Skype to be shutdown in May

[Patong2021]

On 2/28/2025 at 9:54 AM, jaywalker2 said:

So what's the best alternative to Skype for making toll-fee calls to the U.S.? Any suggestions?

 

Line

Face time

Google Chat

Microsoft Teams

[jaywalker2]

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

 

Line

Face time

Google Chat

Microsoft Teams

None of those work for callling 1800 numbers in the US

[The Fugitive]

3 minutes ago, jaywalker2 said:

None of those work for callling 1800 numbers in the US

Neither does Viber. Receive message that; 'this number is not with Viber. To continue you need to buy a subscription'. We didn't know how fortunate we were having Skype!

[Galong]

2 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

 

Line

Face time

Google Chat

Microsoft Teams

Google Chat cannot receive SMS (text messages) or OTPs (one-time passwords) like a regular phone number. It’s strictly an internet-based messaging app for chatting within Google Workspace.  I doubt any of these can.  Bank verification codes and OTPs are the only thing I need Skype for. I can use Messenger, Line, or WhatsApp to video and audio chat with folks.

 

[Patong2021]

1 hour ago, jaywalker2 said:

None of those work for callling 1800 numbers in the US

most companies have alternatives to  local toll free. One looks on their website, or sends an email to ask if there is a non  toll free number.

If you really need to call then buy an international esim that includes  international calling. There are literally dozens of reputable firms  available on the internet who provide international calling, some unlimited and some capped at 60 - 100 minutes a month, The cost is anywhere from 10 GBP- 20 GBP a month. 

I recently had to travel to the USA. I purchased  a North American SIM for USD for $12 for the  time I was there  (10 days, 60 minutes, 10GB of data, 5G network. The reseller used the Verizon network. 

 

Most telephones can handle multiple esims. I have 3 now. I will probably add another for when I am in japan next week.

 

 

 

[jaywalker2]

21 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

most companies have alternatives to  local toll free. One looks on their website, or sends an email to ask if there is a non  toll free number.

If you really need to call then buy an international esim that includes  international calling. There are literally dozens of reputable firms  available on the internet who provide international calling, some unlimited and some capped at 60 - 100 minutes a month, The cost is anywhere from 10 GBP- 20 GBP a month. 

I recently had to travel to the USA. I purchased  a North American SIM for USD for $12 for the  time I was there  (10 days, 60 minutes, 10GB of data, 5G network. The reseller used the Verizon network. 

 

Most telephones can handle multiple esims. I have 3 now. I will probably add another for when I am in japan next week.

 

 

 

Skype is free. I make maybe 4 or 5 calls to the US a year, just to my bank and brokerage. It's hardly worth it to pay a monthly fee and set up dual sims. I might as well just use WiFi calling. Skype was very convenient for that purpose, however, which is why many of us are looking for a similar alternative.

[lordgrinz]

5 hours ago, Rick45 said:

 

I don't think you will ever have a problem if you mostly use the wifi call and text function.  Just don't connect to a cellular network, or do so only occasionally.  

 

 

  

 

Used my Google voice and number account without issue yesterday, testing with my brother back home,  so far so good! Even the caller ID leaves no trace of me being abroad. This was using wifi and data, which you need to make sure is set correctly in the settings.

[Yellowtail]

5 hours ago, Rick45 said:

 

Do you have an android phone?  If you do, and you have the fi app installed, if you turn off the cellular network, and connect to wifi only, you get unlimited calls and texts to the US on any plan over wifi.  Wifi calls and texts don't work with Apple phones unfortunately.

 

I've used fi for about 5 years.  No problem using the wifi calls and texts nearly daily while overseas.  If you use too much data overseas, they will stop your data.  That happened to me a couple of times, but got reset after I returned to the US for a few weeks.  Calls and text still worked even though they stopped the data.

 

I've been using wifi calling with an iphone for about five years 

[Rick45]

5 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I've been using wifi calling with an iphone for about five years 

Specifically with google fi?  Can you get texts over wifi?

[Yellowtail]

Just now, Rick45 said:

Specifically with google fi?  Can you get texts over wifi?

No, not with gooble fi. Using a US phone in Thailand. 

 

And yes, I send and receive texts and files over wifi. 

[Galong]

16 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Used my Google voice and number account without issue yesterday, testing with my brother back home,  so far so good! Even the caller ID leaves no trace of me being abroad. This was using wifi and data, which you need to make sure is set correctly in the settings.

Thanks for the info.  Did you set that up from here or did you have someone in the US set up the number?  Ideally, I'd like to port my Skype US number to Google Voice, but another poster warned about Google shutting an account down if they see it's being set up in Thailand... scary thought to lose a Google account!

[lordgrinz]

1 hour ago, Galong said:

Thanks for the info.  Did you set that up from here or did you have someone in the US set up the number?  Ideally, I'd like to port my Skype US number to Google Voice, but another poster warned about Google shutting an account down if they see it's being set up in Thailand... scary thought to lose a Google account!

 

I already had my Google Voice number before I came here in 2016. Plus, I believe you can't port a Skype number directly to Google voice, you have to first port it to a mobile phone account, then port it to Google voice later.

