In terms of completeness, you’re unlikely to get the same number of features and long history of use offered by Skype but, if you personally don’t need the extras, this won’t be a problem. Many users would use video calling on messaging apps as an alternative, or even the messaging function on social networks like Facebook. There are lots of alternatives, but not all are standalone VoIP apps like Skype.

Skype is available for pretty much any platform you can imagine, including xBox and Alexa. If you’re blessed with good internet and, especially if some of the extra features are useful to you personally, you’re likely to have a decent calling experience with Skype. If it’s patchy or not good, using the app will be challenging. The overall usability of Skype depends hugely on the quality of your internet connection. You can also buy Skype credit, to call non-Skype numbers, or even (in some parts of the world) set up a Skype landline, which looks like a local number but connects to your Skype account.Īll of these features are interesting and, to some users, really useful. You can add subtitles to calls, for example, share the screen (helpful for those less-techy relatives), or record your calls. Microsoft has attempted to give Skype an edge by offering a variety of additional services that might be of interest. Contacts are hard to find, calls don’t connect, and small settings problems consistently plague less tech-savvy users. Our main issue is with the ease of setting up and connecting calls, which can be frustrating and fruitless. It does both without issue but, of course, everything depends on the quality of your internet connection. The main function of Skype is internet calling and video. Skype would be much improved by making them more clear and user-friendly. The options aren’t great - the format is very traditional and we’ve seen better ways of dealing with settings in 2019. Nobody will argue that it’s beautiful, but it’s clear to see what you need to do and relatively easy to find your way around the functions. Visually, Skype is acceptable and functional. In recent years, Microsoft’s classic has made real attempts to slim down and speed up, but unfortunately, it still leaves us a little cold. Like many old-school apps, though, it gained a lot of bloat and a bad reputation as other, faster apps came on the market. This classic calling app will struggle to attract new users.Skype’s an internet classic and a program that revolutionized telephone calls for many.

VoIP with some nice features, but Skype’s got a long road to go

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