Skypiquette
The Skypiquette doesn’t really exist yet. (Indicated also by the fact that the word turns up nothing in Google.) So let’s create it. As etiquette describes how to behave in daily real-life social situations and netiquette does the same on the Internet/web, we can say that Skypiquette is a shared set of rules that make your and others’ life and communications on Skype easier.
Here are some rules we’ve found useful ourselves.
]]>### Modify the default authorization text
When adding someone to your contact list, change the default text that is displayed to the remote party when your authorization request is passed. The default is “Please allow me to see when you are online”. Which is nice (it says “please”), but not horribly informative. When you are adding someone to your contacts for business reasons, e.g if you or him/her just started in the company, state who you are and why you think adding that person is relevant. When you’re a friend or relative, state that too.
### Profile
Fill your profile! It’s a nice way of showing respect to those you talk to. Let others know of your name and maybe add a few informative or fun bits in the About text.
There’s a catch though. Everything in your profile except the picture and e-mail is public information. (The picture is shown to authorized contacts.) So if you’re using Skype for work, it might not be the best idea to put all the details about your department or work in your profile, as it is searchable and indexable in the Skype Global User Directory and anyone can see it.
### Identifying the other party’s status a.k.a “chat first, call after”
Various bloggers have over the past months commented on how Skype can improve upon the already great system we have for presence management. Like the recent anecdotal example of [identifying whether someone is in a call if he has a headset on](http://www.telepocalypse.net/archives/000744.html).
There is certainly always room for improvement, but the current tools provide you already a reasonably wide set of options. The most common thing is to agree using text chat whether it’s a good time to call, before doing the actual call.
### Sensible security behaviour
We have a [security guide](http://www.skype.com/help/guides/staysecure.html) that sums up security practices that are wise to follow on Skype. Here are the core bullets that keep you reasonably safe if you take care yourself.
* Avoid scammers
* Keep your password safe
* Set privacy options
* Keep your payment data safe
* Secure your computer
* Be conscious about your communications
Any other Skypiquette practices you or others are using?
This is very good advise, most of it I would call common sense. But it’s great putting it down and create some consensus.
There is only one that I’m not sure about: chat first, call afterwards. I do that myself only because it’s feeling strange calling someone on a PC. However, I always think that I have no problem calling somebody on a mobile or landline whithout getting confirmation first. I’m not sure what makes it different. But I agree it IS different.
Jurgen
Modify the default authorization text: Why not remove the default in the program and restrict adding of the person when they don’t add a minimal amount of own words..
Profile: Yes… Maybe the search for pp will work better this way
Skypiquette: It’s a great idea!
Can there be an adaptation to the profile?
You say the picture is not public.
In the same way, can the phonenumbers be not public?
I don’t want everybody to see my phone, but only my contacts.
I think that is just normal.
If ‘strangers’ want to contact me they can skype me, and i can allow them to my contacts and they’ll see my phone.
Nobody gives his/her sell out to the world…
Spammng is one thing, spamming over the phone gets a little bit scary…
Great idea, but a small restriction however : in French, “piquette” means a wine of very, very bad quality.
“Celestial piquette” is thus an amazing rather strange expression !
First, a question…
When someone requests authorization… Is there any way to defer answering Yes or No… until AFTER I have text-chatted with them to find out, “WHO ARE YOU?”
Also…
About the concept of Chat First, Call Second…
I think it’s a nice courtesy to first ask by text… “Is this an ok time to talk?”
My friends and I often do this with text messaging on our cellphones. Especially if I know I am calling a very busy person…
There’s only one reason we’ve never done this historically with landlines & cellphones… Because we Couldn’t…!
Now, I think it is a nice polite courtesy… because we Can…
However, I still think it’s optional… and that calling first is ok too…
After all, that’s what Caller ID & the Send to Voicemail button are for…
Ok, now, finally…
WHO is working on the Skype integrated into a gsm Cellphone that works over gsm (with or without WiFi), without a computer, and handles full 2-way video & conferencing?
I want to be the first on the waiting list to buy one…
In fact, I want stock in the company that makes it…
: )
“Everything in your profile except the picture is public information.”
You forgot e-mail. E-mail is private.
“Can there be an adaptation to the profile?
You say the picture is not public.
In the same way, can the phonenumbers be not public?” — yes, we are working on making this more adaptable in future versions.
“When someone requests authorization… Is there any way to defer answering Yes or No… until AFTER I have text-chatted with them to find out, “WHO ARE YOU?”" — yes, you can have text chats with people who you haven’t authorized or who haven’t authorized you.
“You forgot e-mail. E-mail is private.” — thanks, correct.
