Skype alternative.

[Banana72]

I actually moved to MS Teams and waiting to see how the Skype number and calls thing will work out.

If i can keep my Skype number that would be awesome....it's annoying why Microsoft decides to just not carry over the phone numbers to MS Team.

 

[Bob]

This is the one thing about WhatsApp I dislike. You can only call people in your contact list, that has a WhatsApp account also. What's the difference if it's all free? I guess if someone is not on my contact list, then I could just put them on my list, then call? I'll have to try this if I need to.
It was rude of Skype to just cut me off from my account even when I still have $ paid credit on it? So that means I lose my $10. Well multiply that by 1000's, and it looks like someone gets a lot of Free Money!
Isn't this somehow Criminal?

Maybe you can join a class action suit against them.

 

[fastpitch17]

Looking at this Zadarma and only find info related to business cloud based calls. Is this the same as the what would be used for personal use. Is cloud based different than voip. I never use the cloud for anything.

Any info to go forward would be appreciated. Skyp's about to become old news.

Tried Viber but they keep saying enter the last 4 digits of the number calling you without answering to verify but never get a call.

 

[harryopal1]

Following Gemima's recommendation I downloaded Zadarma for Windows 10 on my laptop and then connected my phone. I use it just for personal calls and with a credit that I was told will remain available until it is used up and I can then topup. And this without having to buy a separate number. So, no monthly fees and have found the quality of calls superior to Skype. Once you download there is a chat box which is actually answered by a person and not one of those exasperating AI bots. The setup process is very different to Skype and at first I found it very confusing but using the chat box they helped me with the set up. I had found that after Microsoft took over Skype the level of service response was difficult to find and I am now very happy with Zadarma.

 

[fastpitch17]

I was looking at it on my tablet in the app store but only seen it for business. I'll take a look on the lap top with Win 11. The tablet was always the go to for Skype with it's portability.

 

[Shadrach]

Has anyone downloaded it for iPad iOS? It asks how much I want to pay? I thought it was free? do you think it's necessary if I only make call to friends? Like I do on WhatsApp?

 

[gemima]

Has anyone downloaded it for iPad iOS? It asks how much I want to pay? I thought it was free? do you think it's necessary if I only make call to friends? Like I do on WhatsApp?

This is for people who want to call to landline numbers (or mobiles for people without whatsapp) - there is no reliable way to do that for free. If you only need whatsapp then continue to do that. If you need to call your home country - a business/ landline number then you may need to use a service like zadarma in future.

 

[gemima]

I was looking at it on my tablet in the app store but only seen it for business. I'll take a look on the lap top with Win 11. The tablet was always the go to for Skype with it's portability.

Are you IOS or Android? I have no issues with the android app - its easy to use.

Zadarma offers services to businesses but you can ignore those parts - in an internet browser you can navigate to their website, set up your account and do a small topup to start making calls (don't buy any subscriptions/ phone numbers - ignore all those parts). I think you can even make calls via the browser without even having the app (but I haven't tried to do that).

 

[BrightSun09]

I just recieved notice this morning from Skype that they will be shutting down in May. I use Skype for making calls to landline numbers in the US and Europe. Is anyone on here using an alternative cost effective source?
Thanks in advance.

I successfully ported from Skype (Australia Landline Number) to Crazytel (Australian Based). It only cost $2 per month. Before that, I enquired about porting out to microsoft team but it ended up very costly options (to pay team phone standard fees plus operator connect; most operator connect charge for minimum 10-20 phone number + PAYG call plan fees). Crazytel has free Auto Attendant, free soft phone (can answer from multiple phones), free ring group (can ring multiple soft phone app in order/random/all together), low international call rates as well as very low rate of call forward (you get about 60mins for $5, but that is only if you use). After signing up Crazytel, you go to port application in phone number management, then upload last Skype Bill. Within 2 weeks, number will be ready.

Crazytel | HostedPBX - Business Cloud Phone System

crazytel.com.au

 

[fastpitch17]

To do much they keep telling me to verify my phone number by entering the code from the sms received. I never received the sms. Tried over 10 times now. Chat told me my phone number won't work because I entered a US address. I went back and checked and I certainly entered Indonesia. I deleted it all and entered Indonesia again. Still no sms. I will check with them again on that.

I see another problem coming if I ever get verified. Payment would be made via my US debit card associated with a US Address. I can not enter the US address because they want a US mobil number to verify. Normally, if I use my Indonesia address with the US card it is declined because the address is not associated with the card. Will talk to them about that too. First, I need to get my number verified before anything else can be done.

