Lab Exercise #13 Skype on Ipod Touch

The Ipod touch is by far a great tool for many entertainment and communications uses. With built in Wi-Fi you have access to the internet on a more portable platform than a computer and you dont have to worry about using up all of your data plan by using the internet on your cell phone.

One thing the Ipod touch allows you to do that is not really possible on a cell phone is make unlimited skype to skype calls, texts, and chats. with the skype app feature which is free to download you can load all of your skype contacts from your computer into your Ipod touch and call them anytime. Although this is possible you have to have headphones that have an attached microphone in order to communicate on skype with another person.

Besides making sykpe calls to people from an Ipod touch the only thing it can really offer that a desktop or laptop cannot do is portability since it is much easier to carry an Ipod touch into a Wi-Fi hotspot rather than a laptop which allows you to keep in touch with people on the go when your away from your desktop. Also this gives you an advantage over a cell phone if you do not wish to waste minutes or data usage by talking or sending text messages. But you cannot see the other person on the video chat that skype has since the Ipod touch does not have a built in camera which is the one advantage that desktops and laptops have over skype on the Ipod touch. Another advantage the Ipod touch has over a Laptop is the fact that the battery life is much longer which gives you much more time to use the device free of cords and wall plugs where as with a Laptop you have between 1 to 2 hours before the battery shuts down.

The only real disadvantages to skype on the Ipod touch is the fact that you have to be inside a Wi-Fi hotspot in order to access skype and the internet. Cell phones allow you the freedom to access the internet wherever you recieve a signal. Also the Ipod is considerably smaller than a laptop or desktop so for people with vision impairments or those who have trouble using the small touch screen there may be issues with being able to access and use skype on the Ipod touch. Although it may be free to make calls between other skype users it does cost 2 cents per minute to call somone outside of the Skype network.

Overall the Ipod touch is a great way to keep in contact with people free of charge but as with any new and free technology such as skype there are limitations to when and where it is available for you to use. But as time progresses it will be much easier to use platforms such as skype for communications and the Ipod touch will become a more common tool with which to access skype on the go.