SkypeIn is Skype terminology for being able to take calls from normal phones using Skype.

Obviously for people to be able to call you on Skype using a plain old traditional phone or mobile/cell phone, they need a number to call. So when you sign up for SkypeIn, the people at Skype give you your very own number. When people dial that number from any phone, your Skype application (or Skype phone if you have one) will ring.

(One of the interesting things about this number is that you can ask the people at Skype to give you a number in your own country, or in a number of overseas countries. So, you could be living in London but answering calls made to a Los Angeles number for instance).

The following steps show you how to get a SkypeIn number (or multiple SkypeIn numbers if you want). The steps assume that you already have Skype installed and set up. (If you don’t, click here to see how to do that).

1. A SkypeIn number needs to be purchased. Unfortunately at present this is a separate process to purchasing SkypeOut credit – hopefully the people at Skype will streamline this in the future. In the meantime, it’s basically a separate deal. You can purchase your unique SkypeIn number here.

2. After completing the purchase process, wait to receive a confirmation email from Skype. Once it’s all confirmed, your number will be active and ready to take calls.

3. If you would like calls automatically answered and placed in your Outlook inbox, click here for instructions. With Skype and Skylook you also have lots of other services available to you – click here for more details.

In a nutshell, SkypeIn is basically the opposite of SkypeOut. If you want to call normal phones and have them be able to call you, you need both SkypeIn and SkypeOut.

SkypeOut is Skype terminology for making calls to standard phone lines. This includes land lines and mobile/cell phones – i.e. any number you can call from a standard phone except emergency numbers (e.g. 000, 999) and, in some cases, toll-free numbers.

SkypeOut calls are charged per minute. The rates are cheap (comparable to calling card rates). Quality can vary, from nearly equivalent to a normal phone, to very patchy, depending on a variety of factors. Calls to mobile phones can be problematic, as the glitches on the mobile network compound with glitches on the Skype network and internet, making some calls unworkable. However Skype are working to improve this and you can expect quality to improve over time.

The following steps show you how to make a SkypeOut call. They assume that you already have Skype installed and set up. (If you don’t, click here to see how to do that).

To make a SkypeOut call:

1. Click here to add some Skype Credit to your account.

2. Wait for a confirmation email from Skype and for your new Skype Credits to appear added to your Skype balance.

3. Click on the “Dial” tab within Skype. Make sure the selected country is correct,

4. Dial the number by clicking the numbers on the keypad. You will need to include an area code, even for numbers that are within the same area code as you. Don’t worry, you won’t be charged long distance rates (Skype charge you the same low rate regardless from where in the world you are calling), however keep in mind that the charging is time-based, so on longer calls you may be charged more than for a local call using your normal phone, if your phone service provider provides fixed price local calls.

5. Click on the green call button and wait for the person you are calling to answer.

If you would like to be able to call contacts directly from Outlook, using the phone numbers stored in Outlook, read about our product Skylook, here.

In a nutshell, SkypeOut is basically the opposite of SkypeIn. If you want to call normal phones and have them be able to call you, you need both SkypeOut and SkypeIn. You can purchase your unique SkypeIn number here.

Follow the steps below to get Skype IMs (also known as text chat messages, or chat messages) forwarded to your mobile phone (i.e. read to you) when you are away from your desk, or optionally via SMS. (These steps assume you have Outlook installed – see Skylook prerequisites for details)

1. Follow these instructions to set up Skype if you don’t already use it.

2. To have email forwarded to your phone, you will need to purchase some Skype Credit if you don’t already have some. You can buy Skype Credit here.

3. If you don’t already have Skylook, download and install it from here.

4. Start Outlook. If you are running Skylook for the first time, you will see the Skylook licensing wizard and the Skylook Welcome wizard. Follow the prompts to set Skylook up according to your preferences.

5. Click the “Alerts>Advanced Alerts…” button in the Skylook toolbar:

6. Choose “Skype Text Messages” as shown below, then click “Next”.

7. Click “Next” to accept the default settings on this page:

8. Fill in the following page as shown (using your mobile phone number instead of the one shown), then click “Next”. (NOTE: This will set Skylook up to forward each IM to you via Voice – i.e. the message will be read to you over the phone. If you would prefer to receive an SMS instead, choose the “SMS” option below).

9. Click “Next” to accept the following defaults, or alter the settings according to your preference:

10. Click “Next” to accept the following defaults, or alter the settings according to your preference

11. Enter a name for this alert like the one shown below, then click “Finish”.

12. To test IM forwarding, set your Skype status to “Away” by clicking the bottom left hand corner of the Skype application as shown below, so that Skylook thinks you are away from your PC:

13. Now have someone send you an instant message via Skype.

14. Soon after the message appears on your screen, your mobile phone will ring. Answer it to listen to the IM.

15. If you did not receive the phone call, check the Outlook inbox. If Skylook had problems calling your mobile phone (e.g. if the number is invalid), the details of the problem are placed in a new inbox item for you to review.

16. Once you’ve finished trying this, don’t forget to set your Skype status back to “Online”. By default, Skype switches your status to “Away” automatically if your computer is left idle for more than five minutes. (Note: You may wonder what happens with instant messages that come in during the five minute gap – don’t worry, Skylook forwards these messages also, as soon as Skype switches your status to “Away”).

If you need additional help, just email us at skylook@skylook.biz for assistance.

