You can mute sounds from other programs when taking a call.
New in Windows 7 is a feature that will reduce the volume of your applications when the system detects that you’re receiving or making a phonecall with your PC (via a service such as Skype). To tweak this behaviour, or to disable it completely, open up the Hardware and Sound/ Sound dialog from Control Panel and visit the Communications tabs.
(For a full guide to Windows 7, order the Essential Windows 7 Handbook 3rd Edition, on sale now from newsagents and online.)
