Skype is ended but you can use any number of alternatives. What’s right for you?
By default Microsoft teams has your skype data via your Microsoft account. – Login with your old skype account and get started right away. Of course most of those contacts will not answer if they haven’t made the switch to Microsoft Teams. It is unfortunate but Microsoft has destroyed billions of connections between people around the world due to ending Skype the way it did.
You can still export those contacts in .csv format and import them with Microsoft Excel or any spreadsheet program. I use Libre Office myself which is free and fully featured.
Here are just a few of the many alternatives to Skype.
Find the one that’s right for you.
If you need help, contact Maui Computer.com – mauicomp@gmail.com or call me at 808 283 7651 for a consult.
Exporting skypes contact list can get you individuals phone numbers when they are listed
The Big 3 Chat Apps
The following 4 apps are the most popular and maybe the easiest to use for person to person though some of them offer communities as well.
Signal – is currently the most popular among privacy oriented people and organizations. Encrypted video, audio and text chat connects you to anyone else if they too have a signal account. It is free and run by a non-profit organization. Signal can now do community chats so your whole family or your corporation board can enjoy it with you. It’s the safest for your casual and business needs. It does need your phone number though. Also available for desktop. There are never any Ads and no tracking in Signal.
What’sApp is currently free and very similar to Signal. It is owned by Meta however and It needs access to your phone number and phones contact list. Many people find it acceptable for their needs. It has audio, video, and text, community chats and more. Sign up on your phone and it is then available for desktop as well.
Telegram – Requires your phone number and access to your contacts. Sign up on your phone and it is then available for desktop as well.
Special Mentions
Both of these are oriented toward larger communities with very large audiences.
Zoom – provides a secure meeting type chat environment enjoyed by much of the world. It can be accessed on phone or desktop. Whole communities can connect via audio, video, and text chats with administration of chat rooms. It’s great for audience oriented meetings with administration having power to mute or remove others.
Discord is among a new breed of community chat software with large and private chats ongoing amidst millions of people the world over. Very popular among gamers it can as easily connect two people. It does not require a phone number to use and you build your own network by using it and connecting to chat rooms be they open communities or private groups. Fully administrable.
