End of Skype

[wwest5829]

I have used Skype regularly to contact the US from my computer here in Chiang Mai. No issues, especially calling for my monthly income wire transfer. But now that Microsoft has announced the end of Skype, I am asking if others have regularly used an internet calling app with success and without cost?

[CMBob]

I too have used Skype for a few years to have a US telephone number and to be able to get and make calls to the US.  Given the announcement that they are killing the service on May 1st, I damn well better get a refund (cash and not their other unwanted services) for the balance of my annual subscription.

But, no, have no experience with other service providers and have not begun any in depth internet research to figure out a decent alternative.  Hopefully somebody who knows of a good alternate service (voice and sms) will post in this thread.

[Mason45]

I've been using Skype for years, it was very handy and affordable to ring family, friends and banks in Australia. I've tried others but I must reside in Australia when the application is made. They even detected that I was using a VPN. So what now? Any affordable suggestion to call land lines in Australia?

[GinBoy2]

I've used Skype almost since it started.

 

But things moved on, a little like phone calls in general. Folks don't call they either Facetime or Facebook messenger for totally free video calls, and kids never talk only text on whatever platform

 

Over the years the banks have got pretty good at detecting VOIP calls so that little niche has also dwindled.

 

As lamentable as it is, it looks like Skype has gone the same way as the rotary dial landline. 

 

RIP

[Jimjim1]

43 minutes ago, CMBob said:

Hopefully somebody who knows of a good alternate service (voice and sms) will post in this thread.

WhatsApp works  call and video but not to a landline.

True move works on calls to a landline if you use 00600 and then your area code, calls to the UK

cost me 1 baht a minute, can’t help you about costs to USA but you can ask them.

Other telephone companies will probably provide the same services so check out the Sim you use

[SMIAI]

49 minutes ago, Mason45 said:

I've been using Skype for years, it was very handy and affordable to ring family, friends and banks in Australia. I've tried others but I must reside in Australia when the application is made. They even detected that I was using a VPN. So what now? Any affordable suggestion to call land lines in Australia?

 

I don't think you need to reside in Australia, but you might need an Australian number.

But even residence is not an issue since you have family and friends in Oz. So in the case of you not having an Australian number, you can use one from the family for initial registration. 

I guess the reason for registering a local number is that number can be selected as the originator of your calls and SMS. 

[Confuscious]

I am not a regular user of Skype, but I did use it many times.
I wonder if it will be possible to backup the messages before Microsoft stop the service.

[Mason45]

I just came across a site that appears similar to Skype by the name of Yolla. I typed in my Thai phone number and I received an activation code. Australia is one of the many countries that you can call. I haven't tried it yet but the call rates appear to be very competitive.

[NotEinstein]

I have been using MyTello for the last few years - they set up a local (Bangkok) number for you to call for each contact you wish to speak with. No need to use a 'smartphone'. Obviously not free, but very cheap.

[CMBob]

4 hours ago, Mason45 said:

I just came across a site that appears similar to Skype by the name of Yolla. I typed in my Thai phone number and I received an activation code. Australia is one of the many countries that you can call. I haven't tried it yet but the call rates appear to be very competitive.

Seems a reasonable method to make inexpensive calls to at least some other countries from Thailand.

 

The Skype service (which certainly wasn't free) provided a telephone number in one's home country which allowed people there to call us here in Thailand for free as well as send sms back and forth.  So far (very minimal research), it seems that most similar services are geared for businesses and are much more expensive.  Again, with minimal research, I've found one outfit called Sonetel (which I'm not promoting as I don't know enough about it yet) which apparently is similar to Skype and touts having sms messages go to email. And the Sonetel service is about double the cost of Skype.

 

So....to the extent anybody is aware of a service similar to Skype, some of us would very much appreciate that information.

[sqwakvfr]

17 hours ago, CMBob said:

Seems a reasonable method to make inexpensive calls to at least some other countries from Thailand.

 

The Skype service (which certainly wasn't free) provided a telephone number in one's home country which allowed people there to call us here in Thailand for free as well as send sms back and forth.  So far (very minimal research), it seems that most similar services are geared for businesses and are much more expensive.  Again, with minimal research, I've found one outfit called Sonetel (which I'm not promoting as I don't know enough about it yet) which apparently is similar to Skype and touts having sms messages go to email. And the Sonetel service is about double the cost of Skype.

 

So....to the extent anybody is aware of a service similar to Skype, some of us would very much appreciate that information.

Bob, similar experience that most services like Zoom are for business and not for the individual person who needs to make calls to customer service in his or her home country.  I only use Skype to  call the US for banking and latley CA DMV.  I don't need to make video calls or even have group chats or online meetings.   I have been lookiing for a simple VOIP service  for one person to conduct business with companies and governmental agencies in the US. So far I have failed.  I also would like to maintian my US based phone number that I have had with Skype for many years. I have discovered porting or transftering my Skype to other services could cost as much as $20.  

[novacova]

On 3/1/2025 at 1:10 AM, wwest5829 said:

I am asking if others have regularly used an internet calling app with success and without cost?