I am setting this all up in Win 11 but do have the app from play store on my phone waiting to get finished on the lap top. The Android app ask for SIP and password to sign in.

 

[harryopal1]

When loading to my laptop, Zadarma also asked for SIP and password sign in. I had no idea
as to the process. I used their chat facility to get that sorted.

 

[Shadrach]

What is SIP? I also had difficulty trying ti use a USBased Debit card, with an Indonesia tel#. This was with Shoppee, and Netflix. I had to switch over to paying with my Mandiri account. That solved that problem. If the time comes when I need to call a number not in my WhatsApp contact list, then I will try Zadarma!
What if I add a number to my WhatsApp contact list, previously not on it, can I then call using WhatsApp?

 

[gemima]

To do much they keep telling me to verify my phone number by entering the code from the sms received. I never received the sms. Tried over 10 times now. Chat told me my phone number won't work because I entered a US address. I went back and checked and I certainly entered Indonesia. I deleted it all and entered Indonesia again. Still no sms. I will check with them again on that.

I see another problem coming if I ever get verified. Payment would be made via my US debit card associated with a US Address. I can not enter the US address because they want a US mobil number to verify. Normally, if I use my Indonesia address with the US card it is declined because the address is not associated with the card. Will talk to them about that too. First, I need to get my number verified before anything else can be done.

I am setting this all up in Win 11 but do have the app from play store on my phone waiting to get finished on the lap top. The Android app ask for SIP and password to sign in.

If you have made an account already you need the SIP to log into the application.
The SIP can be found on your account (on your internet browser) - you just need to select "settings" - here is my setting page with my SIP number blacked out (and my verified phone number also blacked out):

 

[Banana72]

I looked into MSTeams and looks like maybe the skype number is transferrable to MS Teams through 'submitting a port request' I checked it briefly and it looks way over my head as a non IT person...anybody had any success doing this? In plain English who should I contact and what should I do?

 

[Jaime C]

I don’t need a skype number, as I have a US Tmobile phone that I can use in Indonesia. (Mostly for account verification codes, and texts)

The first time I tried to activate MS Teams, it didn’t work. Tried a couple of weeks later, and no problem.

 

[Banana72]

I don’t need a skype number, as I have a US Tmobile phone that I can use in Indonesia. (Mostly for account verification codes, and texts)

The first time I tried to activate MS Teams, it didn’t work. Tried a couple of weeks later, and no problem.

How much do you pay for this per month if you don't mind me asking? I need something like that for acct verification stuff. I used to have a T-mobile number a long time ago that I only had to pay whatever (20 bucks) per year to buy the airtime...downside was it can only do text (at that time) and all, no wifi. But one year I forgot to pay and T-mobile canceled and recycled that number...

So far I've tried MS Teams...not working at all.

 

[harryopal1]

You might consider Zadarma. My Skype experience became frustrating after taken over by Microsoft. It hasn't improved my feelings about Microsoft as I have a Windows 10 system laptop and now Microsoft are no longer providing support for Windows 10.

 

[Hawk256]

How much do you pay for this per month if you don't mind me asking? I need something like that for acct verification stuff. I used to have a T-mobile number a long time ago that I only had to pay whatever (20 bucks) per year to buy the airtime...downside was it can only do text (at that time) and all, no wifi. But one year I forgot to pay and T-mobile canceled and recycled that number...

So far I've tried MS Teams...not working at all.

Maybe Jaime can give you better idea of price but I have a friend here from the US that kept his T-Mobile number and is paying something crazy like $70.00 US per month with free roaming. Surely there has to be something cheaper. I signed up for Google Voice years ago when I was in the US and it still works for me. Practically impossible to sign up for outside the US but it has been working fine for me for getting 2FA codes from the US.

 

[Bob]

Maybe Jaime can give you better idea of price but I have a friend here from the US that kept his T-Mobile number and is paying something crazy like $70.00 US per month with free roaming. Surely there has to be something cheaper. I signed up for Google Voice years ago when I was in the US and it still works for me. Practically impossible to sign up for outside the US but it has been working fine for me for getting 2FA codes from the US.

Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s network and is pretty cheap.

 

[Saudade]

I am ready to try Zadarma but sorry I have a question, when I was using Skype I used to buy credit 10 euros and I could call any country, now I am checking Zadarma and is asking me to call to where, the country and I wonder if the credit is only for one country? terimakasi