Skype is Dead

Technology
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Skype has been killed off on or around 12th December for use by private users needing to call multiple countries, if they are not heavy users.

Without announcement Microsoft has removed the ability to buy Skype credit. Skype Credit having existed since Skype did. It’s basically Pay As You Go that allows you to buy credit that you then use as you need to call any number in any country around the world as needed. The rate per minute deducted from your credit on Skype varied according to which country you called and whether it was a landline or a mobile in that country.

I need to call multiple countries in the year - including various family at Christmas. Went into Skye app today to top up. Quite a few of my recent Skype calls to UK and other places have not connected with tbe other end being able to hear me (though still charged). The automatic “rate this call”: screen after every call was also no longer coming up… So many more minutes needed to try again hence topping up now in anticipation of Christmas calls.

There is no information about this in my Skype app. When you 'click to top up it them shows “Can’t find link to buy credit”.

Microsoft & Skype has my email and has sent no announcement of this. Googling shows the tech blogs picked it up 12th December or later,. So in the past 10 days or so… The blogs say Microsoft now wants everybody to take a subscription. One subscription for each country seems to be the structure. Thus nuking any private individual needing to call several countries not particularly heavily. These Skype single country subscription prices are not cheap, Skype subscriotion bundke pricing was OK but Microsoft has reduced bundle options snd increased prices markedly.
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If I could de-Microsoft every bit of equipment I own right now, I would.

I know some use Whatsapp and just took a look. But don’t want to hand over blanketaccess to all my Contact list. Also not sure how charging works or if it’s even possible to call my non-Whatsapp family or businesses with it, as you can with people who are not on Skype.

What other app are people using for their own calls to multiple other countries?

Meanwhile Thank You Microsoft for doing this right before Christmas when people do try to reach their families and without announcing it.

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We use zoom. 45 minutes a call free. Or facetime.

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Thanks Jane. Does the person or the company at the other end have to be on these too? I’m quite happy with Zoom or Teams in business but family don’t have access.

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I faced the same dilemma and created a new email account for WhatsApp login linked to a virtually empty address book - basically just family members who use it.

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You need Zoom at both ends but the Zoom client is free to download and there’s no subscription - that only kicks in if you want to host a meeting lasting more than 45 minutes, or want add-on stuff like online storage and calendars.

The only MS stuff I use is Office and to be honest I don’t really need those apps - I could use Apple Pages and Numbers (which come free with Macs) - it’s just familiarity that keeps me using Excel for my accounts.

Apple Keynote is a perfectly good alternative to PowerPoint - it even reads and writes .PPT files.

I used to use Skype but Zoom does the job for the odd occasion when i need video calls with clients or for the Xmas connect-up with my brother in the States.

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There’s also Cisco Webex (the other party just need a current browser if they don’t want to download & install) which I think gives you an hour. And Google has a similar video calling system.

Microsoft have replaced Skype with Teams, which I think also allows an hour FOC. This seemed to happen a couple of years ago.

I’ve used all the above including zoom, and there’s nothing really to choose between them.

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There’s loads of apps that do the same thing - Skype’s not making money and slowly being forgotten in the wider world.

The old school calling card business has evolved into apps quietly and it’s really a niche business in reality - Microsoft isn’t that interested in niches

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Important family members refuse to have a mobile phone unfortunately. Thia is fairly long standing and for several reasons there’s no way to change that.

I really need to be able to dial internarional fixed line numbers for these family members unfortunately. As well as other fixed line business numbers in US, Europe, UK. Mobile not, most places or non-Smartphone if mobile…

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Thanks. Yes I have used all.those in business too and would agree with you - my problem is family fixed line only or non-smartphone mobile and can’t change this. Then business regular phone numbers (not mobiles) in UK/a few Europe/US

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Have you checked what’s included on your phone, all my landline calls to Oz, UK and over 100 countries are free.

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Thanks Tory if I hsd a landlline I’d be on that like a rat up a drainpipe but I only have a mobile . Broadband/fiber here will never be as fast as mobile sadly and there wouldn’t be any other reason to bother with landline or broadband. The last tine I checked broadband speeds here were slower than mobile,. If there was any fiber here it would be such a long way from the disribution point that if it came to it, satellite would be a better bet.

I think I’m going to have to look at niche mobile MVNO’s and see if there are any left with decent bundles of international calls in hopes of getting a specific SIM for this… from somewhere. Those bundled options largely disappeared from mainstream offers here aroumd 6 years ago.

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Karen, many thanks for flagging up this significant change by Microsoft. This is a really good example of situations when SF is even more useful than usual, alerting us to things that affect us that we might not otherwise know about, on a timely basis.