For introductory information on Skype and how to use it, click here.

For information on how to make the most out of Skype if you use Microsoft Outlook, click here.

To learn more about Skype, how it works and its history, click here.

Visit the Skype website.

If you see the message “Esellerate component is not installed correctly”, or similar when starting Outlook, do the following:

Go to http://www.esellerate.net/esellerate_update.asp and download and run the “Updater for Windows”.  This updates the esellerate (i.e. licensing) engine .dll and should resolve the issue.

Go to the feature matrix to see which features are disabled in the free version of Skylook.

Skype Credit allows you to:

• Call landline and mobile phones anywhere in the world (NOTE: Emergency numbers are not available).
• Send SMS messages to mobile phones.

You can buy Skype Credit here.

Read about how to set up Skype here if you don’t already have it. (Skype is a free download).

Also available:

SkypeIn (to allow people to call your PC from normal phones).

Skype Voicemail.

Recommended Skype Hardware Products.

More Skype phones, headsets and other gear:

Visit the Skype Hardware Store.

If you purchased Skylook 1.0 or 1.5, you can purchase Skylook 2.0 at a discounted price. See the “Upgrade Discounts” table below for your discount details. If you decide to purchase Skylook 2.0, use the coupon shown in order to claim your discount. For instructions on using the coupon, click here.

(Note: You will be required to enter the email address you used to place the original order. If you don’t remember the email address you originally used, or if you have any problem using the coupon, contact us at skylook@skylook.biz for assistance).

Special Note for purchasers of Skylook Care
You are entitled to a larger discount – please contact us at skylook@skylook.biz for a special coupon.

Special Note for volume purchasers
We offer volume discounts for multiple-license purchases. If you want to upgrade multiple licenses, or upgrade from a single license to multiple licenses, please contact us at skylook@skylook.biz.

Upgrade Discounts

Follow these steps to set your PC up to SMS you when important email arrives while you are away from your desk. (These steps assume you have Outlook installed – see Skylook prerequisites for details)

1. Follow these instructions to set up Skype if you don’t already use it.

2. To have SMS messages sent to you from your PC, you will need to purchase some Skype Credit if you don’t already have some. You can buy Skype Credit here.

If you’re doing this for the first time, just buy the minimum amount so you can give it a try without too much of an outlay.

3. If you don’t already have Skylook, download and install it from here.

4. Start Outlook. If you are running Skylook for the first time, you will see the Skylook licensing wizard and the Skylook Welcome wizard. Follow the prompts to ensure you have Skylook set up the way you want.

5. Click the “Alerts>Advanced Alerts…” button in the Skylook toolbar:

6. Choose “Email” from the list of options, then click “Next”:

7. Enter some search text. This can be some expected contents, or the name or email address of the sender. Use this search text to distinguish the important emails that you want to be alerted about, from the unimportant ones that can wait until you get back to your PC. Only emails that contain your search text in the subject, body or sender name or email address will be sent to you via SMS. (NOTE: If you have multiple sources from which you wish to receive SMS alerts – e.g. your boss and your wife, set up an alert for each source – i.e. follow these instructions from start to finish for your wife, and then again for your boss).

8. Fill out this wizard page as shown (using your mobile phone number instead of the one shown):

9. Fill out the next wizard page as shown. IMPORTANT: By default, Skylook abbreviates the email message to fit into a single SMS message, which can hold a maximum of 160 characters. This can be appropriate for some emails – e.g. simple notification emails where much of the information is in the subject line, but obviously is not appropriate for longer emails. If you expect longer emails, change the “Abbreviate” option to allow Skylook to send you multiple SMS messages, or check the “Only include lines containing” option and enter key phrases to identify the parts of the email you want included. If neither of these options is suitable, you can use the “Email to Phone Call Forwarding” feature instead of an Email SMS alert. (This will read the entire email to you in a single phone call).

10. Accept the default settings in the next page:

11. Enter a name for the alert, then click “Finish”:

12. To test the Email SMS alert, set your Skype status to “Away” by clicking the bottom left hand corner of the Skype application as shown below, so that Skylook thinks you are away from your PC:

13. Send yourself an email containing the search text you entered above, or wait for one to arrive that contains the search text.

14. Soon after the email is received, the phone number you entered should receive an SMS.

15. If you did not receive an SMS, check the Outlook inbox. If Skylook had problems calling your phone (e.g. if the number is invalid), the details of the problem are placed in a new inbox item for you to review.

16. Once you’ve finished trying this, don’t forget to set your Skype status back to “Online”. By default, Skype switches your status to “Away” automatically if your computer is left idle for more than five minutes. (Note: You may wonder what happens with emails that come in during the five minute gap – don’t worry, Skylook sends SMS alerts for these emails also, as soon as Skype switches your status to “Away”).

If you need additional help, just email us at skylook@skylook.biz for assistance.

You can set Skylook up to send you an SMS for any Outlook reminder that pops up when you are away from your desk.

The most common use for Outlook reminders is for appointments set up in the Outlook calendar.

However you can also set up reminders for other Outlook items such as tasks and email items.  (For example, to set up a reminder related to a particular email item, you can right-click the email item and choose “Follow up > Add Reminder”).

To receive SMS alerts for reminders associated with tasks and email items, follow the same instructions as those that apply for receiving SMS alerts for appointments.  This will automatically give you alerts for the other types of reminders as well.