Skype is a free to use VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) software that enables users to make voice calls, video calls and instant messaging over the network on the computer. Skype works on a P2P (Peer-to-Peer) technologies and uses encrypted communication end to end, so that your phone calls cannot listen by other users. Skype offers some rich features like voice mail, video chat, instant messaging, call forwarding, conference calling and many more. Skype application is available freely for personal or commercial use, but it’s source code is not available freely for modifications.

Install Skype in Linux

This how-to guide describes how to install Skype 4.0 on RHEL 6.3/6.2/6.1/6.0, CentOS 6.3/6.2/6.1/6.0 and Fedora 17,16,15,14,13,12 using Skype’s static source code package.

Install Dependency Packages for Skype

Install all the below required dependency packages with YUM command for Skype.

# yum install libXrender.i686 libstdc++.i686 fontconfig.i686 pulseaudio-libs.i686 qt-x11.i686 qt.i686 glib2.i686 zlib.i686 freetype.i686 alsa-lib.i686 libXScrnSaver.i686 libXi.i686 libXv.i686 libXrandr.i686 libSM.i686

Download Skype 4.0 Static Package

Download Skype static package using the Wget command under /tmp directory.

# cd /tmp
# wget http://download.skype.com/linux/skype_static-4.0.0.8.tar.bz2

Extracting Skype 4.0 Static Package

Extract the Skype static package with the help of Tar command under /opt/skype directory.

# mkdir /opt/skype
# tar -xvf skype_static-4.0.0.8.tar.bz2 -C /opt/skype --strip-components=1

Create Symbolic Link to libtiff.so.4

Create symbolic link to libtiff.so.4 library.

# ln -s /usr/lib/libtiff.so.3 /usr/lib/libtiff.so.4

Create Symbolic Link to Icons, Lang and Sounds

Create symbolic link for sounds/, lang/ and icons/.

# ln -s /opt/skype/icons/SkypeBlue_48x48.png /usr/share/icons/skype.png
# ln -s /opt/skype/icons/SkypeBlue_48x48.png /usr/share/pixmaps/skype.png
# ln -s /opt/skype/sounds/ /usr/share/sounds/
# ln -s /opt/skype/lang/ /usr/share/lang/
# ln -s /opt/skype/skype.desktop /usr/share/applications/skype.desktop

Create Skype Launch Binary

We recommend you to create the Skype binary under /usr/bin directory for easier start. Create a file /usr/bin/skype with following command and set execute permission on it.

# touch /usr/bin/skype
# chmod 755 /usr/bin/skype

Open the file /usr/bin/skype with your choice of editor and place the following line of code and save it.

#!/bin/sh
export SKYPE_HOME="/opt/skype"

$SKYPE_HOME/skype --resources=$SKYPE_HOME $*

Start Skype Launcher

Now Launch the Skype by executing the command.

# skype

Skype Welcome Screen

Skype Welcome Screen

Skype Login Screen

Skype Login Screen

Skype About

About Skype

Chat with My Friend Narad

Skype Instant Messaging