For entertainment value, I asked CoPilot, Microsoft’s AI tool, for an explanation of why they’ve dropped Skype Credit…The (fairly unsurprising) answer is below for anyone’s interest.

Like you, I only have mobile - no landline, no broadband, fibre etc. I’ve just looked at my Reglo offer and it proposes a ‘Pass Monde’ option for 60 days. You can call UK fixed numbers for 4 cents a minute, or the US for 4 cents. You buy credits from 10-200€, but you lose them if unused after the 60 days in most circumstances. Not perfect, but useful for people like me who are occasional users to call organisations overseas that definitely do not accept Zoom/WhatsApp calls eg tax authorities, pension administrators, insurers etc.

fiche-offre-pass-monde.pdf (1.8 MB)

Copilot’s answer…

Microsoft has decided to discontinue Skype Credit and Skype Numbers to shift users towards a subscription-based model¹². This change aims to streamline their services and encourage users to adopt monthly plans instead of the pay-as-you-go system¹².

For occasional international calls from France to the UK, you have a few alternatives:

  1. Skype Subscriptions: You can opt for a monthly subscription plan that offers unlimited or a set number of minutes for international calls.
  2. Free VoIP Services: Continue using Skype for free voice and video calls to other Skype users.
  3. Other VoIP Services: Consider alternatives like WhatsApp, Viber, or Zoom, which also offer free voice and video calls.
  4. Mobile Plans: Some mobile carriers offer international calling plans that might be cost-effective for occasional use.

If you have any specific needs or preferences, feel free to share, and I can help you find the best option!

Skype offers several subscription plans tailored to different calling needs. Here are some key options:

  1. Unlimited World Subscription: This plan allows you to make unlimited calls to landlines and mobiles in over 60 countries, including the UK. It’s ideal if you frequently call multiple international destinations.

  2. Europe Subscription: This plan offers unlimited calls to landlines and mobiles in various European countries. It’s a good choice if most of your calls are within Europe.

  3. Country-Specific Subscriptions: If you primarily call one country, you can choose a subscription specific to that country. For example, the UK subscription offers unlimited calls to UK landlines and mobiles.

  4. Pay As You Go: Although Skype Credit is being phased out, you can still use it until your balance runs out. This option is flexible for occasional calls without a monthly commitment.

Each subscription plan comes with a monthly fee, and you can cancel anytime. You can find more details and choose the best plan for your needs on the Skype website.

If you have any other questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

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LibreOffice is available for the Mac. It’s free, very good and compatible with Micro$oft Office formats. It’s also very similar in use.

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Havn’t used Skype for a few years now, we all message video via FB which works well and costs nothing.

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I’ve used 12voip for many, many years and it’s been great. Just install the app and top up as required.

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The “apps” do just that. Literally search international calling in the play/app store. It’s not just app to app like WhatsApp

To the user it’s pretty much the same as Skype.

Toolani I think is now calling inside an app - but they also did the old school ring a local number - then ring your international number.

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Thanks George1. I’d be on Reglo already as a good choice if Reglo wasn’t using SFR network which has no signal here. I’m basically stuck with Orange signal. All other networks have literally come and gone (SFR was around 2007 :slight_smile: ).

Even Sosh is not cheap for international options.
Orange did have reasonable packages till about 6 years ago and now they have unreasonable packages :slight_smile: . I need EU UK nonEU all sporadically meaning the Skype Credit PAYG system worked perfectly . Even though per minute rates could always be beaten the flexibility was worth it.

As Microsoft views the world they seem to think everyone should take their 365 options eg their constant pushes to sell Office as 365 version For a private user 365 does not make sense and neither does the limited range of Skype subscriptions. Especially at their excessive subscription rates, they can take a funny run.

There is at least one ‘creative’ solution available for EU/UK but does not cover the longhaul countries I need too. Still thinking about where options can be found and I think it’s finding an MVNO or two, specialising in selling SIMs to ethnic markets, possibly not just in France.

It’a possible some of the roaming SIM suppliers such as airalo, or 5ber? or esim.me (app, Berlin based) may be useable.

This is going to take me 3 or 4 weeks to sort and meanwhile I’ll use the last of my remaining Skype credit to call my Mum at Christmas.

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Thanks JohnH and Chrisell for those suggestions. I will add them to my list.

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Helpful suggestion,John. I checked out the link and it suggests that calls to UK landlines from France are free. I wonder if you have any experience of using this? It seems almost too good to be true - which makes me a tad suspicious! Great if it really does apply.

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It’s slightly more complicated than that but, basically, if you top up with a tenner, you get 90 “freedays” where certain calls are free, including UK landlines. After that, it’s about 2c per minute. I think my last tenner was many months ago and I still have 1.76 on it but I don’t really use it much in these days of WhatsApp and so on.

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