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[AARP® Real Possibilities]
In this lesson you will become familiar with video chatting.
You will also learn about 3 free video chat services.
Video chat allows you to keep in touch with family members,
have important face-to-face conversations,
even read bedtime stories to grandkids as if you were in the same room.
If you have the right equipment,
you can use the Internet to video chat at no extra cost.
So what equipment do you need?
You can use a mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer.
Mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones,
have the camera, microphone, and speaker built right in to the device.
Just connect to the Internet and choose a free service.
With a desktop computer, you will need a webcam with a built-in microphone.
External speakers are needed to hear the people who you will be chatting with.
Internet access is required no matter what equipment you are using.
Tablets or smartphones may connect over Wi-Fi
or through a cellular data plan from a wireless company.
There are 3 primary video chat services that you may consider using.
These 3 services are Skype, Google Chat, and FaceTime.
None require any extra charges.
The service you are using on your end
must match the service the other person is using on their end.
Skype is a service that works across PCs,
tablets, smartphones, and Apple Macs,
so virtually anyone can use it.
You must download a Skype application
onto your PC or device
and establish a free Skype account.
Type www.Skype.com
into your Internet browser then download the application.
Choose the device you are using and sign in.
Once your friends or family members do the same,
you can connect them through your address book and make a free video call.
Google Chat doesn't require that you download an application
if you are on a PC.
You can use the free service from your Internet web browser.
Use a Gmail account as your user ID.
If you are using Google Chat from a mobile device
you must download the app from the app store.
Sign into your Gmail account,
or if you don't have one, create a Gmail account
by going to Accounts.Google.com.
You can chat or video chat from there.
Multiple people can video chat,
and you can see everyone that connects.
Google+ even has fun effects you can use.
FaceTime is a service from Apple,
and connects iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers together.
FaceTime works directly from your contacts,
making it an easy option for 2 people who have Apple devices.
You can see the range of options here.
This is what it looks like from an iPhone.
Try any of these 3 services.
Once you have the equipment and the service set up on your PC or device,
you can connect from the comfort of your own home or when you travel.
Enjoy video chatting.
[Technology, Education, Knowledge AARP® Real Possibilities]