[quote] There is only one that I’m not sure about: chat first, call afterwards. I do that myself only because it’s feeling strange calling someone on a PC. However, I always think that I have no problem calling somebody on a mobile or landline whithout getting confirmation first. I’m not sure what makes it different. But I agree it IS different. [/quote]
I don’t know, but I remember that when I usually call a person on landline/mobile, I usually ask “Hi, It’s , is so and so available?”. Also, if someone is on the phone already, you usually see the phone (in person), or you get a busy signal (calling someone who doesn’t have call waiting).
i would like an option in the prefs, that would allow for total exclusion from Skype-member directory search….
i use skype only for familly and friends that i know, don’t need to be available in any directory.
It seems to me over and above the free aspect, Skype’s real big plus is the ability to manage who calls. I think the idea of your non Skype info being otpionally private only to authorised callers is a coool idea.
Also roll on wireless USB Skype phones.
Go Skype – Skype evangilist.
Comsol makes a USB phone that costs about AU$80 – I don’t know how much they are in the USA or Europe, but that is the going price in Perth, Australia.
It would be great if I could make a custom voice mail greeting rather than the automated response.
I would like to see the search-ability of Skype-contacts IMPROVED! Some of my contacts put the companyname in their Skypename, others in full name, again others in “About …” with a text like “I work at myCompany and also like fishing” or something like that.
Where-ever the “myCompany” is in their Contact-details, embedde in comments or email-adress or in whatever field they like to use, I would certainly like to find them.
I’m with “bionrq” on unlisted numbers. You really have them already: folks who do not get intimidated by the input form and who do not enter anything in search fiels except their email addresses. And then of course, you have the group that enters nonsense in the fields.
It would be nice if you could just simply select (Private) to stay off the list. To lot of older people, Internet is a scary place. Let’s accommodate to them and reduce their fear of undesired or unwanted contacts.
I really, really like Skype.
I talk to my family and friends in Poland and Canada much more often since I signed up. Hearing them all over my speakers is like having them with me in The USA. I am happy with the reception as well. It’s clearer than the phone most of the time (sometimes it breaks up), but hey – it’s free!
Thanks Skype!
I just sign up with Skype. I’m still new and looking forward to find friends who are Skype members.
doodsky
gostaria que fosse mim enviando um relatorio em portugues ok
After download Skype, Norton comes again and again, at all hours for ask if to permit or block Skype, and every time on a dfferent number of remote port. Naturally I permit, but.. it is becoming a little bit tiresome…
Is all this normal?
I had the same problem with Norton 2005, my workaround was to uncheck the option in Skype where it checks for update. I now have to check for updates manually but no more annoying Norton poppup!
I think there might be a difference receiving a Skype call towards a landline or mobile call.
I just received a call on Skype from a person whose name I didn’t recognized. I didn’t take the call! I would have answered the landline and most likely my mobile, but with Skype I found that I reacted differently. Is it that Skype is a resent feature or that a call comes more in a protruding manner, i.e. a rather large image popping up on the desktop? Or could it be that we are still a small No compared to landline users and thus we might feel a bit exposed? Any-who, it’s a great way to communicate at a low cost, or indeed for free. Lets encourage more to join.
Go Skype!
Skype defaults to ‘online’ which makes me want to not have it log on automatically when I switch the computer on.
Messenger allows me to chose my defualt status, which I tend to have as ‘busy’. That way I can log on, answer emails, do whatever is urgent then change my status when I’m ready to accept conversations (normally after my first coffee of the day).
i really really dont like it when you say TALK FOR FREE and then i get to admire your price lists… and the funniest thing is its not easy to find the place where i sign my credit card (or whichever payment method), im still looking for it.
Skype Should Not Automatically Start!
Skype is defaulting each time I start it to automatically start with Windows the new time that Windows is started.
Each time I log into Skype, I uncheck the “start automatically” and “automatically log in user” boxes, as they are alwasy checked by default. This is very bad behavior by your software, as autostart and other user configuration preferences should be remembered and respected!
In spite of unchecking those boxes every time I log into Skype, if I check the Advanced “tab” under the Tools, Options menu, the “Start Skype when I start Windows” box is always on by default. Again, it should not be, and should stay unchecked once the user has indicated a preference.
Please acknowledge, and fix this bad behavior in the next release. Thank you.
ssaaaalllllluttttttt
a toouuuuuutt
I tend to search using the same parameters each time. Can you make Skype remember your last search settings and not default back to “anyone”?
It is very nice that this is being brought up. I’ve actually commented about those issues in “suggestion” in the bug report.
Another ones I would add is “don’t make random call to random people if you are not sure that it is appropriate.” (i.e. if the person is not showing “Skype Me” status), and also, write authorization text in the language receipient can understand.
yes i do
I really in love with Skype but I’m sad enough for my friends thay dont know how lovely is Skype !
People….. I’m waiting for Skype software for my SIEMENS SX1 smart phone !
Share good …….. DONT SHARE BAD
haniterso_2010