Skype

Skype is a cross-platform messenger and a VoIP app for texting, voice and video communication over the Internet. So famous that it has become a common noun and a verb, Skype is old but still very popular.

Design 5/5

The blue colors on the white background should remind you of the sky, as well as the name of the service. The app is organized like most messengers, with the chat list in the left column and the active chat in the right, when using it on a tablet. On phones, either the list or the active chat goes full screen. The app lets you see the preview of your video when you intend to make a video call, so you have a mirror to prepare if necessary.

Usability 5/5

All today’s smartphones are equipped with mics and cameras, so with Skype you can make voice and video calls from your phones. When talking, you can mute your mic, activate or deactivate the camera, switch between front and rear camera, and mute your conversation if necessary. The voice and video quality is decent, though it depends on your connection.

Skype supports group chats and calls, with up to fifty users simultaneously. The administrator of the conference can invite or kick users and end calls, while any participant can start a call or quit it. These conference calls are free too.

It doesn’t require the fastest Internet you have. It’s enough to be on 3G for voice calls, and LTE or Wi-Fi deliver decent video experience, no matter if you are talking tête-à-tête or in a group conversation. As for texting, it demands even less, going well even on extinct EDGE.

Features 5/5

Owned and developed by Microsoft now, Skype is highly integrated with Microsoft cloud services. It requires your Microsoft account to log in, instead of the phone number. The logs are stored on Microsoft servers, so they are restored when you install Skype on a new device. OneDrive lets you send large files right within chats by dragging them onto the window. You can use an online translator to translate your messages on the go and enjoy other benefits by MS.

In-app purchases 5/5

Though texting, voice and video communication between Skype users is free, it offers a decent set of paid options. Its pricing for calling landline or cellular phones (SkypeOut) is much cheaper than regular international phone calls. Office 365 subscribers also get at least 60 minutes of SkypeOut monthly. If you wish, you can purchase a regular phone number you can use via Skype in one of 25 countries supported by now.

The Bottom Line

Skype is still the default app for voice and video calls on the Internet for business or just conservative users. It offers a decent set of free features and even greater one of paid ones.

• Graphics 5
• Gameplay 5
• Controls 5
• Replay Value 5

Pros

Free texting, video and voice calls;
Useful paid extras;
Integration with Microsoft cloud services;
Doesn’t expose your phone number;
Compatible with a large variety of devices.

Cons

Security gets compromised sometimes;
Young users are not so into Skype.