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Groups > alt.comp.os.windows-10 > #182678

Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May

From VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH>
Newsgroups alt.comp.os.windows-10
Subject Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May
Date 2025-03-01 12:35 -0600
Organization Usenet Elder
Message-ID <42l6uy6wywxa.dlg@v.nguard.lh> (permalink)
References <vpthji$e24$1@news.chmurka.net> <ng1mtiqegzha$.dlg@v.nguard.lh> <vpveog.hj4.1@ID-201911.user.individual.net>

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Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote:

> VanguardLH <V@nguard.lh> wrote:
> [...]
> 
>> As I recall, you had to buy SkypeOut minutes to get connected to
>> non-Skype users, like to landlines and mobile phones.  Does MS Teams
>> require similar purchase to connect to non-Teams endpoints with
>> landlines and mobile phones?
>>
>> "Moving forward, we will no longer offer paid Skype features to new
>> customers, including Skype Credit and subscriptions that allow you to
>> make and receive international and domestic calls."
> 
>   Bummer, calling landlines and mobile phones was the only Skype feature
> we still used (most others like same-platform video/voice calls have
> been replaced by WhatsApp).
> 
>   I want my 10 Euros of Skype Credit back! :-)
> 
>   Anyone know of a replacement for that: Cheap calling of landlines and
> mobile phones from an app on a smartphone? (And no, no Google Voice for
> us non-US users.)
> 
> [...]

Ooma has Android and iOS apps.  I didn't look into where you can use
Ooma.  There is no Windows app for Google Voice unless you count using a
web browser to their site, but you could use a web browser to Ooma, too.
Ooma isn't free, but they have a low-cost tier that charges for the
taxes they are required to collect by the feds (~$10 USD for my area).
For home phone service, you use their VOIP converter (not free).  I use
one at home from Obitalk to make and receive calls from my Google Voice
number with landline phones.  No app is used with the converter.  Phone
goes to converter to cable modem to Internet.  There is an Ooma Office
Desktop app, but "Desktop" leads me to believe you have to pay into a
higher priced service tier.  You can use an IP phone to use their
service, but with their Office [Pro] plans.  There are so many ways and
service tiers with Ooma that I never delved into what all they offer.  

I've got Google Voice which, so impetus yet for me to look elsewhere,
but not everyone everywhere can use it.  They threatened to remove some
features that I must have, like sending incoming text via e-mail, so I
can get the text anywhere I can get e-mail.  They said they didn't want
to enable a spam channel to their users, but that feature has yet to
disappear.  VOIP is never perfect.  Often the call quality is better
than cellular, but connection reliability isn't as good (something I
hear no rings, the call didn't get past some POP - point-of-presence -
at a telco where the Internet call doesn't get to their landline or
mobile service side).  I have 3 phone numbers using simultaneous ring in
my Google Voice account, but occasionally only 1 or 2 phones get called.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_VoIP_companies

That has a list of VOIP providers.  I once looked into some of the
alternatives to Google Voice, but lost momentum.  When Obi discontinued
their home-grade VOIP converter boxes, I got worried I would lose my
home phones to their converter in my Google Voice account.  Didn't
happen, but you can no longer make configuration changes at their web
site in your account with them.  Obviously now that Microsoft is
dropping Skype which means no SkypeOut minutes to connect to landlines
and mobile phones, that wiki article will need updating in the near
future to remove the entry for Skype.  I'm not sure how exhaustive is
the list in the wiki article.  MagicJack isn't listed, but I thought
they still existed (I dropped them about 6 years ago after getting
Google Voice, and using the Okitalk converter for my home phones).
Their web site (magicjack.com) still exists.

For which VOIP providers are in your area, try an online search on "voip
providers <yourarea>".  Then you'll have to delve into what all each
offers to determine from what platform or device they are usable.  I've
also seen VOIP forums where you could ask for help.

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Thread

Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "Jan K." <janicekoziol@nie.ma.spamu.prosze.com> - 2025-03-01 00:41 +0100
  Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2025-02-28 22:54 -0600
    Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "Jan K." <janicekoziol@nie.ma.spamu.prosze.com> - 2025-03-01 08:40 +0100
      Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2025-03-01 02:36 -0600
      Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May Rink <rink.hof.haalditmaarweg@planet.nl> - 2025-04-03 17:17 +0200
    Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-03-01 16:12 +0000
      Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May Philip Herlihy <nothing@invalid.com> - 2025-03-01 18:14 +0000
        Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-03-01 18:45 +0000
          Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-03-02 03:39 +0100
      Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2025-03-01 12:35 -0600
        Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-03-01 19:11 +0000
          Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2025-03-01 13:35 -0600
            Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-03-01 21:01 +0000
              Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-03-02 03:49 +0100
                Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-03-02 14:24 +0000
        from skype to teams frank_n_2017 <frank_n_dale@yahoo.com> - 2025-03-01 23:26 +0100
          Re: from skype to teams Jim <noreply@invalid.com> - 2025-03-02 01:30 +0000
    Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-03-02 03:34 +0100
      Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2025-03-01 22:15 -0600
    Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2025-04-01 21:33 -0400
      Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-04-06 13:25 +0200
        Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2025-04-07 02:09 +0000
  Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2025-03-01 10:44 +0100
    Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-03-01 06:16 -0500
    Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2025-03-01 12:36 -0600
      Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2025-03-02 11:24 +0100
        Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2025-03-02 14:07 -0600
          Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2025-03-02 22:16 +0100
            Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2025-03-02 22:29 -0600
              Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-03-03 08:30 +0100
                Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2025-03-03 03:03 -0600
                Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2025-03-03 03:54 -0600
                Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-03-03 11:03 +0100
                Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-03-03 11:01 +0100
          Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2025-03-02 22:16 +0100
            Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2025-03-02 22:31 -0600
              Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2025-03-03 17:21 +0100
                Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May John <Man@the.keyboard> - 2025-03-03 16:53 +0000
                Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2025-03-04 15:07 +0100
                Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2025-03-03 14:14 -0600
  Re: Microsoft said Friday that it will shut down Skype in early May "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2025-03-01 23:00 +0800

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