Skype is no longer the only program for free calling

Consumers love when they have a choice! A few years ago, when talking about free internet calling, the only noteworthy mention was the wildly popular Skype.

At that time, Skype was the tool that managed to disrupt the international telephony market and almost single-handedly drastically cut roaming profits for telecommunications companies. In March of this year, Skype announced to the world that around 35 million people were simultaneously using the service, and just before Microsoft acquired the company in 2010, Skype had over 660 million users. However, it was then sold to Microsoft for $8.5 billion, which did not sit well with many users who previously enjoyed identifying with market challengers. Even greater problems arose from rumors that Microsoft had acquired a patent used for secretly recording conversations, speculation about the unknown direction of service development, the question of introducing advertising for users, and general concerns about security.
Consequently, some companies implemented policies that do not allow the use of Skype, both for security reasons and due to concerns that its use consumes bandwidth and slows down internet connections. Nevertheless, Skype received a lot of negative publicity, precisely at a time when a plethora of new applications entered the smartphone market, giving users what they love most – the ability to choose.

Three in one Creating a program that will challenge Skype’s dominance is a favorite pastime for many developers, so today, in addition to Skype, there are a number of tools that allow users to send messages and call others over the internet. Before smartphones, this practice was conducted from computer to computer; however, now that users have mobile devices that they can connect to wireless internet networks (WiFi) at will, the benefits of free calling are even greater. Here are some popular alternative tools to Skype.

Among the most popular is certainly Google’s, more precisely, several of them. Google has three different programs that can be used, depending on what the user wants. For easy and simple organization of video conferences, Google Hangouts is an elegant solution that allows up to ten participants to connect and talk simultaneously completely free and with high quality. 

For calls to other users of the service over the internet, Google Voice is sufficient. It works by allowing the user to assign themselves a number during the registration process, which is then used for calls regardless of which telecommunications company provides the internet service. For free messaging, Google Talk is all that is needed. This service can also be used for video chat (with the installation of a small plugin), and it is certainly good that the service synchronizes with Gmail and other Google tools. Apple’s answer to free chat tools is Messages – an application that is an improved version of the old iChat app. Messages includes text, voice, and video calls as well as interface sharing. Of course, the service is compatible with iMessage, a free chat service for iPhone users, and is reserved for Apple enthusiasts.

And additional bonuses Jitsi is a powerful software that specializes in VoIP (voice over internet protocol) services. It is used for audio and video calls, and as an additional bonus, it allows for easy video streaming and desktop sharing, call recording, call encryption, and instant messaging. For those with poor microphones or in noisy environments, Jitsi has an excellent noise reduction feature. It supports a wide range of other protocols for internet chatting and is available to users of Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. Free and easy calling can also be done using VoxOx. The service is completely free between two users, as with other tools, and when calling users from abroad, it can be done at favorable prices. Users receive a free phone number, voicemail service, internal calls, messages and faxes, conference calls, document sharing, and more. VoxOx is available for Windows and Mac users. 

Among domestic smartphone users, there are more and more users of Viber, a solution developed by a Cypriot company. It is a platform for exchanging messages and calls over the internet that is available as an application for all mobile operating systems. Viber works on 3G and WiFi networks, is easy to install, and automatically detects other users of the service from the address book. One just needs to be careful to use it within the data package options. The WhatsApp Messenger application for smartphones is also extremely popular. WhatsApp records tens of billions of messages per day since August of this year. The Financial Times commented that WhatsApp does for SMS on mobile phones what Skype does for international calls.

High-resolution video When it comes to ‘open-source’ programs, Ekiga stands out, specializing in VoIP, video calls, and text messaging. It supports high-resolution video, and the user interface is easy to use. In addition to Ekiga, users can also try other ‘open-source’ platforms such as QuteCom, SIP Communicator, Empathy, and Blink. Among the old giants in the world of alternative telephony is AOL’s ‘instant messenger’, available for Android, BlackBerry, Windows, and Mac users. Although it is not particularly popular, especially among users who did not get hooked on AOL’s service in the nineties, fans of romantic films with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks still give it a chance. Another old acquaintance, Yahoo! Messenger, ranks much better. Free video and voice calls and messaging are a given. It also offers a ‘phone out’ function for cheaper international calling. 

This is just the tip of the iceberg, as there are a number of solutions for every operating system that are eager for users to recognize them. The best advice for choosing an alternative internet calling tool is to select one that is used by the largest circle of friends and contacts. For most users, that is Skype, especially for computer-to-computer calls. In phone-to-phone calls, services like WhatsApp and Viber are gaining more and more users every day, and they are certainly worth considering, installing, and testing.