Try Talkatone app. You’ll have to change the regional settings in your device to get the app. Paygo by Ultra Mobile has a $3usd plan and use use WiFi calling 

[Mason45]

On 3/3/2025 at 6:45 AM, novacova said:

Try Talkatone app. You’ll have to change the regional settings in your device to get the app. Paygo by Ultra Mobile has a $3usd plan and use use WiFi calling 

I would prefer something similar to Skype as I only use it 3-4 times a year so I don't want to pay for a plan.

[hotandsticky]

I use MYTELLO.

 

 

https://www.mytello.com/en_GB/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhMq-BhCFARIsAGvo0KcpFPof7SEjy6TcEVqgdbbEZHIX3Jz-t3Og71ErTxEinwFTxM0OQ6UaAtcaEALw_wcB

[Mason45]

I was just reading an article which stated that Skype is not completely closing down. The business department is closing down but personal use will remain unchanged.

[Enoon]

51 minutes ago, Mason45 said:

I was just reading an article which stated that Skype is not completely closing down. The business department is closing down but personal use will remain unchanged.

 

I just read the same.......from 4 years ago when Skype for Business changed to Mirosoft Teams:

 

"Nothing will happen with the personal Skype. The July 2021 date applies only to Skype for Business application."

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/skype/forum/all/what-will-happen-to-skype-for-personal-use-on-july/24422a34-72bd-42c5-a297-d998d1165d2c

 

Now personal Skype users are being shifted to Teams if they wish.

 

Personal Skype will die on May 5th 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

57 minutes ago, Mason45 said:

I was just reading an article which stated that Skype is not completely closing down. The business department is closing down but personal use will remain unchanged.

 

Microsoft is killing Skype. Get the correct info from Microsoft's own website:

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/02/28/the-next-chapter-moving-from-skype-to-microsoft-teams/

 

Microsoft Teams is not a replacement for Skype for the individual user as many of the most-needed features will not be available in Teams once any existing Skype subscriptions expire.

[Mason45]

I've seen several suggestions but are there any similar programs like Skype where I don't have to pay a monthly fee. I only use it  to call my family overseas, banks and  others that place me on hold for a long time so Skype was perfect. My sister being an oldie doesen't have wifi on her phone so I can't call her using Messenger..

[steven100]

no one uses Skype anymore ....  it's all LINE app 

[Middle Aged Grouch]

Yolla seems great and good rates

[topt]

20 hours ago, steven100 said:

no one uses Skype anymore ....  it's all LINE app 

That's why there are at least 2 threads on Skype with a fair number of people looking for an alternative.

But I guess you are just being deliberately provocative.......

[steven100]

1 minute ago, topt said:

That's why there are at least 2 threads on Skype with a fair number of people looking for an alternative.

But I guess you are just being deliberately provocative.......

well I can tell you no one I know uses skype,  they all use LINE or Watts app,   Skype went down hill years ago.  LINE is free,  why pay for Skype when you can call for free ...  

[VR333]

6 minutes ago, steven100 said:

well I can tell you no one I know uses skype,

 

and you know everyone of course...

[unblocktheplanet]

14 minutes ago, steven100 said:

well I can tell you no one I know uses skype,  they all use LINE or Watts app,   Skype went down hill years ago.  LINE is free,  why pay for Skype when you can call for free ...  

Overseas? Folks here mention call rates. Except to landlines, my Skypecalls were always free. Guess Microsoft is short on cash. These days, I'd rather have something outside the US, even if I had to pay for it.

[madone]

On 3/1/2025 at 4:54 PM, Mason45 said:

I've been using Skype for years, it was very handy and affordable to ring family, friends and banks in Australia. I've tried others but I must reside in Australia when the application is made. They even detected that I was using a VPN. So what now? Any affordable suggestion to call land lines in Australia?

 

Australia got raped so hard by the boiler rooms that they block huge amounts of VOIP traffic.

 

 

[steven100]

11 minutes ago, madone said:

 

Australia got raped so hard by the boiler rooms that they block huge amounts of VOIP traffic.

 

 

I agree .....you can't even get an sms security code from some banks in Australia to Thailand ...  I know, I had that issue before. 

[steven100]

18 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Overseas? Folks here mention call rates. Except to landlines, my Skypecalls were always free. Guess Microsoft is short on cash. These days, I'd rather have something outside the US, even if I had to pay for it.

Overseas yes,   anywhere ... as long as both parties have LINE app on their android, Ipad, Desktop or laptop.

[steven100]

27 minutes ago, VR333 said:

 

and you know everyone of course...

up to you... 

[rough diamond]

23 hours ago, steven100 said:

no one uses Skype anymore ....  it's all LINE app 

I agree w.r.t personal calls.

But;

How many Government Departments and Financial Institutions etc let you have a conversation on "LINE"?

 

[topt]

3 hours ago, steven100 said:

well I can tell you no one I know uses skype,  they all use LINE or Watts app,   Skype went down hill years ago.  LINE is free,  why pay for Skype when you can call for free ...  

This -

1 hour ago, rough diamond said:

I agree w.r.t personal calls.

But;

How many Government Departments and Financial Institutions etc let you have a conversation on "LINE"?

 

But if you had read the thread you would have known that......