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Microsoft is killing Skype

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Re: Microsoft is killing Skype

#291

Anyone knows of an alternative to Skype to make free calls to 1-800 numbers? I was keeping Skype in my back pocket during trips abroad for that exact reason (allowed me to get away with using data only eSIMs and still be able to call bank/airline if something happens).

It's not free but you can try the Burner app.

Re: Microsoft is killing Skype

#292
post #262

It's Teams now isn't it? Some of the links generated by teams still have the word Skype in them.

As far as I know, Teams evolved from their business product. Which went through multiple rebrands in a short time span, including Skype for Business.

Re: Microsoft is killing Skype

#293

Anyone knows of an alternative to Skype to make free calls to 1-800 numbers? I was keeping Skype in my back pocket during trips abroad for that exact reason (allowed me to get away with using data only eSIMs and still be able to call bank/airline if something happens).

if you don't call 800-numbers often, it's a tiny economic cost...

Re: Microsoft is killing Skype

#294
post #38

When Microsoft acquired Skype (the company), it was clear they would kill it. Skype had previously been bought by eBay, for which it served the purpose of entering a new market. Then, it was bought by some investment funds, for which it served the purpose of making money. However, to Microsoft, which already had its Windows/Live messenger (which copied Skype’s homework anyway), Skype served no purpose except to remov…

Live Messenger (previously MSN Messenger) was another massive fumble by Microsoft. It was absolutely essential as a teenager in the 00's and people spent insane amounts of time on it. If MS put out a 'dumb' phone with Live Messenger they might have stood a chance when smart phones came around.

They had an iOS app that surprisingly few people knew existed.

https://www.macstories.net/iphone/microsoft-releases-windows...

Re: Microsoft is killing Skype

#295
I'm still using it after starting on one of the early Skype versions. At over 20 years, it's lasted me longer than ICQ, IRC or an other messenger. Most of my contacts no longer use Skype but it's the primary way I contact my family and I can't think of an obvious replacement that would fully satisfy my use case.

Re: Microsoft is killing Skype

#296

Anyone knows of an alternative to Skype to make free calls to 1-800 numbers? I was keeping Skype in my back pocket during trips abroad for that exact reason (allowed me to get away with using data only eSIMs and still be able to call bank/airline if something happens).

This. And most importantly for me, Skype allowed to call using my numbers (for bank it will look like i am calling from my cell). Any other voip service would just put random number which will trigger additional security checks.

Would love to hear about service doing that

Re: Microsoft is killing Skype

#297

What happened? It's kind of hard to fuck up a chat app. The Skype ring tone is iconic.

It's quite interesting that despite chat and video messaging apps being those that should stick for long they actually tend to be replaced with relative ease.

Since I started my online journey I've been through ICQ, IRC, MSN, Skype, Hangouts, Kik, Teams, Telegram, Whatsapp, and many many others I don't even remember.

Yet at every point it seems that something breaks, they feel like they have to add more and more features, core features start sucking, etc.

Whatsapp is the only one that stuck since I started using it, and I suspect part of the reason is both the fact my friends and relatives just won't move from it (it essentially replaced SMS) and the fact that Whatsapp cares a lot about the client being very performing even on lowest end old devices.

Re: Microsoft is killing Skype

#299
post #263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Yes, in many parts of Europe, people commonly use the word "coke" as a generic term for soda, similar to how it is used in the American South, essentially referring to any type of cola beverage rather than just the Coca-Cola brand; this is because Coca-Cola is so widely recognized across the continent." --Google's ai thing

I don't know for other European countries, but at least I can say that it is not true in France. "Coke" is reserved for cocaine, and cola is the generic word for Coca-Cola-like beverages.

I don't drink enough to say for certain, but I'll say that I've heard "coca" a lot, but I never hear "cola."

Re: Microsoft is killing Skype

#300
post #271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've worked for a European company acquired by big tech in the US. My experience was that the Americans were quite full of themselves and didn't want to learn how we operated. Yup, that's also my experience. Americans are just like the unofficial President - they don't take "no" for an answer when they demand something, no matter what, unless you manage to get court judgements because that actually threatens the bo…

>unofficial President That sure is a funny way to refer to a president who was elected by both the popular vote and the Electoral College. I'm no fan of Trump, but it sounds like a form of derangement syndrome to believe that he wasn't democratically elected.

"unofficial President" is mschuster91's oh-so-witty way of referring to Musk.
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