[Galong]

21 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

I already had my Google Voice number before I came here in 2016. Plus, I believe you can't port a Skype number directly to Google voice, you have to first port it to a mobile phone account, then port it to Google voice later.

I wonder if changing my Skype number to a mobile number instead of a landline number would possibly affect the VoIP status for my Capital One account.  This is all frustrating and annoying. 

I decided a couple of days ago that I'm going to close my Cap One account. They're not expat-friendly.  Schwab will be the only place I'll have money in the US. They get it.   I'd still like to have a functional method of getting verification codes and OTPs. 

[lordgrinz]

2 hours ago, Galong said:

I wonder if changing my Skype number to a mobile number instead of a landline number would possibly affect the VoIP status for my Capital One account.  This is all frustrating and annoying. 

I decided a couple of days ago that I'm going to close my Cap One account. They're not expat-friendly.  Schwab will be the only place I'll have money in the US. They get it.   I'd still like to have a functional method of getting verification codes and OTPs. 

 

My CapitalOne account, Amazon, Xfinity, and Coinbase accounts all work with the Google number so far for SMS messages. Haven't tried doing a voice call with them through Google yet though, but hoping that will work. Also haven't tried Chase through Google either, but so far that's a pretty good list of accounts covered. I will wait until Skype is shut-off, and if Teams isn't taking over the number, then I'll try some other VOIP service, but Google voice is looking promising so far.

[Galong]

1 hour ago, lordgrinz said:

 

My CapitalOne account, Amazon, Xfinity, and Coinbase accounts all work with the Google number so far for SMS messages. Haven't tried doing a voice call with them through Google yet though, but hoping that will work. Also haven't tried Chase through Google either, but so far that's a pretty good list of accounts covered. I will wait until Skype is shut-off, and if Teams isn't taking over the number, then I'll try some other VOIP service, but Google voice is looking promising so far.

It's the uncertainty that's so annoying.  I had a credit union account for decades and everything was groovy right up to the point where it wasn't. They went from accepting my Thai phone to accepting my Thai phone as long as I was on a VPN to telling me there was no way to access my account!  Luckily, I was going to visit family a couple of months later... walked in and closed the account.  Since then, I have made all of my accounts joint with my brother so I hopefully won't ever get locked out.  Good luck to you with your various banks and stuff. 🤞🤞

[KhunHeineken]

On 3/1/2025 at 2:22 AM, Galong said:

Exactly! MS has dropped the ball big time... again! Disappointing customers is a trend with them. 

Yes, other VOIP companies will reap the benefits... now to find just the right one.  🤔

Skype will be difficult to replace, especially for the elderly who chat with their kids and grand kids, due to the ease of set up and use. 

 

I would be interested in the percentage of people that migrate to Microsoft Teams, past their last Skype credit.  If comments on this forum are anything to go by, it appears not many will. 

 

In many ways, Microsoft is a like the Nokia phone company on this one.  They had a huge market share, and thought they always would, so never invested in R & D. 

 

Along comes Zoom and Microsoft still did nothing.

 

Microsoft is always one step behind its competitors, thus, when they have a failing product, their only answer is to shut it down.

[lordgrinz]

3 minutes ago, Galong said:

It's the uncertainty that's so annoying.  I had a credit union account for decades and everything was groovy right up to the point where it wasn't. They went from accepting my Thai phone to accepting my Thai phone as long as I was on a VPN to telling me there was no way to access my account!  Luckily, I was going to visit family a couple of months later... walked in and closed the account.  Since then, I have made all of my accounts joint with my brother so I hopefully won't ever get locked out.  Good luck to you with your various banks and stuff. 🤞🤞

 

I'm with you on the uncertainty, always waiting for the other shoe to drop while here, it's annoying. I was thinking about opening a worldwide bank account, but think they want you to lockup $250,000 or more for balance requirements. 

[Patong2021]

7 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

I've been using wifi calling with an iphone for about five years 

 

FYI: There are security issues when  using  public space wifi. Although calls may be encrypted, there are vulnerabilities with public free wifi.

 

7 hours ago, jaywalker2 said:

Skype is free. I make maybe 4 or 5 calls to the US a year, just to my bank and brokerage. It's hardly worth it to pay a monthly fee and set up dual sims. I might as well just use WiFi calling. Skype was very convenient for that purpose, however, which is why many of us are looking for a similar alternative.

 

Then don't pay the monthly fee. Purchase a phone number as needed. Multiple e-sim options are available that provide a set number of  calling minutes in the period selected. 

Otherwise, you will just have to pay the approx. $20 USD monthly cost to maintain capability. Alosim gives 1 GB for 1 day @ $4.50, with calling/ Global esim offers  options of 1 day -30 days  starting at $4.50 and 100 minutes of calling for an additional $10, with a separate phone number. You can structure it as a pay as you go format. The connect to local networks. In the USA, they usually are linked to Verizon, AT&T or T Mobile and will offer a local phone number.

Honestly,  I have a difficult time understanding why people are so cheap on this issue. It is a cost of being located in a foreign location.

 

[Yellowtail]

2 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

 

FYI: There are security issues when  using  public space wifi. Although calls may be encrypted, there are vulnerabilities with public free wifi.

 

 

I only ever use my home wifi with it, or use my Thai phone's hotspot when I am out. I generally do not carry it.