Skype

Free with limited functionality by Skype Limited | Link to website

Skype is a proprietary software application that offers free Skype-to-Skype calls and low-cost local, national and international calls to both traditional land-line telephones and mobile phones. Additional features include instant messaging, texting, call forwarding, and video conferencing. Skype now also a premium version that has Group Video Calling. On Skype for iPhone, you can make free video calls to other devices with Skype installed, over both WiFi and 3G. Visit... More info »



New Comment
DazzaJay-image

Time to abandon Skype.

Comment by DazzaJay about Skype Jul 2011

Damn Microsoft, always buying out great apps, then ruining them. Skype will be the latest when the next update goes live as its installing mandatory tracking software and aggressive targeted advertising, even to people who are paying for subscriptions.

 
Show 2 hidden replies.
Anamon-image

It's almost been six months now ;) and so far nothing at all has changed, except the copyright messages and the ability to log in using a Microsoft Live account.

In fact, I'm disappointed that nothing changed, because when I heard that Microsoft bought Skype, I thought that maybe they would use their experience with Messenger/Lync to actually fix Skype, something which Skype themselves haven't ever bothered to do in their 8 years of existence. Deal-breaking bugs that have been reported 5 years ago, get several dozens of frustrated user comments every month, and no official ever bothers to reply, or say that someone's looking into it (because no one is, I assume). There's no money in fixing something people use in it's broken state anyway, I guess. And now Microsoft is closing the service that works (Messenger) for the one that never has and maybe never will (Skype).

All in all, this entire thing has been a catastrophic debacle—but not at all for the reasons people initially feared.

 
DazzaJayF-image

Well, it's changed now. Won't sign in with my skype ID, just sits there with the useless spinning circle.

or, I can use a "Live ID" -NO, I want to use my existing Skype ID. or, I can use a "Facebook login" - NO, I want to use my EXISTING skype ID. I don't want to make a crapbook account just to use the same program I've been using for years.

-Uninstalled. Hello Trillian, oh, what a surprise, my Skype ID works in Trillian.

 
DazzaJayF-image

Well, it's changed now. Won't sign in with my skype ID, just sits there with the useless spinning circle.

or, I can use a "Live ID" -NO, I want to use my existing Skype ID. or, I can use a "Facebook login" - NO, I want to use my EXISTING skype ID. I don't want to make a crapbook account just to use the same program I've been using for years.

-Uninstalled. Hello Trillian, oh, what a surprise, my Skype ID works in Trillian.

 
Anamon-image

Cool yup, I switched over to Trillian as well, since the announcement that Messenger users would be forced over to Skype, which I really couldn't bear. Trillian seems to be the only multi-protocol IM that supports Skype without having the full Skype client running alongside. Unfortunately it doesn't work on the Android version. Which is, of course, entirely the fault of Skype/Microsoft, and not Trillian/Cerulean. I'd really prefer to ditch Skype altogether, but that's the problem with IMs, you're kind of forced to use what your contacts use.

 
alleyoopster-image

Also have abandoned Skype

Negative Comment by alleyoopster about Skype Feb 2013

Google hangout works across platform and uses WebRTC framework which is open-source. Since Microsoft have bought it and even before, Skype was receiving little love outside of MS. Now it gets none. Happy to leave it behind.

Facetime seems to be encouraging people to throw more money towards the Apple peeps due to the hardware restrictions.

[Edited by alleyoopster, February 27]

 
User4676849-image

Skype as program

Positive Comment by User4676849 about Skype Feb 2013

Skype is a good program which allow connect us with other people in the world. Control this program is good and easy. We can write opinion for this program in the website. Link to this website

 
Babbajan-image

Abandoning skype

Negative Comment by Babbajan about Skype Jan 2013

Don't use. If you're concerned about your privacy, that is.

 
BjornR-image

I can't prove it but i'm pretty sure Skype is the most popular application of its kind. Skype used to be THE application to make VOIP calls, call real-world phone numbers, send SMS messages and video chats.

I've started to dislike Skype since it came with Facebook etc built in. I don't want that kind of functionality and makes it feel bloated. That said, i can still make clear calls without much hassle.

Even though the GNU/Linux variant boasts less functionality, it's still more slick than the version for Windows.

 
HG-image

Skype being monitored

Negative Comment by HG about Skype Nov 2012

Talk in Skype, the law can be monitoring without you knowing... thanks Microsoft!

 
tuxayo-image

There is no user privacy, it's one of the most closed software for communication, we dont know exactly what it's doing with our data, the only thing we know is that skype has expanded its cooperation with law enforcement authorities, reads our bios, adress book and firefox profile... I prefer to use open source alternatives like Jitsi and mumble

Wikipedia: Skype security: Flaws and potential flaws

Washington Post: Skype makes chats and user data more available to police

 




http://cdn.alternativeto.net/i/56f34a94-b59f-4f1e-8f83-d75a6d33a77d_22350.png