our systems are configured. In contrast to a standard domestic connection, we use publicly visible IP addresses (unique identifiers) to connect your computer to the Internet. It is a feature of Skype that an up-to-date computer (node in Skype-speak) with a public IP address that's connected to a high-speed network can become a supernode. Skype uses supernodes to channel third-party network traffic across the Internet and the amounts of data involved can be substantial. If many University computers become supernodes we pay for the additional network traffic and the volume of data moving across the network can impact on other services - this is why using Skype on your machine in the Faculty can be an issue when it's not a problem at home. Whilst the Computing Service and JANET, the organisation responsible for the development and maintenance of the UK HEI network, both have concerns regarding the uncontrolled use of Skype, the Computing Service have no immediate plans to block the use of the application - but they have published an advisory notice that we recommend Skype users based in the Faculty should consult. The most crucial point is that the Start Skype when the computer starts checkbox is unchecked. If you're interested in exploring alternatives to Skype please come and talk to us. To facilitate the international communication our Faculty needs we run an alternative service based on the Jabber instant messaging service that allows you to talk with other people using any form of instant messaging client. All you need is an account on our systems. Jabber is free and so by using it you'll be supporting the open-source software movement too. If you want to talk to someone using an Apple you can have video over iChat too - how's that for an incentive?
