Last week, we showed you the basics of Skype, such as how to download and use it. This week, we will go into the truly useful extras designed specifically for the software. We will review some features you can obtain for free or with a subscription, as well as some of the other devices Skype is compatible with.

As we venture further into cloud computing, social networks and visual voicemail, my personal favorite Skype add-on is the VodBurner. The application records conversations by simultaneously taping all callers’ camera feeds into a video stream that can be edited later. During the editing process, you can delete portions of the conversation, rearrange the timeline, and even include speakers’ names, titles and company names as captions. You can also make clips resembling live TV interviews, by showing both callers on a split-screen.

Following production, VodBurner generates ASF/WMV files that can be directly uploaded to YouTube, your Web site and Power Point presentations or shared on social networking sites. The recorder works on 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, but it’s not compatible with Apple or Linux operating systems.

VodBurner’s download is free and comes with a 30-day trial, after which a watermark will be embedded in your videos. You can either pay a monthly subscription to remove the watermark or keep it on new videos and continue using the application for free. VodBurner’s creators are constantly working on adding new editing features and enhancing the recorder’s usability on slower PCs.

Replacing a device from the Dark Ages, another Skype extra can help out international businesses – Pamfax, a worldwide faxing software (http://www.pamfax.biz/en/). The program itself is free and cost is incurred as you use it, starting at a few cents per page that can be covered through multiple payment methods, including PayPal. Pamfax is available in two versions: (1) PC with Windows XP or Vista and (2) Apple computers with OS X 10.5 or newer.

Moving to modern day: Have you ever tried to edit a document simultaneously with someone on the other end of the globe or even in another building? It can be quite difficult to get on the same page and phrases, such as “Look at line number 10” or “Notice the third bar on the fifth graph about a third of the way down on page 3,” often fall on deaf ears. Through TalkAndWrite for Skype, all call participants share the same file, enabling them to brainstorm ideas together and make edits in real-time.

Depending on your needs, you can use the BASIC version for free or pay a monthly subscription to use the PRO version. The free version allows for one-on-one meetings with each session lasting up to 10 minutes. With the paid version, you can have up to 10 participants and unlimited calling.

Skype even has alternatives for an office setting, where landline usage is inevitable. Several phones come with pre-installed Skype software, with some devices even offering video-calling options. The RTX Dualphone 3088 is a phone that automatically syncs your contacts with your existing Skype account and has all Skype calling features, such as placing conference calls.

For your conference room, take a look at the AUSU AiGuru SV1T video phone. The sleek, touchscreen device has a built-in microphone, webcam and speakerphone, as well as voicemail and call forwarding features.

Of course this is VoIP, so you will need a broadband connection to use either phone. The more bandwidth you have, the better the call quality.

Now that you know quite a bit about Skype and how to use some tools it provides, the question remains: How to apply it? I will help with that next week.