Cybersex. It's a word that used to mean sleazy, X-rated exchanges, usually with strangers, in a crowded Internet chat room. Not very sexy. Cut to 2003, and with increased bandwidth came Skype. It allowed us not only to make free phone calls over the Internet but also to send instant messages, transfer files and do video conferencing. What was meant to keep people in contact around the globe is now becoming a techno sex tool.

What it is (And isn't)

Skype is free to download. A few quid extra will get you a webcam to document your moves. But you must ensure that you have sufficient bandwidth - it would suck (and not in a good way) if the connection were to cut out while you were performing a striptease. We recommend broadband ... but only because it sounds dirty.

Skype fulfils men's general preoccupation with online porn. But instead of panting over a busty Russian blonde in bunny ears, he gets you, his girlfriend - who won't get angry with him for perving over a stranger. And he won't feel guilty, so you both win.

Remember, though, that what you're engaging in is little more than glorified masturbation. The only hands that will be running up your thigh are, sadly, your own. Despite the fact that your man might be saying, 'Oh yeah, baby ... I'm driving my love muscle far inside you' (or similar), it's your Rampant Rabbit that's likely to be doing all the driving.

Skype made Sexy

Make a Skype-sex date to meet when you'll both be relaxed, without any distractions - not when one of you is at work or sitting in a coffee shop with a Wi-Fi hot spot.

Prepare beforehand. Make a list of things that you know will turn him on. A scenario that would blow (again, not in a good way) is being tongue-tied when it really counts. Set the mood. Switch off the TV, dim the lights and put on soft, sensual music.

Visualize your partner and use strong images when describing your actions. Tell him where you're touching yourself, where you're touching him and how its making you feel. If you have a webcam, you won't have to explain things in as much detail.

Choose an appropriate background. If all he has to go on is what you're showing him, consider the impact your grandmother's hand-me-down paisley curtains will have on his libido. And make an effort with your appearance - lipstick, mascara, blush and, of course, sexy lingerie.

Enjoy the momentum. Send him naughty messages throughout the day, describing what you're going to do to him later. There's a wonderfully passionate build-up if you know a sexy session comes later. And you get to be the sex goddess you've always wanted to be.

What Men Think About Skype Sex

The cool thing about flirting over Skype is that you get a feel for the other person's level of naughtiness. This is very handy if you're in the early stages of a relationship and you haven't closed the deal yet.

There's something wrong with standing naked in front of your laptop, lube stains on the keyboard and the fear that your webcam is somehow making everything look a little smaller on the computer screen of the person you're chatting to....

If you're in different parts of the world, Skype is great. It's immediate and it's a step-up from e-mail, where your naughty message can lie in her inbox for days, at which time your ‘excitement' has long gone.