Skype uses decentralized peer-to-peer technologies and lets you make calls without letting anything go through a central server, but through distributed servers and other users. It is proprietary software you may use for making calls over the Internet using your computer. The Skype software is free to use, but it is not free software. It is free as a beer, its source code is not available for modification.
By default Skype is not installed on Ubuntu but you may install it by clicking: Install the skype package. You need to Activate the Canonical Partner Repository to install Skype.
OR alternatively you may install it by visiting Ubuntu Software Centre. OR you may install it directly from your terminal. Follow the steps:
Step-1 Open your terminal, type the following command and hit ENTER:
sudo apt-get install libqt4-dbus libqt4-network libqt4-xml libasound2
Step-2 If it asks for password, type password and hit Enter again.
Step-3 Now use the following command for downloading Skype:
- Skype 32-bit:
wget http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-linux-beta-ubuntu-32 and hit Enter.
- Skype 64-bit:
wget http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-linux-beta-ubuntu-64 and hit Enter.
Step-4 After you finished downloading, use the following command to install Skype:
sudo dpkg -i getskype-*
Step-5 Now finally to finish installing:
sudo apt-get -f install
That’s all with download and installation. Now open Dash Home, type Skype, open and start using it.