Being totally thick, just need to know what to do to connect to someone in Finland and Canada, is it free etc, camera required .

Yes it’s free to call other skype users. and the software is free to download.
You need to register with a user name & password before using it, then seach for your fiends’ IDs.
You can either use voice only, or video calling.
If you want to call landlines abroad, a paid subscription is cheaper than normal phones

install/sync contacts/talk

dont need camera.

If you pay for it, do you get better quality video?

Wear pants.

Moe, not that I know of.
Video quality will depend on the broadband quality at both ends of the conversation, & the speed/quality of your cameras/

It seems that you need a telephone number for this to work, no?

No telephone number needed

When you dial you can dial a skype person or an actual phone. Choose a skype person.

We have a video call with my son in university every week. He’s a teenager so he’s dead angry all the time. He probably fights people and stuff.

No. Hang on, it’s just his parents he hates.

Being totally thick, just need to know what to do to connect to someone in Finland and Canada, is it free etc, camera required .

Have you tried reading the information on the Skype website? Their instructions are pretty clear and comprehensive.

Skype is an annoying piece of software. If possible, go for Facebook video chat.

Now I’ve found it the FB videa chat is fat better, strage though as it says Facebook + Skype …

AIUI since being bought by MS it’s no longer completely peer to peer and has been significantly weakened at the bequest of the NSA, probably so they can record all the conversations….

I’m still using skype (it’s very easy and straight forward) and google hangouts which are even easier once you have done the initial setup – they also allow for multi person video which skype (free) doesn’t.

As for improving your video, decent camera and fast connection both ends.

hangouts for me as well, you can have multi person video conference and share screens. all free, unlike skype